Officials Gather To Welcome

Federal Funds For FFH

By Kendra Bobowick

Only hours after thunderstorms washed the region and emerging sunshine dried the puddle-stained streets, Director of Planning and Community Development Elizabeth Stocker welcomed state, federal, and local officials to the steps of Woodbury Hall in Fairfield Hills.

Minutes later, Environmental Protection Agency representative for the New England branch James Byrne handed a $200,000 check to First Selectman Joe Borst for brownfields remediation, but not before Congressman Chris Murphy — acquainted with the push to revamp Fairfield Hills — spoke briefly. Glad to see a municipal, state, and federal partnership coordinate to receive the grant funds, he admired the “step-by-step” and “day-by-day” persistence to bring a fresh start to the former state hospital campus vacated in the late 1990s. As he joins a team pursuing another federal grant for the 186-plus acres including buildings, sports fields, trails, and rustic meadows, he noted that the EPA grant added weight to the future appeal. “This award will be more fodder for our arguments,” he said. “These dollars will strengthen our arguments for the next dollar.”

Just seeing “shovels in the ground” proves that efforts afoot to revitalize the sleepy cluster of brick façades are “moving along here in steps,” Congressman Murphy said. Like Newtown’s first selectman would soon do, he thanked the environmental agency for the funds.

As Mr Murphy shrugged under the early afternoon heat and adjusted his dark suit-jacket, Mr Borst took his place before the handful of interested parties Wednesday. Among the small gathering were Senator John McKinney, Congressman Murphy, representatives from town departments, local officials, and parties interested in how the Fairfield Hills plans unfold, including private developer and entrepreneur Peter D’Amico, who is financing and building the 89,000-square-foot Newtown Youth Academy on campus.

With the cash in hand, Mr Borst explained, “The grant will be helpful in abating harmful health risks. It is with great pleasure that I accept the $200,000 for the town.” Stepping into the queue behind Mr Borst was Jim Ryan, director of the Shelton Economic Corporation and the Valley’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy involving 18 towns, recently including Newtown. Underlining the power in numbers, he said, “In Shelton, I thought there was no way to engage the federal government unless it’s as part of a team.” He also nodded to Congressman Murphy, saying that without his help the grant funds may not have made it into the Fairfield Hills bank accounts.

Mr Byrns spoke quickly, with upbeat words. “This is the best part of the job, giving away money,” he said, with an eye toward the “check,” which was a printed representation pasted on poster board.