Fairfield Hills, Town Budget, And Politics Highlighted An Active 2003

By Jan Howard

Last year was to have been the year that Newtown finally acquired the 189-acre Fairfield Hills campus, but last minute unresolved environmental issues, complicated by a massive fuel oil spill outside Canaan House, have pushed the closing of the Fairfield Hills deal into 2004. Fairfield Hills was just one of several issues, including the local budget and tax rate, and a strong political challenge to the town’s administration in local elections, that made 2003 a memorable year for Newtown.

 

Fairfield Hills

In February, the Fairfield Hills Master Plan Committee formally approved a master plan for development of the campus, including a recommendation for a new town hall at the north end of the “green” at the entry plaza, ten new playing fields, 134 acres of open space, and sale of several buildings to private entities. The committee was disbanded in March when the plan was submitted to the Board of Selectmen.

In April, the Board of Selectmen made two changes to the plan before forwarding it to the Legislative Council, moving the site of the proposed town hall from the north end of the green to the south end, and stipulated that buildings slated for private use be leased and not sold.

The selectmen unanimously endorsed a proposed special act in the legislature that would enable creation of a Fairfield Hills Authority to administer all nonmunicipal uses at Fairfield Hills. In June, the Legislative Council endorsed the legislation, and forwarded it to the Legislature where it was to be attached to a budget “implementer” bill. Hartford’s budget stalemate, however, blocked the legislation.

The Legislative Council also unanimously endorsed the master plan with amendments. The voters rejected the master plan on August 12 by 154 votes, 1,238 to 1,084, in the advisory referendum. Only 15 percent of the town’s 14,706 registered voters cast ballots. The question before town officials was: What to do next?

The rejection of the master plan stalled a Planning & Zoning (P&Z) review of Fairfield Hills regarding proposed zoning regulation changes based on the plan.

In October, First Selectman Herb Rosenthal signed the contract between the town and the state for purchase of Fairfield Hills and sent it with a check for $390,000, ten percent of the purchase price of the $3.9 million, to the state treasurer.

Despite previous statements about a possible survey of town residents regarding the master plan, members of the Board of Selectmen in December decided to see what modifications they could make to the plan before deciding to have a survey conducted. They plan to begin review of the plan at their January 5 meeting.

Late in December, the town made the decision to exercise its automatic option under terms of its contract with the state to extend the closing date for purchase of Fairfield Hills for 60 days from December 31. The decision came about after discussion with the town’s environmental consultant because the state has not completed its review of the town’s remedial action plan. Also, Mr Rosenthal said that while state officials have assured the town that cleanup of the oil spill at Canaan House is the state’s responsibility, the town wants to see what the status of the remediation is before the closing.

 

Legislative Council

In January, the Legislative Council approved a new borrowing policy that increased the permitted net debt service from eight to ten percent of the overall town budget. Moody’s Investment Services guidelines call for debt service not to exceed ten percent.

By the fall, however, some members of the Board of Finance began to question whether the ten percent guideline for debt service is too high, and that a lower percentage, such as eight percent, should be considered. It was felt that within the next two years the debt service for projects proposed under the five-year Capital Improvement Plan would be too high under the guidelines, which led to a reduction in proposals for a high school academy and police building renovations and improvements by the Board of Finance.

In December, the Legislative Council elected a new chairman, Will Rodgers. Tim Holian was reelected as vice chairman. Because the Democrats had picked up a seat on the 12-member council in November’s election, the board was evenly divided, six to six. As anticipated, naming a new chairman was a difficult decision, with Republicans nominating Mr Rodgers and Democrats nominating Mr Holian.

Following three tied roll call votes and a paper ballot later, the council unanimously elected Mr Rodgers on the fifth ballot, after Mr Holian withdrew his candidacy and changed his vote to Mr Rodgers.

 

Tax Abatement/Relief Plan

In October, the Board of Finance began discussion of a tax abatement/relief plan for the town’s senior citizens. The plan, if approved, would accomplish four major factors: provide relief and stabilization of the added tax burden from budgetary increases to senior citizens; promote and encourage a diversity and character in the population of the town; promote and encourage the long-term residency of senior citizens; and promote a fair and equitable system for tax relief for seniors.

One of the tax relief programs being discussed is a tax deferment plan, under which part of a senior’s taxes could be deferred to be paid later, with interest, when the property was sold.

 

Budget

The annual budget process began January 13 when the Board of Selectmen began budget deliberations.

Also, in January, Newtown residents flocked to Edmond Town Hall with questions on their new property assessments, which, on average, increased 70 to 80 percent since 1995. Most people wanted to know why their home’s assessment had grown so much in so little time. They feared the new assessment would drive property taxes up. These fears most likely fueled later budget defeats.

In April, following the first budget defeat, the Legislative council cut $1 million, $775,000 from the education budget and $225,000 from the town budget.

In May, on a third try, voters finally said “yes” to a 2003–04 budget. A total of 5,291 people (or 36 percent of registered voters) turned out for the town’s third budget vote, approving a $79.4 million budget by the slim margin of 137 votes, 2,714 to 2,577.

The third referendum was held following a successful petition drive May 23 that gained more than 2,000 signatures.

 

Political Season

Incumbent Democrat First Selectman Herbert Rosenthal defeated Bill Sheluck, his Republican challenger, 3,590 to 2,751, to win a fourth term in office. Republican incumbent Bill Brimmer and Democrat incumbent Joe Bojnowski were also returned to office. Forty-two percent, or 6,402, of the town’s 14,900 registered voters cast ballots.

The election followed a spirited campaign during which the two first selectmen candidates debated their differing views on a number of issues. Members of the Legislative Council, Board of Finance, and other boards and commissions were also elected.

During the campaign Mr Rosenthal emphasized his “quiet” leadership during his six years in office and his administration’s record of accomplishments, including increases to the town’s bond rating, and an average increase in the town budget of less than two percent per year for the last five years, among others.

Mr Sheluck pointed to his 35 years of business experience and 11 years as a CEO as reasons why he should be elected. He opposed the master plan for Fairfield Hills.

The campaign season began with party caucuses in July. Democrats rallied around Mr Rosenthal, but Republicans at a standing-room-only caucus saw Mr Sheluck outpoll Republican Town Committee endorsed candidate Owen Carney, 82-52 in a paper ballot.

 

Capital Improvement Plan

Review of the town’s five-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) began in the summer, and in December, following several changes, the Board of Finance approved the $53.7 million plan and sent it on to the Legislative Council for its review.

Members of the Board of Selectmen got their first look at requests for the 2004/5–2008/9 plan at its July 21 meeting. The CIP is updated every year to provide a continuous five-year projection of the town’s future capital needs.

The Board of Finance in October had approved 3-2 a bond resolution for extension of the town’s waterline to Middle Gate School for a projected cost of $500,000. The Legislative Council later unanimously rejected the proposal, after which the Board of Finance, following much discussion with representatives of the school system, included the project in the CIP for fiscal year 2004/05 as the highest priority.                

In November, the Board of Finance took another look at the CIP in light of the waterline inclusion and funding for future open space acquisition. The board was concerned about the cost of a high school academy, earmarked in fiscal year 2006/07, and funding for it was reduced to $10,000. Funding was also reduced for police building improvements and renovations. Funding of $1 million a year was added for open space acquisition.

 

Tercentennial Planning

Newtown turns 300 in 2005, and in July Town Historian Dan Cruson and Town Clerk Cindy Simon invited members of the community and representatives of clubs and organizations to a “brainstorming” session. On July 14, 13 residents and town officials gathered to take the first steps toward a celebration.

Since then the Newtown Tercentennial Commission has appointed a steering committee that meets monthly to plan celebratory events. The officers are Mr Cruson, chairman; Mae Schmidle, vice chairman; Ms Simon, secretary; and John Trentacosta, treasurer.

Volunteers are still needed to help on various committees. To volunteer, contact the commission at Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main Street, Newtown, CT 06470.

Kevin’s Community Center

The tragic death of his 3-year-old son, Kevin, in the summer of 2002 led Dr Z. Michael Taweh, in April, to turn his family’s painful loss into a positive undertaking through the creation of a clinic designed to provide free health care for Newtown’s uninsured, low income, and homebound residents.

The goal of the clinic is to provide primary care, prescription drugs, and other services at no cost. In addition, Dr Taweh has arranged for free radiology and laboratory services at Danbury Hospital for anyone who uses Kevin’s Community Center. Other physicians in the area with various specialties, such as dermatologists, orthopedists, and neurologists, among others, also volunteered their services to the clinic’s patients.

On August 9, friends, advisory board members, and supporters gathered with Dr Taweh and his wife Jocelyne and their family at an open house and dedication ceremony for Kevin’s Community Center, named in memory of his son.

The clinic, which was in the planning stages for many months, opened its doors at Canaan House the following Wednesday, and its clientele is steadily increasing.

 

Battered Old Railroad Bridge Replaced

After watching countless container trucks get crunched under deteriorating 12-foot, 7-inch railroad bridge that had spanned Church Hill Road for decades, Newtown residents are breathing easier now as they drive under a new bridge offering well over 14 feet of clearance.

State and federal Department of Transportation (DOT) funds equaling $2.7 million were used to replace the aging bridge during a yearlong project that was begun in the fall of 2002, suspended during the winter months, and then resumed in April 2003. By the end of June, traffic was running smoothly in both directions. The higher span had been installed, wider bridge abutments were added, a new pedestrian sidewalk laid down, and the ground around was landscaped.

The most spectacular moment came on Midsummer’s Eve June 22, as three giant cranes stood ready to remove the old span and lower the new one in its place––a complicated and well-organized process that was completed within a matter of hours despite a driving rainstorm.