Selectwoman Rachel Khanna wants answers about past property damage, an oil spill, and alcohol violations before the Board of Selectmen votes on whether to close a stretch of St. Roch Avenue for the annual St. Roch's Church feast in August.

The four-day feast, scheduled for Wednesday, August 12, through Saturday, August 15, would use Hamilton Avenue School property for rides, games, and food booths provided by Stewart Amusements. Father Peter Lenox of St. Roch's Church is the permit applicant.

At the Board of Selectmen's Thursday, July 9, meeting, Father Lenox requested a road closure of St. Roch Avenue between Hamilton Avenue and Alexander Street. It was a first read. The second read is scheduled for the board's Thursday, July 23, meeting.

Khanna pressed Father Lenox on whether a formal agreement had been signed between the church and the Board of Education covering potential property damage, and whether all required approvals from police, fire, health, and the town risk manager were in place.

"Because we want to protect town property," Khanna said at the July 9 meeting.

Father Lenox told the board that all paperwork was in process and that required signatures from town departments would be completed by the next meeting. Khanna asked for a copy of the completed agreements.

Past incidents fuel the scrutiny

The questions stem from documented problems at prior feasts. In 2022, the grass on the Hamilton Avenue School field was damaged and a small oil spill required remediation. In 2023, alcohol was consumed on school grounds in violation of Board of Education Policy No. 1316, which prohibits alcohol on school premises at any time.

Town risk manager Megan Damato said in an August 2023 email to Greenwich Free Press that alcohol "was not permitted by my office, Parks and Rec or the BOE who issued permits and insurance requirements."

New restrictions, then a reversal

Parks and Recreation coordinator Andrew Karen outlined conditions for the 2026 feast in a January 2026 email to Father Lenox. Rides may no longer be transported across the school parking deck due to weight restrictions, reversing a past practice. An 8,000-pound weight limit applies to food booths, staging, and tents. The email also barred rides, portable restrooms, and equipment from the basketball court.

But Superintendent Dr. Mercanti-Anthony reversed that basketball court restriction in a May 22 email to the Parks and Recreation director, writing that the Board of Education had no objections to the church using the courts, contingent on construction being completed.

No signed agreement as of July 18

Dr. Mercanti-Anthony told Greenwich Free Press the Board of Education did not need to vote on the church's use of school property, saying the matter was handled through administrative channels. The superintendent did not respond to questions about who would monitor the deck weight limit, how rides would access the field without the parking deck, who would enforce the alcohol policy, who would pay for any damage, or whether school surveillance cameras are functional.

As of July 18, no formal written agreement between the church and the Board of Education had been signed for the 2026 feast.

Last year's feast was limited to church property while the parking deck underwent major repairs. Those repairs were completed in time for 2026.

How to weigh in

The Board of Selectmen is scheduled to take up the second read at its Thursday, July 23, meeting. Residents may submit emailed comments to the board by 4 p.m. the day before the meeting, or sign up to speak at the meeting itself, according to the town's Board of Selectmen calendar page.