Merchant Voices Opposition to Town Plan

Jack Trifero set up a table on the sidewalk outside Gramophone Video last week with a sign saying "Town Alert" attached. On top of the table, he placed copies of a letter addressed to "Editors," expressing dissatisfaction with efforts to renovate buildings and change spaces in the town center.

At Tuesday's Board of Selectmen meeting, the Town Center Planning Group received preliminary approval for expenses up to $25,000 to continue the first phase of developing a master plan for repairing and renovating the downtown. The Board of Finance must also approve the first phase of the plan.

Trifero's letter calls for the disbanding of the Town Center Planning Group, suggests that the library go on a "fiscal diet" and recommends that money be spent on property tax relief instead of a consulting study. Trifero, who has owned the Gramophone store on Main Street for 38 years, says he put more than 200 copies of the letter opposing the planning group's efforts out on the sidewalk. It is signed "New Canaan Concerned Citizens," though Trifero would not provide names of the other authors.

"It does seem like a big misadventure at the expense of taxpayer dollars, which I think a lot of New Canaanites have noticed," Trifero said.

Christine Wagner, co-chair of the Town Center Planning Group, said at this stage of developing the master plan, the group is trying to find out what problems the public sees in the downtown area. She mentioned concerns about the safety of the Town Hall and the efficiency of government offices spread across many locations in town. "The town can't just bury its head in the sand and pretend that the problems aren't there."

Wagner said developing the plan would give the town valuable information to help plan major expenditures. She emphasized that the town will always be in control of whether the plan is implemented.

Regardless of the side each person takes, Trifero said, people care about the issue."I have a true love of this town and the people that live here. I think we're intelligent people and having a good discussion," Trifero said. "There's nothing wrong with that."

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