New Canaan Council Confirms Auditor, Debates Charter Changes
Town Council · Meeting of May 27, 2026
New Canaan Town Council confirms new auditor, opens debate on electing the planning board. The council unanimously confirmed KPMG partner Ryan Sodala to a three-year Audit Committee term ending December 1, 2028, then spent most of a special meeting weighing Charter Revision Commission recommendations that could put up to five questions before voters in November. Residents split over whether to elect the Planning and Zoning Commission, with resident Sarah Pierce arguing "the people of New Canaan deserve to be asked," while Chairman Dan Radman, a 15-year commissioner, warned of a "partisan push." Chairman Mike Morrow called accountability arguments for elections "a little bit of a siren song." Town Clerk Claudia said ballot questions must be finalized by mid-to-late August, and the council owes the Charter Revision Commission its feedback by June 10.
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Source: the Town Council meeting of May 27, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
The Full Article
NEW CANAAN — May 27, 2026 — The New Canaan Town Council unanimously confirmed a new Audit Committee member and opened a lengthy public debate over proposed charter changes, including whether to make the Planning and Zoning Commission an elected body, during a special meeting Wednesday.
The council voted without objection to confirm Ryan Sodala, a KPMG audit partner, to a three-year Audit Committee term ending December 1, 2028. The bulk of the two-and-a-half-hour session was devoted to a public hearing and council discussion on a draft report from the town's Charter Revision Commission, which is weighing whether to send as many as five questions to New Canaan voters on the November ballot.
The Full Story
Town Council Chairman Mike Morrow opened the meeting with the appointment of Sodala, a New York-based KPMG partner who moved to New Canaan four and a half years ago. Robin Prior, the outgoing Audit Committee member who recruited Sodala after advertising the vacancy in the New Canaanite, told the council he considered Sodala the standout among three finalists he forwarded to the first selectman. Kim Norton seconded the confirmation motion, and it passed unanimously.
The public hearing that followed drew four speakers, all addressing the Charter Revision Commission's draft recommendations. Resident Sarah Pierce of 729 Moral Road argued that accountability, unlike integrity, must come from outside a body and urged the council to let voters decide whether to elect the Planning and Zoning Commission. John Cruz criticized a Charter Revision Commission recommendation to keep a rule, in place since 1935, requiring Board of Finance members to be real-property owners, calling it discriminatory toward renters and residents of affordable housing. Former Planning and Zoning Commission Chairman John Goodwin and current Chairman Dan Radman both urged the council to reject proposed 12-year term limits for board and commission members, warning of a loss of institutional knowledge on land-use matters. Radman, who has served on the commission for 15 years, said an elected commission risked a "partisan push" that could drown out unaffiliated voters.
During the council's own discussion, members split on whether appointed boards or elections offer better accountability. Morrow said appointees can be removed quickly if the first selectman faces public pressure, calling elections a slower and less certain check.
"I think there's a little bit of a siren song with this concept of accountability." — Mike Morrow, Town Council Chairman
Council member Christina Ross said she was persuaded to look harder at electing the Planning and Zoning Commission after Charter Revision Commission member Kathleen described the underlying vote within that commission as a close 6-5 split.
"Since it was so close, I think that is another reason for us to take a really close look at it and see whether we think it's the right thing to do to give it to the electorate." — Christina Ross, Town Council member
Council member Eric Tunham said he leaned toward dropping the property-ownership requirement for the Board of Finance but opposed term limits, while member Mike Rogers argued fresh turnover would diversify boards that he described as dominated by longtime members. Town Clerk Claudia briefed the council on ballot mechanics, telling members the five charter questions could be added to the November ballot at no extra printing cost but that final wording is needed by mid-to-late August to meet a 45-day absentee-ballot deadline. Council member Kim Norton also disclosed that the town clerk's office had received a notice of intent to petition for a referendum earlier that day, with signatures to be verified the following day.
"The people of New Canaan deserve to be asked: do you want to elect your planning and zoning, or do you want to appoint them?" — Sarah Pierce, resident, public comment
Why It Matters
The Charter Revision Commission's recommendations could send New Canaan voters as many as five questions in November on how the town governs itself, including whether to elect rather than appoint the Planning and Zoning Commission, whether to cap board and commission service at 12 years, and whether to end the Board of Finance's property-ownership requirement, in place since 1935. Town Clerk Claudia said the questions must be finalized by mid-to-late August to meet ballot production deadlines. The council must send its feedback to the Charter Revision Commission by June 10, when it will indicate its position on each recommendation and any additional items members want considered.
Key Motions & Votes
- Vote: Confirm Ryan Sodala to a three-year Audit Committee term ending December 1, 2028 Tally: Approved unanimously - Action: General discussion of Charter Revision Commission recommendations, including elected Planning and Zoning Commission, board term limits and Board of Finance property-ownership requirement — Continued to June 10, 2026
Source
Town Of New Canaan: Town Council meeting, May 27, 2026