Chairman’s View: 11 Resolutions for 2019 (Dec. 31, 2018)

Chairman’s View: 11 resolutions for 2019 DECEMBER 31, 2018 BY JOHN ENGEL. CHAIRMAN, TOWN COUNCIL When Advertiser reporter Grace Duffield asked for a New Canaan resolution, I could hardly stop at one. Here’s 10 more. We have much to do in 2019. Bike paths from New Canaan to the Darien beaches. Darien suggested this. Get state permission […]

Chairman’s View: Not to Eliminate Buildings, But to Eliminate Expense (Jan. 22, 2019)

Chairman’s View: ‘Not to eliminate buildings, but to eliminate expense’ JANUARY 22, 2019 BY JOHN ENGEL, CHAIRMAN, TOWN COUNCIL In the fourth week of a federal government shutdown it’s a good time to reflect on the state of Connecticut and town government. There is cause for optimism. Newly elected State Sen. Alex Bergstein announced the State is […]

Chairman’s View: Revaluation and the Condo Market (Feb. 28, 2019)

Chairman’s View: Revaluation and the condo market FEBRUARY 28, 2019 BY JOHN ENGEL, CHAIRMAN, TOWN COUNCIL Condominiums rose 9% in value in a 5-year total revaluation that was down 7.19% The average condo owner will see a double-digit increase in their taxes, Specifically, 955 condos will see average increases in taxes of $1,137. Many condo owners are […]

Chairman’s View: Spoiler Alert. I Like New Canaan’s Prospects (April 11, 2019)

Spoiler alert. I really like New Canaan’s prospects. Here are 5 observations taken from the revaluation, the town budget, the state election, and the first quarter real estate sales. There is a happy ending. 1. The uncertainty coming from Hartford is probably worse than anything Hartford will actually do to us. We accept a certain […]

Chairman’s View: On Bags and Budgets (Feb. 4, 2019)

Chairman’s View: On bags and budgets FEBRUARY 7, 2019 BY JOHN ENGEL, CHAIRMAN, TOWN COUNCIL The Town Council is considering a proposed townwide ban of supermarket plastic bags. Letters are starting to pour in. Supporters of the ban cite the environmental impact. Opponents of a ban say we are chipping away at freedom and personal choice. Greenwich, […]

Article: Mead Park Barn Demolition Plan Remains in Place after Council Hears Pitch to Save It (Sept. 13, 2018)

Mead Park barn demolition plan remains in place after Council hears pitch to save it SEPTEMBER 13, 2018 BY GREG REILLY The brick barn at Richmond Hill Road and Mead Park.— Greg Reilly photo Even though the Town Council had no authority to take any action, they spent an hour-and-a-half of their four-hour meeting Wednesday night revisiting […]

Chairman’s View: Revaluation

New Canaan Advertiser – Thursday, December 20, 2018

Chairman’s View: Revaluation and a Level Services Budget (Dec 20, 2018)

New Canaan’s real estate grand list fell by $570 million dollars (7.15%) compared to 2017. 4861 parcels saw average decreases of 11%.  2308 saw average increases of 13%. For $3+ million homes the average decrease was 14%. For $2-$3 million homes the average decrease was 10%. For $1-$2 million the average decrease was 7%. Below […]

Chairman’s View: Improve our Planning for Town Building Maintenance (Oct 18, 2018)

Chairman’s View: Improve our planning for Town building maintenance OCTOBER 18, 2018 BY NEW CANAAN ADVERTISER New Canaan Town Council Chairman John Engel’s weekly guest column. New Canaan Town Council Chairman John Engel First, let’s talk about the 100-point Pavement Condition Index (PCI). When a road scores above 86% PCI it’s excellent, requiring only corrective maintenance: crack […]

Chairman’s View: Council Faces Cost of Debt, Capital Projects and Lower Property Values (Oct 4, 2018)

Chairman’s View: Council faces cost of debt, capital projects and lower property values OCTOBER 4, 2018 BY NEW CANAAN ADVERTISER A guest column from New Canaan Town Council Chairman John Engel. New Canaan has the highest per-capita debt in Connecticut at $5,800, double that of Darien because we are a larger town with many more miles of […]

Chairman’s View: Town Inconsistent When Partnering with Private Funding (Sept 13, 2018)

Chairman’s View: Town inconsistent when partnering with private funding SEPTEMBER 13, 2018 BY NEW CANAAN ADVERTISER [UPDATED WITH CORRECTION Sept. 14.] Town councilman Bill Bach gave us the Bach amendment in 1997 (Article 2, Chap. 125 of the Town Code) outlining how New Canaan should think about capital projects. In short: “Take no donation that comes with an […]

Chairman’s View: Do The Projects that Do Not Increase Debt (Aug 23, 2018)

Chairman’s View: Do the projects that do not increase debt AUGUST 23, 2018 BY NEW CANAAN TOWN COUNCIL CHAIRMAN JOHN ENGEL Affordable housing, senior housing, workforce housing are all needed in New Canaan. Should housing be a concern of the Town Council? Yes, repurposing old buildings as housing begins an intricate calculus getting the Town out of […]
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