Charter panel presses parks, library and police boards on structure
Other Committee · Meeting of January 29, 2026
New Canaan's Charter Revision Commission presses parks, library and police leaders on board structure. Parks and Recreation Chairman George Bennington and Commissioner Doug Murphy defended appointed, rather than elected, seats and said the Kuanas Park master plan remains on hold pending a first selectman's office statement on the park's pond. Library representative Ellen Gravado said the town covers roughly 70 to 75 percent of the library's budget through a block grant with no line-item control, and recommended charter language recognizing the library as an independent "association library." Police Commission Chairman James Mclofflin and the police chief defended the three-member commission's independence, citing its exclusive hiring and firing authority under state law.
"I think three works just fine," Mclofflin said. Resident Jean Goodman urged letting the Town Council restore, but not exceed, Board of Finance budget cuts.
In the full story:
- The complete report — 854 words
Source: the Other Committee meeting of January 29, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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