Fairfield Hills Issues
Fairfield Hills Issues
To the Editor:
A town financial report dated June 12, 2008, states: Remaining bond money including income from sale of Mile Hill South homes and $60,000 from the movie never made: $10,627,348, operating budget: Unencumbered $12,939, Encumbered $68,996. No money has been received from the Newtown Hall lease from Hawley Realty. Kevinâs Community Center is considering a different location because as a charitable endeavor it has no money to pay expenses expected in a lease from Hawley Realty.
The fixed contract price for the renovation of Bridgeport Hall is $10,485,502. This means we will get whatever that amount will buy. If the project remains incomplete, more money will have to be requested. The reportedly 60-year-old roof cannot be replaced for this amount and current plans propose to use shingles from other roofs to be used to patch the roof where stacks, vents, etc have to be installed.
The Fairfield Hills Authority determined it would construct the parking for both commercial and town activities at Fairfield Hills. The Newtown Youth Academy, planning to open November 1, urgently needs to have parking available. Because all the bond money is under contract, the Fairfield Hills Authority is proposing to accept Mr DâAmicoâs plan to privately construct permanent parking.
Two proposals are under consideration. 1) Modify the lease with the Newtown Youth Academy and allow it to demolish Greenwich Hall and install permanent parking, charging the town $3.5 million for 20 years. Interest rate 6.95 percent, average annual cost $324,366.
2) Town to install temporary parking ($500,000). Demolish Greenwich and install permanent parking in five years at a cost of $6,168,196 ($3.5 escalated at 12 percent per year) $6.2 million for 15 years, interest rate 4.5 percent (bond rate) average annual cost $454,938, beginning in five years.
Option 3) Use the town hall money to install permanent parking and all utilities in 2008. When the bids are received for the town hall, return to the voters for more money. This option has not been considered.
Utilities: Electricity, telephone, and cable will be carried via telephone poles to the Newtown Youth Academy. Propane gas will be utilized. Lack of funds and time constraints forced this temporary solution.
Water and sewers: The Water and Sewer Authority will use existing facilities until money is available. Stearns & Wheler, environmental engineers, evaluated the water and sewer lines. Its preliminary assessment of January 10, 2007, stated: âThe sanitary sewer line around Bridgeport Hall, and possible throughout the campus, should not be used in its current condition. (p. 2)â The Water and Sewer Authority will use its $2 million Capital Fund when all the other utility lines are installed. The town needs to receive a federal grant to undertake this project estimated at $5 million by O&G.
Ruby Johnson
16 Chestnut Hill, Sandy Hook                                       June 18, 2008