A Public/Private Partnership

For Fairfield Hills

To the Editor:

Every once in a while someone writes a letter to The Bee that speaks with common sense and clarity. Last week one such letter appeared, written by Mr Tom Belli, and I am writing to support his point of view.

I also want to see Fairfield Hills preserved, and I agree that this is no time for “politics or factions to stymie us.” For months now, the back and forth of debate has gotten us nowhere. What is becoming clear is that there may be two “Save Fairfield Hills” groups, each with the same goals. The group that operates under that name and one of the developers appear to both want to save the campus, give us open space, a school, business space, community space, playing fields and more. Perhaps the “Save Fairfield Hills” group could concentrate on the 120 acres and five buildings that the town needs and the Becker and Becker group could work on the balance of the site.

The first selectman says that he is disappointed in the development proposals, but he hasn’t specified what those disappointments are. Perhaps they could be negotiated, but that will be hard, given that Mr Rosenthal is not permitted to speak to the developer under the rules of the process. If only the town’s political leaders, the advisory committees and the Save Fairfield Hills organization could sit down with the developer, things could probably be worked out for the good of everyone. Until we bring everyone together, instead of talking at each other, we’ll never get off this merry-go-round and Newtown will fail to benefit.

Mr Belli is right when he asks the first selectman for a committee of concerned citizens to help manage and move this decision forward. The longer it waits, the more it will cost and the tougher it will be to save that beautiful site. Hopefully, the holiday season will calm the debates and second-guessing. Then Mr Belli’s suggested committee might find a way for the first selectman to clear the air with the developer and build a public/private partnership that will save Fairfield Hills for all of us.

Sincerely,

Peter J. Markey

59 Riverside Road, Sandy Hook                                  January 5, 2000