Find A Better Location

For The Firehouse

To the Editor:

Here we go again....

Last week The Bee reported that despite unanimous opposition by local residents, unanimous rejection by the Zoning Board of Appeals, and daunting topographical challenges, Hook & Ladder, the R. Scudder Smith Family Partnership, and the borough’s officials continue to try and fit a square building into a small wet hole. While I understand Hook & Ladder’s resolve — they absolutely need a new or renovated firehouse — and Scudder Smith’s — they’re looking for a tax break by donating otherwise unbuildable wetlands — the borough’s willingness to go against the firmly expressed opposition of its residents to this project is puzzling at best.

As predicted in my July letter to The Bee, we now have a first budget request of $1.5 million. I say first because no one knows how much this will actually cost if allowed to proceed as designed. So now that taxpayer money is being sought, can we please approach this project with the seriousness it deserves and stop the backroom deals and associated fallout?

First Selectman Pat Llodra should take charge of this important issue and convene an independent panel immediately to determine the best and highest use of town funds toward a new or renovated firehouse. Issues for the panel to address should include a careful analysis of whether to build a new facility or renovate the existing one, and where to build if that is, in fact, the best solution. A careful examination of Hook & Ladder’s calls and location of interventions should guide the decision on a site, as well as egress, traffic, and neighborhood fit. For example, hasn’t anyone considered locating a new firehouse at Fairfield Hills, in close proximity to I-84, the high school, Reed School, and middle school?

And let’s make sure we allocate the funds the project deserves, be it $1.5 million, $2 million or more, because the town’s volunteer fire force deserves a safe firehouse out of which to operate, and we should all support that goal.

However, and in exchange for that support, Hook & Ladder, the Scudder Smith Family Partnership and the borough’s officials should respect the will of the people when they say no to a project that threatens to significantly negatively impact a neighborhood. It’s by working together, not against each other, that we’ll find a solution.

Francois de Brantes

13 Sugar Street, Newtown                                            March 16, 2010