[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6348204,"mediaKeyId","2243145-1b11b2d2c06cf24714c9ef8ede5e3183","parentId",2243145,"title","Votes at a glance: selectmen approve budget adjustments, contracts and permits on Jan. 28","audioSeconds",8939,"startMs",27000,"endMs",8966000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2243145-1b11b2d2c06cf24714c9ef8ede5e3183&start=27&end=8966","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2243145-1b11b2d2c06cf24714c9ef8ede5e3183/thumbnail_27000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6348204/Connecticut/Votes-at-a-glance-selectmen-approve-budget-adjustments-contracts-and-permits-on-Jan-28","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6348204-9fee702e129a6f4a0ccb57b21bb69e45/orig.mp4?Expires=1771168362&Signature=VfvBhqIJN2mSz~IOSLbpYA2VxQ2VsZ-UFjBJ6kRW1JdzfFITeEYAuTVHgM26puuWiBPGFAytMlMXbi6gCQHz7gChF7rcclDkEnmBo-8roRSE~0yk7xeo-EjmriXC~oDoxzYmA6fwH~wnHTDXJaqOTJuVyDehSVIkc7TCw7iaBthcbLp5vNyeorPmxR38RNUR057x4XtuEUG78jcsMR4fVAALG3WR5bxVPOEv97oPU~iHBclr8uVGmxycAQ-WVLikLIk8X5rRiopJqjCfLsy404r5nwpq9Jjcy1dl77Tt~A8o8MuErVUS7z5Y5jlvaBcOalWi2x7V9lLlw-mSCW0pSg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town Council of New Canaan, CT","date","2025-01-28T00:00:00Z","article","The Board of Selectmen took multiple formal actions at its Jan. 28 meeting. Below is a concise list of approved items and next steps. Unless otherwise noted each motion carried by voice vote and was recorded as unanimous.

Votes at a glance

- Agenda and minutes: The board voted to approve the meeting agenda and the minutes from the prior meeting (unanimous).

- New Canaan Farmers Market: The board approved a request from Alexis Gazy, market master, to hold the 2025 summer New Canaan Farmers Market at the Lumberyard parking lot, Saturdays 10 a.m.–2 p.m., April 26–December 2025 (motion, second; unanimous).

- Animal control vehicle purchase: The board approved purchase of a used 2021 Chevrolet Equinox for animal control from Carl Chevrolet in the amount of $24,179; the price reflects trade‑in and the contract was authorized (motion, second; unanimous).

- Kerma (LAP) insurance PO increase: The board approved an increase to the town’s liability/auto/property (LAP) insurance purchase order to cover premium adjustments tied to recent vehicle and equipment purchases (motion, second; unanimous). The requested increase is $5,500 to cover premium changes from fleet updates.

- Special testing labs (police building): The board approved a $19,000 increase to the testing contract for materials testing required by the police‑department renovation’s special inspections (motion, second; unanimous). Funds come from project soft costs.

- IT/computer equipment (police move): The board approved a contract with It Savvy LLC for new police‑department staff computers and related networking equipment in the amount of $62,617.43 plus a $2,500 contingency (total $65,117.43) and authorized staff to complete the purchase (motion, second; unanimous).

- Fence repair at Water Pollution Control Facility: The board approved a $805 increase to an existing purchase order with A to Z Services LLC for additional fence repairs required at the treatment plant (motion, second; unanimous).

- Granite curbing for sidewalks: The board approved a contract with William Stone for granite curbing on various sidewalk projects in the amount of $19,443.75 plus a $500 contingency (motion, second; unanimous).

- Waveney Park/Powerhouse plumbing: The board approved a contract with Eastern Mechanical Services for replumbing work to support a renovated second‑floor bathroom at the Waveney Park Powerhouse ($9,575 plus a 5% contingency; total $11,475) (motion, second; unanimous). The board later directed finance staff to revise FY26 capital submission per discussion.

- Tree work: The board approved a $17,404 contract with Mill River Tree Service for removal, pruning and stump removal at various town locations (motion, second; unanimous).

- Personnel hire: The board approved hiring Jackson Sainville as Mechanic II in public works (motion, second; unanimous).

- Microsoft subscriptions (IT): The board approved a renewal with Presidio for Exchange Online, Microsoft Teams and SharePoint in the amount of $16,276.20 (motion, second; unanimous).

- Mileage reimbursement: The board adjusted the town mileage reimbursement rate to 70¢ per mile effective Jan. 1, 2025, matching the IRS rate (motion, second; unanimous).

Notes on procedure and follow‑up: Most votes were carried by voice and recorded as unanimous. Several approvals involved project‑level contingencies and drew from capital project budgets or internal services funds; staff committed to finalizing contract paperwork and to bringing any required follow‑up items (additional contingency authority, warranty documentation, contractor certificates of insurance) to the appropriate next meeting or to staff files. Several items (police building testing, IT purchases, Powerhouse capital lines) have linked budget and scheduling dependencies that staff will track and report to the board or the Board of Finance as required.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Town Of New Canaan Board of Selectmen Meeting January 28, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Board of Selectmen approved a package of permits, contracts and personnel actions at its Jan. 28 meeting, from the Farmers Market permit to vehicle and IT purchases and multiple capital and maintenance contracts.","taxTitle","New Canaan, Fairfield, Connecticut","taxId",57946,"location","Connecticut","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6348214,"Town hears Anthem plan update, insurance consultants warn of stop‑loss pressure",279,231000,510000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2243145-1b11b2d2c06cf24714c9ef8ede5e3183&start=231&end=510","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2243145-1b11b2d2c06cf24714c9ef8ede5e3183/thumbnail_231000.jpg","/articles/6348214/Connecticut/Town-hears-Anthem-plan-update-insurance-consultants-warn-of-stoploss-pressure","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6348214-29a5749962fc7b8d25f2df21b32e9419/orig.mp4?Expires=1771168362&Signature=CfijecOt~s6tGxJ7IOuou~~i2On4U3nrAUgwzl4kj9uUrQUNfphi~O5lCM~TXoH2CqvU7EmtZxc-~VtUCz9ncyOlKbeJtcGWADK52lD3cUv-C5soDurJojLHKpC89fuLHShnZ3MZ51EID7r6yDx5W5LO3bi-ygMZYCq3Tt7l0blSVi0RXHZ2DllSTnEnMUHpkr~gW2sQlcU-9y-KGjgw8cYlT74JPcv1N4ZBjv~ftmaep35DOKC2sWYokTVUihVNslct-4PSnnY~1~A4roI2rATV0BMmKV~Sd-Rnw5dNz2fDhvHmMugxCg1zLCBfPKei5AYUTVl97wxMf0SrtDhJ1A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Board of Selectmen heard a midyear review of the town’s self‑insured health plan on Jan. 28, when Larry Kershner of Epic Online summarized six months of claims and urged conservative budgeting ahead of July’s stop‑loss renewal. Kershner said the plan’s year‑to‑date total cost is tracking slightly below the current fiscal year budget but the first six months ran hotter than prior years because several claimants hit large thresholds early in the plan year.

Kershner told the board the town currently covers about 197 active employees, plus roughly 469 covered lives total. He said the plan’s per‑capita cost has been around $2,400 per month over recent years and was about $2,700 month‑to‑date over the first six months of the plan year — a figure he described as “a hotter start” that often smooths in the second half of the year because the aggregate stop‑loss deductible resets in July.

Why it matters: the town is self‑insured, so higher claims show up directly in the town’s fund rather than to an insurer’s shareholders. That makes stop‑loss pricing, the deductible the town chooses, and specialty drug trends important drivers of next year’s budget and reserves.

Kershner emphasized that large specialty pharmacy and catastrophic medical claims are the main drivers of recent volatility. “We’re seeing some very, very high‑cost specialty medications pierce into the deductible,” he said, and noted the plan has not yet experienced cell or gene therapy claims but that such claims can be “in the millions.” He also described a recent reinsurance market shift: the town moved its stop‑loss coverage to Sun Life last July and, he said, that marketing saved the town about $500,000 on the renewal that year.

Board members asked technical questions about the plan design and historical experience. A selectman asked whether pharmacy costs are pushing claimants into stop‑loss; Kershner replied they are contributing. Another member asked for a 12‑month rolling average of per‑capita trend data; Kershner agreed a 12‑month average “is a better way to look at it.”

Kershner said the town’s aggregate stop‑loss deductible is currently $150,000 per person, a level the town moved to from a lower deductible a few years earlier because the premium to obtain a lower deductible became uneconomic. He noted that a number of members had already reached six‑figure claim levels in the first six months and described the upcoming July renewal as a key decision point: the town must decide whether to keep the $150,000 deductible, move it higher to lower premium, or buy a lower stop‑loss point to reduce volatility. “There’s going to be continued pressure because that’s going to be the conversation as we get closer to July,” he said.

Budget guidance and next steps: staff and the board discussed the recommended planning assumption for FY26. Finance staff told the board they are using an assumption near 5% for premiums and benefits expense; Kershner said that estimate is within the reasonable range of what he projects if trend continues. He also noted a positive cash position this fiscal year and that the town historically has run modest surpluses in the employee benefits internal service fund.

Board members asked staff to provide a stop‑loss experience comparison across the town and the Board of Education — specifically how many claimants hit stop‑loss over a longer historical period — to inform the July renewal and whether cost‑sharing or stop‑loss changes are preferable. Kershner and staff agreed to bring more detailed trend and stop‑loss hit history to future budget meetings ahead of the renewal.","The Board of Selectmen heard a midyear review of the town’s self‑insured health plan on Jan. 28, when Larry Kershner of Epic Online summarized six months of claims and flagged July’s stop‑loss renewal as the major upcoming risk.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6348209,"Selectmen debate Powerhouse renovation and town match as costs expand",397,6480000,6877000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2243145-1b11b2d2c06cf24714c9ef8ede5e3183&start=6480&end=6877","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2243145-1b11b2d2c06cf24714c9ef8ede5e3183/thumbnail_6480000.jpg","/articles/6348209/Connecticut/Selectmen-debate-Powerhouse-renovation-and-town-match-as-costs-expand","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6348209-2238ffa0c6414d9f4173f8cacda3e2f9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771168362&Signature=fLDKM~3VPU208DJweFAaMlkcckF9FmpaTG9qkXZMb~3MggXYU57Tektkmv6b21ChrguaDuD-OzRjNp6nxaFAN0ZGDkwUcpRh1l3NJsFRWVzlsVjlH71xe8d46Odl2GSII8z80Fl6zsoO0hM5h6cyPDaJ3555Wk6BU2bwtuNmAGPgzXkJsh9AKyR-v14OBWRZ0AyczsGiQPL25Rj6Bh-3Jgm8pwjlWtF29KeFODLfBr-J2ey~gNla9l4GWLb62imxX7J7r1Nx6L-xlcpbzBcmy3JnrrDH8WFrQCWq4j2LZxskmOMaRnDq9F-kXmFI3ssDeGei2tiWNiK-e6hzpYEBog__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Board of Selectmen discussed a larger‑than‑expected renovation proposal for the Powerhouse at Waveney Park during the Jan. 28 budget review, and asked the project team to narrow the town’s requested contribution to core items while the non‑profit continues fundraising for program and expansion elements.

Why it matters: the Powerhouse project has evolved from a limited ADA/bathroom fix into a multi‑component renovation that the nonprofit and project architects now estimate could cost considerably more than originally presented. Selectmen said the town must be cautious about committing additional tax‑supported capital until fundraising and grants are clearer.

At the meeting Patricia (Powerhouse representative) described the project as three linked elements: a renovated accessible lobby and ADA restrooms, an annex/rehearsal space (the “education center”), and work on an existing potting shed and courtyard. She said the project team has secured certain state and local grants and fundraising but still needs additional philanthropic support for the annex and for fit‑out of tenant spaces.

Public comment came from local resident Edel Flynn, who described the Powerhouse’s community value and urged continued town support while acknowledging the need for further fundraising. “I really do see value in this town,” Flynn said, describing the venue’s programming and youth engagement.

Discussion and board direction: Selectmen expressed support for completing the town‑owned, core elements — the ADA bathroom/lobby work and necessary potting‑shed repairs — but questioned advancing the larger education center without firm donor commitments. Several members suggested treating the annex/education‑center portion as a separate project that should return off‑cycle once fundraising targets and grant prospects are clearer. One selectman recommended that the nonprofit seek a clear written pledge of private funds before the town expands its capital commitment.

Budget action requested: the Powerhouse had requested three capital lines that together approached a substantially larger town match than the board originally anticipated. After discussion the board directed finance staff to remove the $500,000 annex line from the FY26 submission and to leave the $200,000 for the lobby/ADA work plus $65,000 for potting‑shed structural work in the capital plan, with the expectation the nonprofit will return with more detail and a fundraising plan for the education center.

Next steps: staff will revise the FY26 capital submission as requested and Powerhouse leaders said they will continue fundraising and apply for state grants; the board asked the group to return with clarified scope, a phased plan and proof of outside commitments before the town considers further appropriation.","Selectmen pressed Powerhouse representatives about rising project estimates and asked staff to revise the budget request so the town’s committed items are limited to essential repairs (ADA bathrooms, lobby and potting‑shed shell) while larger program expansions be pursued with off‑cycle fundraising and clearer donor commitments.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: selectmen approve budget adjustments, contracts and permits on Jan. 28

Town hears Anthem plan update, insurance consultants warn of stop‑loss pressure

Selectmen debate Powerhouse renovation and town match as costs expand