New Canaan selectmen approve a package of maintenance and capital contracts, including parking-lot repaving and emergency salt purchase

The New Canaan Board of Selectmen on March 3 unanimously approved several contracts and purchase orders, including a repaving and restriping project for the Park Street and Playhouse parking lots, an emergency purchase of treated road salt and the replacement of a parks truck.

The package of approvals included a $297,255 low bid to FGB Construction for milling, reclaiming and repaving the Park Street and Playhouse lots plus a $30,000 contingency for a total authorization of $327,255. Department of Public Works staff said the restriping will change spaces from 8×17 to 9×18, creating a net loss of parking (21 spaces) while adding three accessible spaces. The project is expected to start around May 1, and each lot will likely be closed about a week during milling and paving.

Why it matters: the repaving and restriping affect downtown parking capacity and accessibility; the board approved spending from parking-lot management and improvement accounts and discussed short-term mitigations for displaced parkers during construction.

Votes at a glance - Planting-bed services: Contract awarded to Gregg's Garden Center and Landscaping LLC at $55 per hour per employee, not to exceed $55,000. Approved unanimously. - Vehicle purchase: Carl Chevrolet of New Canaan awarded the purchase of a Chevy 3,500 HD Silverado; net cost after a $10,500 trade‑in is $77,078, plus a $7,700 contingency (total not to exceed $84,778). Approved unanimously. - Equipment purchase: Purchase order with Superior Products (Superior Equipment and Supplies) for small equipment and an electric backpack blower trial — $12,789.78. Approved unanimously. - Emergency treated salt: Contract awarded to Chemical Equipment Labs for 400 tons at $117 per ton (total $46,800) following delivery problems with another supplier. Approved unanimously. - Park Street / Playhouse lots: FGB Construction low bid $297,255 plus $30,000 contingency; total $327,255. Approved unanimously. - LOTCIP application: Contract with Fassen O'Neil for $14,500 to prepare and submit a CTDOT LOTCIP application for the Route 106/Old Stamford Road & Farm Road intersection. Approved unanimously. - Blanket PO increase: East Coast Sign & Supply blanket purchase order increased by $10,000 (to $20,000 total) for road‑sweeper parts and plow blades. Approved unanimously. - Tree work: Olmstead Tree & Shrub Care awarded tree removal/pruning work for $14,335. Approved unanimously.

Key details and context The parks department presentation (Ryan of the parks department) said Gregg's Garden Center met the town's minimum staffing/specification requirements and offered the lowest qualified rate; staff will add the other bid documentation to the public packet for audit purposes. On the vehicle purchase, Ryan said three Chevrolet dealers were solicited and two submitted estimates; the selected dealer provided a bid that included allowances for accessories and a stated trade‑in value.

On winter operations, Tiger of the Department of Public Works explained the town's decision to seek an emergency purchase of 400 tons of treated salt after deliveries from Morton appeared unreliable. "Morton wasn't gonna be able to honor that 300 ton," Tiger said, noting Morton had told the town it could supply roughly 50 tons per day going forward — an amount the town's crews said would not be sufficient for a typical storm run of 70–80 tons.

Lou, a highway/maintenance official, credited the alternate supplier with fast delivery and criticized the prior schedule: "Morgan was just, you know, untruthful with the 50 ton a day," Lou said, adding that Chemical Equipment Labs delivered about 400 tons within 48 hours of ordering.

On the Park Street and Playhouse lots, Maria of the Department of Public Works described the design work and permitting history: the parking commission and planning & zoning reviewed the restriping and P&Z signed off; WestCOG also endorsed a separate nearby intersection project and allocated funds for construction. The board discussed mitigation for parking loss during construction (covering meters on nearby streets, staged closures and coordination with downtown stakeholders).

The town also voted to engage Fassen O'Neil to prepare a CTDOT LOTCIP application for the Old Stamford/Farm Road intersection. Maria said WestCOG endorsed the solicitation and has allocated $1,420,000 toward construction if the application and subsequent design/bid process proceed. Staff estimated the town's design/application costs up through a state 'commitment to fund' letter would total about $35,000.

What the board did not decide The meeting approved contracts and purchase orders; it did not change policy or adopt new ordinances. Several board members asked staff to add bid documentation and supporting quotes to the public packet so procurement records are complete for audit review.

Next steps - Park Street/Playhouse work: tentative start around May 1; staged closures and outreach to downtown businesses and permit holders expected. - CTDOT LOTCIP application: staff will finalize and submit the application by the CTDOT deadline; the initial contract for application preparation was approved for $14,500. - Staff will add supporting bid documents and other procurement details to the public packet as requested by the board.

The meeting adjourned after brief selectmen's comments.