Trails Committee Also Created—

Selectmen Appoint A Fairfield Hills Management Panel

By Jan Howard

The Board of Selectmen on Monday unanimously approved the appointment of John Reed, Robert Geckle, Moira Rodgers, Amy Dent, and Don Studley to an Ad Hoc Fairfield Hills Management Committee.

The board will consist of five regular members and three alternate members.

The selectmen also unanimously approved a charge to the Ad Hoc Fairfield Hills Management Committee as follows:

“The members of the committee shall adopt written procedures for the conduct of the committee’s business with regard to managing the Fairfield Hills property and implementing the Master Plan, subject to the approval of the Board of Selectmen. The committee’s activities will also be subject to the limitations imposed by state statutes, the charter and ordinances of the Town of Newtown, as well as the purchasing and other regulations of the Legislative Council.

“Said procedures of the committee shall include, but not be limited to, the means for soliciting proposals for use of those sections of the property considered for commercial or nonprofit development and criteria for evaluating competing proposals. Any proposal relating to the lease of real property cannot be consummated until all provisions of the charter of the Town of Newtown have been met.

“After a period of one year, the Board of Selectmen may reappoint or disband the committee at its discretion.”

The Board of Selectmen also unanimously approved a charge to an Ad Hoc Trails Committee, as follows:

“This committee will work under the direction of the Parks and Recreation Commission. The primary purpose of the committee is to make recommendations to the Parks and Recreation and Parks Commission regarding the acquisition and maintenance of trails in the Town of Newtown. This includes, but is not limited to: 1. Research and compilation of a master list and map or maps of trails and linked greenways. 2. Marking or causing the clear demarcation of trails. 3. Taking a lead role in the development and maintenance of town trails. 4. Recommending the designation of trails for hiking, bicycling, horseback riding or multi-use. 5. Such other activities as may be requested by the Parks and Recreation Committee from time to time.

“The committee should work closely with the Ad Hoc Open Space Task Force and Conservation Commission regarding the acquisition of open space and the acquisition of trail easements in subdivision applications.

“After a period of one year, the Board of Selectmen may reappoint or disband the committee at its discretion.”

No members have as yet been appointed to the Ad Hoc Trails Committee.

In other business, the Board of Selectmen approved a request by Grace Christian Fellowship to discontinue a section of Covered Bridge Road that dead-ends in a cul de sac. The discontinuance of the road also requires the approval of the Legislative Council.

Attorney Peter Scalzo explained that if the discontinuance of that portion of the road is approved the town would no longer be liable for its maintenance. The house of the former owner of the property, who has life residency, is the only house on the road, he said.

First Selectman Herb Rosenthal, after checking with other town agencies, noted, “No town agencies have a need of the road.”

The selectmen also approved by a 2-0-1 vote a transfer of $25,000 from the contingency account to an account for the tercentennial to provide seed money to cover the Tercentennial Commission’s expenses for fundraising and other costs. Selectmen Bill Brimmer abstained because he is a member of the commission.

The selectmen also approved a fee schedule for digital mapping data.

They also approved a resolution authorizing Mr Rosenthal to sign a memorandum of understanding with the state in regard to a Homeland Security Grant of $138,000.

Mr Rosenthal explained that while the town or the region had the option to administer the program, since all equipment must be approved by the state, it was decided to have the program administered by the state.

The Board of Selectmen also unanimously approved the appointment of Mary Ellen Lydem as an alternate to the Commission on Aging and Renee Baade to the Ad Hoc Open Space Task Force.

During public participation, resident Ruby Johnson, a representative of Friends of Fairfield Hills, handed out materials to the Board of Selectmen and noted several concerns, including an upcoming University of Connecticut poll regarding changes to the master plan for Fairfield Hills and future development of the Fairfield Hills campus.

She said that until abatement and demolition of buildings takes place, “the land is not worth anything.” She noted that three companies that had considered buying the campus had wanted the state to abate hazardous materials and/or demolish buildings.

She commended Mr Rosenthal and Rep Julia Wasserman for their negotiations with the state and resulting donation of additional Fairfield Hills land to the town.

“We’re getting a wonderful deal on the land,” Ms Johnson said.