By Staff Reporter
The Board of Selectmen on Tuesday approved a series of infrastructure, public safety and staffing measures ranging from the transfer of an ambulance to the Police Department for use as a mobile command vehicle to seasonal hiring for the summer recreation season and major road maintenance projects across town.
During the May 19 meeting at Town Hall, First Selectman Dionna Carlson also welcomed a group of New Canaan High School interns who will work in various town departments through June 11. Students introduced themselves and described plans to study subjects including economics, civil engineering, finance, political science, journalism and engineering. Carlson said the town was “very excited” to have the interns working on upcoming projects.
One of the meeting’s lengthiest discussions centered on a proposal from Deputy Police Chief Andrew Walsh to transfer a retired New Canaan EMS ambulance to the Police Department fleet. The vehicle will be converted into a mobile command unit and drone operations vehicle.
Walsh said the department currently lacks a dedicated command post vehicle for emergency scenes and large public events. The ambulance would allow officers to store specialized radios, accident reconstruction tools and drone equipment in a single deployable unit.
“We don’t currently have that capability,” Walsh said, explaining that emergency communication equipment is now stored inside police offices rather than in a ready-to-deploy vehicle.
Selectman Amy Murphy Carroll questioned whether the transfer could create long-term fleet costs and future replacement obligations for the town. Police officials responded that two aging police vehicles would be retired and not replaced, resulting in a net reduction of one vehicle overall. Officials also emphasized that the ambulance has fewer than 100,000 miles and would likely remain in service for many years.
The board unanimously approved the transfer.
The board also approved a $15,000 increase to a Fire Department purchase order for repairs and maintenance of aging fire apparatus. Interim Fire Chief William Perritt said multiple vehicles required repairs as the department continues operating an older fleet.
Another unanimous vote renewed the town’s OpenGov land-use permitting and licensing software agreement for one year at a cost of $36,831.22. Officials said the software has significantly improved permitting workflow, interdepartmental coordination and online access for residents and contractors.
Parks and Recreation Director John Howe received approval to hire 103 summer part-time employees for the 2026 recreation season, including lifeguards, camp counselors, supervisors and umpires. Howe said staffing needs remain high because of pool operations and summer camp programming.
The board additionally approved a contract with PKF O’Connor Davies to continue serving as the town’s independent accounting firm for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026. The base fee for audit services is $117,950. Finance Director Anne Kelly-Lenz said the firm continues to provide smooth audit operations despite an industry-wide shortage of municipal auditors.
Public Works officials updated the board on several ongoing and upcoming infrastructure projects. Tiger Mann, director of Public Works, outlined a $176,639 cape seal road maintenance project covering several local roads including Brookwood Lane, Llewellyn Drive, Reservoir Road and portions of Ponus Ridge and West Road. Mann said the process extends road life while costing substantially less than traditional milling and paving.
Mann also warned residents to expect significant traffic impacts later this year from state road reconstruction work on Route 106 and South Avenue. The Route 106 project will begin June 1 and continue through the summer, while reconstruction work on South Avenue near Farm Road is scheduled to occur between the end of the school year and the start of classes in the fall. Selectman Steve Karl expressed concern about the timing of the work near New Canaan High School, calling it “the highest traffic area” in town during September.
Additional approvals included funding for environmental soil testing related to the Irwin Park demolition project, construction administration services for ADA and classroom improvements at the Nature Center, and the removal and pruning of hazardous trees at multiple locations throughout town.
The board also voted to maintain existing commuter and business parking permit fees for the upcoming year. Parking officials reported that demand for commuter permits has continued increasing as more residents return to office work schedules. The Lumberyard lot currently has 62 people on its waiting list.
In closing comments, Carlson encouraged residents to attend New Canaan’s Memorial Day parade and ceremonies, reminding the public that the holiday is intended to honor military service members who died serving the country.
“We need to remember what Memorial Day is all about,” Carlson said.
