Stay Involved

With Fairfield Hills

To the Editor:

As a Newtown resident, I am very pleased the town has made the bold decision to purchase 185 acres and one million square feet of building space at Fairfield Hills from the State of Connecticut. The purchase of his campus-like property in the heart of town enables the town to control its own destiny.

The purchase represents a decade-long collaboration between the town and the state that resulted in a win-win situation. People with psychiatric disabilities do better in the community, providing they receive necessary support services. The state Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services closed the hospital in 1995 and consolidated remaining patients who could not be transitioned into the community into Connecticut Valley Hospital in Middletown.

The price of $3.9 million to purchase the property was the end result of the hard work of too many individuals to mention by name. Heading the list, however, is State Rep Julia Wasserman and her Task Force to Study the Re-Use of Fairfield Hills State Property. Ms Wasserman’s task force laid the groundwork for the final negotiations between First Selectman Herb Rosenthal and the state. Richard Nuclo of the Connecticut Office of Policy and Management worked hand-in-hand with the town since 1993 and deserves special commendation for the desirable outcome.

As part of the long-term negotiations preceding the final contract, Mr Nuclo sought comprehensive re-development plans from a prestigious group of developers. However, Newtown residents decided they would rather control the future use of the property, avoiding the likelihood of large scale residential development. I believe this was a very wise move.

Largely as a result of Ms Wasserman’s initiative, the town already owned about 100 acres of former hospital land and last year acquired four more acres for ball fields. In addition, 300 acres were earlier deeded to the Department of Agriculture in perpetuity. About 60 acres of this tract is used by the Governor’s Horse Guard.

Ms Wasserman first became involved in the campus re-use process in 1991 when the state began downsizing the hospital. She called former DMHAS Commissioner Albert A. Solnit, who supported her efforts and guided her to introduce legislation to establish her task force in 1993 through the State Legislature. The task force included a distinguished panel of state and town officials, business people, educators, and residents. They met numerous times and wrote an award-winning re-use plan.

It was a common goal of Dr Solnit and Ms Wasserman to make the campus buildings and grounds available for the well-being of Newtown. The department downsized the hospital gradually, retraining workers or helping them find positions closer to home.

Another person deserving special credit is Fairfield architect Ann Renehan, who volunteered her time to create a campus re-use proposal that presents a village-approach. Ms Renehan’s concept includes rehabilitation facilities for psychiatric patients. While it was open, the hospital provided jobs and patronage of local businesses, which the town valued.

During the years since Ms Wasserman’s task force completed its charge, Legislative Council member Ruby Johnson formed another group, Save Fairfield Hills for Newtown. Ms Johnson’s group would like to dedicate the majority of the property for a community park, hiking trails, and other open space uses to preserve the land for future generations.

The June vote by taxpayers to buy Fairfield Hills could never have happened without the years of dedication, planning, and negotiations by the individuals named above. Now it is incumbent upon town leaders to include residents in vital decisions about the future of Fairfield Hills. It is equally essential for the state budget adequately to fund community services for mentally ill people.

The future is bright, providing forward-thinking officials and residents stay involved and energized. Plenty of public participation will be needed to assure a free flow of ideas in the years to come.

Paul E. Doniger

4 Saddle Ridge Road, Newtown                                   July 23, 2001