By Dionna Carlson
Town Council Considers Recommended Budget
Last week the Town Council began deliberating over the Board of Finance’s Recommended Budget for FY26, which includes a 3.56% increase to the General Fund Budget, along with a 4.35% rise in the amount to be collected through taxation. The Council will hold a public hearing on April 1st and a final vote on April 3rd. For more details, including all related documents, please visit the Budget Documents quick link on the landing page of our website at newcanaan.info. As a reminder, the Town Council may either accept, reject or reduce the budget, it may not add to the budget.
Outdoor Dining
In keeping with the Town’s wishes to promote pedestrian traffic and commerce in our attractive town center, the Board of Selectmen approved the schedule for Outdoor Dining on Town-owned sidewalks between May 1 and November 2, 2025. The Planning and Zoning Department manages the permits and enforces ADA compliance, and we all work hard to balance the needs of downtown restaurants, businesses, pedestrians, and other users.
New Chief Building Official
Congratulations to Scott Becker who has been appointed as our new Chief Building Official. Scott’s leadership, experience and dedication to our community have made him an asset on our team. Chief building officials in Connecticut enforce building and zoning codes and issue permits – all with an eye on ensuring public safety. They also advise on building projects, and work with architects, engineers, and contractors. We are confident that under Scott’s guidance our building department will continue to professionally support the safety and growth of New Canaan.
Donations to Human Services
I’m thrilled to announce that our Human Services Department has launched an Online Donations Portal to make it easier for residents and friends to support those in need within our community. Human Services relies on generous donations in order to deliver much of its targeted support throughout the year. Now, with just a few clicks, donors can send financial support electronically and designate it for any of these programs:
• Food Pantry – Nutritious meals for individuals and families in need
• Domestic Violence Services – Support and resources for survivors
• Back-to-School – Supplies and support for students to succeed
• Holiday Program – Gifts and essentials for families during the holidays
• Warm-Up Fund – Heating assistance for those facing cold winters
or,
• “Most Needed” – Allows the department to allocate the donated funds to the program with the most urgent need.
The portal can be found at our website newcanaan.info/departments/Human Services
Communications
As most people know by now, open communications and an engaged community are priorities for my administration. I am grateful to Beth and Peter Barhydt for providing this space in the New Canaan Sentinel, and this month marks one year since I launched the “News from Town Hall” email newsletter. It’s been a pleasure hearing your positive feedback.
Serving on Boards and Commissions
Lastly, in case you missed my communication in January, it bears repeating that it is my responsibility to recommend the appointment of residents to serve on various boards and commissions throughout the Town government. I work closely with both the Republican Town Committee (RTC) and the Democratic Town Committee (DTC) for these recommendations. If you are a registered Republican and are interested in serving our town, I encourage you to reach out to RTC Chair Jon Cheng at jonchengnyc@gmail.com. For Democrats, please contact newcanaandems@gmail.com for more information. Unaffiliated voters should contact my office directly at firstselectman@newcanaanct.gov. We are always looking for fresh perspectives and new individuals to get involved in our community.
Dionna Carlson is the New Canaan First Selectman. Her leadership is guided by a respect for local decision-making and a commitment to keeping residents informed and engaged. Read more from Dionna each month by subscribing to her email newsletter, News from Town Hall. To sign up to receive the newsletter visit newcanaan.info and click on the red bar at top, Sign Up for Alerts. To read the current issue of the newsletter visit newcanaan.info and click on the yellow bar at top, News from Town Hall.
