Kevin’s Community Center Grant Awaits Use

By Kendra Bobowick

The status regarding both funding and plans to relocate Kevin’s Community Center to Fairfield Hills have not changed, and neither have First Selectman Pat Llodra’s concerns.

“There are no conclusions; we are where we were,” she said, regarding an awarded $500,000 grant for upgrades. She still believes that the duplex area in Fairfield Hills is “the best location.” Kevin’s Community Center (KCC) is a nonprofit free medical clinic open Wednesdays and available to people living in the Newtown Health District — Newtown, Bridgewater, and Roxbury. According to KevinsCommunityCenter.org, “Our mission is to provide free primary health care for persons over the age of 18 who are uninsured or underinsured and have limited financial resources.”

Remaining to be answered are questions of whether the funding will be enough to “bring the building up to serviceable status,” Mrs Llodra said, and also whether the funds will be in place when the town chooses to execute the grant. In light of the state’s deficit, Mrs Llodra said again, “I always have a concern that money will be rescinded if it is not in use.” She noted, “We continue to hear that everything is on the table. No municipality should feel its funding stream is more secure than another municipality’s.” Although she has learned of no particular plans to take back the funding, she said, “But, the state has debt and accounts will be swept and will reevaluate if money is not yet spent.”

Once located on Peck’s Lane, KCC is now operating out of 153 South Main Street offices.

Aside from funding is the matter of negotiating a lease agreement for the medical clinic’s possible relocation to a small Fairfield Hills building. Mrs Llodra said, “We’re working slowly on a lease; if the project becomes a reality, we’ll have lease language.” Officials have discussed KCC’s contributions to the community, for one, which would be reflected in a lease, Mrs Llodra has said in past interviews.

Members of town boards including the Fairfield Hills Master Plan Review Committee are currently making assessments on the former state hospital campus’s plans for future reuse by evaluating terms described in the current master plan. The Fairfield Hills Authority members and ultimately the Board of Selectmen will negotiate and establish terms of leases for campus properties.

While the $500,000 grant may be sufficient for much of the building’s upgrade work, the town’s Capital Plan of Improvement includes a $300,000-plus sum to bring an infrastructure loop into the duplex area. The action is meant for the duplexes overall, and not specifically for the KCC, Mrs Llodra clarified.