Selectmen approve series of public-works and parks contracts, safety upgrades and appointments

The New Canaan Board of Selectmen on April 7 approved a package of town contracts and administrative actions, moving forward repairs and infrastructure work across parks, public works and town facilities.

The board voted unanimously to authorize a series of contracts presented by Department of Public Works staff (S2), including a contract with Hussey Brothers Excavating for installation of safety bollards and a concrete pad for a new above-ground parks fuel tank. S2 told the board funds were available to continue the project and explained the pad is intended to catch drips and protect the facility; the motion on the floor recorded a contract amount of $9,800 with a $980 contingency (total $10,780).

The board also approved a $16,000 fabrication and installation contract (plus $1,600 contingency) with Hardcor Iron Works to fabricate removable stainless-steel safety guards for eight wastewater-plant pumps after an OSHA walkthrough flagged exposed drive shafts on the equipment. S2 said the guards will be designed to allow maintenance access while preventing accidental entanglement.

Other contract approvals included a $36,675 contract (plus $1,835 contingency) to replace the Waveny House fire-alarm system with an addressable system that integrates with the building’s elevator controls; a not-to-exceed $50,000 agreement with Ty and Bond to update the town stormwater GIS mapping (priority: the 5-Mile River watershed); purchase-order increases for tires and for a safety-program vendor (HAS Compliance LLC) to update SDS and training after OSHA’s review; and repairs or stock replenishment purchases for play- ground work, granite curbing and road repaving tied to recent water-main work with Aquarion.

Chair (S1) led routine approvals for minutes, tax overpayments and bond-issuance vendor purchase orders; the board also confirmed three appointments: Art Berry to the Historic District Commission (regular member), Brett Dockwell as an alternate on the Zoning Board of Appeals and Laura Budd as New Canaan’s representative to the WestCOG Convention & Visitors Bureau. The board approved removing Michael Burns (parks) from probationary status after supervisors recommended his promotion to full-time status.

Quotes and context

S2 (Department of Public Works) described the wastewater-plant repairs as an immediate safety response after OSHA’s inspection: "We can't shut these pumps off," S2 said, and the proposed removable cages will allow maintenance "yet" protect employees. On the parks fuel tank, S2 said the concrete pad would "help with any drips of the product" and that tracking equipment will integrate with the town’s fueling fob system.

Why it matters

Most approvals were routine contract awards and maintenance work but reflect the board’s attention to facility safety following an OSHA inspection and to stormwater system data that could improve long-term planning. The not-to-exceed GIS contract aims to fill missing mapping data in older parts of town and to record rim and invert elevations that help prioritize future repairs.

Votes at a glance

- Hussey Brothers Excavating: bollards and concrete pad for parks fuel tank — motion approved (contract and contingency; recorded in packet as $9,800 + $980 contingency). - Hardcor Iron Works: safety guards for eight wastewater pumps — motion approved ($16,000 + $1,600 contingency). - Silent/"Silent Watchmen" (fire alarm vendor as listed in packet): Waveny House fire alarm replacement — motion approved ($36,675 + $1,835 contingency; total $38,510 listed in packet). - Ty and Bond: stormwater GIS updates — motion approved (not to exceed $50,000). - FGB Construction: repaving tied to Aquarion water-main work — motion approved ($267,150 + contingency listed in packet). - Pat Corsetti Inc: playground repairs — motion approved ($25,800 + 5% contingency; total $27,000). - Olmstead Tree & Shrub Care: emergency pruning/removal at Mead Park — motion approved ($15,840). - Hussey Brothers Excavating: Banco Pool waterline replacement — motion approved (packet shows $12,896.25 + $1,290 contingency; total $14,186.25).

What’s next

Staff will proceed with the contracted work and coordinate with finance on contingencies or escrow as discussed (for the Aquarion repaving reimbursement, and for funding the wastewater guards). The board adjourned after making the appointments and routine administrative approvals.

Ending note

The board closed the meeting with a reminder about a Planning & Zoning regulation workshop on April 21 (7:00 p.m., Lapham Community Center) and offered condolences for a longtime volunteer, Susan Boston.