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Sasha Lawer wants New Canaan to be a good-looking town. But she's just not convinced that the town should spend money so quickly on a controversial master plan when people are watching their wallets closely.
"Now is just not the time," said Lawer, who has lived on St. John Place for 11 years. "I just don't think it's the right time to spend over $100,000 on a study."
Still, the town is close to embarking on the first stage of a master plan, intended to explore what it can do about aging facilities such as Town Hall, the fire department building and the New Canaan Public Library. The Board of Finance on Tuesday agreed to spend no more than $25,000 for the first phase of a plan. The 7-1 vote came with the caveat that the Town Center Planning Group seeks estimates from several firms.
The plan has not been without criticism. Mike Hobbs resigned from the planning group on Wednesday. First Selectman Jeb Walker said Hobbs left due to personal attacks leveled by people against the master plan.
Lawer was among five residents in the town boardroom Tuesday to voice concerns about the plan, though she did not insult anyone. She says any potential master plan money could be used for many town hall repairs, including fixing its leaky roof. At the least, Lawer says, town officials should put any master plan work on the shelf for a year.
"I have yet to meet anyone who thinks we should do this now," she said.
Planning group Co-Chair Christine Wagner said the board needs to hear professional advice. "None of us are planners," Wagner said, noting that a volunteer board would not be capable of offering the insights of professional planners. Wagner said a full-length plan could cost $150,000 to $200,000, based on what other towns have paid for similar studies.
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