Date: Fri 17-Jul-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

Fairfield-Hills-Council

Full Text:

Council Responds Cautiously To Possible Purchase Of Fairfield Hills

BY STEVE BIGHAM

Town officials seem to agree -- the prospect of buying a large portion of the

Fairfield Hills campus is daunting to say the least. The possibility is very

real, however, and several important decisions that could lead to it are not

that far off.

"This is going to be one of the most important decisions this town makes. We

don't want to be caught making the wrong one," noted council member Melissa

Pilchard Wednesday night.

Up for sale by the state: 185 acres of property and all the buildings in the

main core campus section of the former state mental institution. The price:

anywhere from $1 million to $10 million depending upon whether the buyer

removes the asbestos in the buildings -- reportedly a huge project.

The state's Office of Policy and Management is preparing to market the land

but is expected to give the town right of first refusal on the property in

September or October, according to State Rep Julia Wasserman. The property

will not be split up. The state wants to sell it to one buyer. Mrs Wasserman

said she is neither for nor against the town buying the land.

"This is a tremendous thing to take on. You need a lot of visionaries to deal

with this proposal," she explained.

Any decision by the town to buy the property would require a townwide

referendum.

First Selectman Herb Rosenthal has formed a four-man task force to meet with

state officials to discuss the possible sale and use of the property. He is

also appointing an advisory committee to help in the process. Right now, he

said, the town has no idea what it is getting into. A lot of groundwork must

be taken care of before the town can even consider taking the land over, he

said, adding that he is reluctant to get the town involved in the real estate

business.

"We have no idea what those buildings are worth. We know it does cost $1.5

million per year just to maintain them. At this point, we'd be shooting in the

dark. Later we'll know more," Mr Rosenthal said.

Several developers are very interested in the land. Before it is sold,

however, the state wants to unload the houses it owns on Queen Street and Mile

Hill Road South. It also wants to settle the lease agreement with the town

over the use of 37 acres off Commerce Road.

Legislative Council Chairman Pierre Rochman said the town needs to have a plan

on what it wants to do with the property before the state makes an offer.

"We need to be ready to say yes or no. If we have no idea of what we want to

do with the land, then we have to say `no' when the state finally makes an

offer," he said.

Newtown residents Walter Motyka reminded council members that being a landlord

is not in the town's best interest, especially when it means taking over the

state's problems.

"This is going to be the town's decision ultimately, not the state's," Mrs

Wasserman told council members. "They're going to lose money on this. Many

people from the state are concerned that what happens up there is in the best

interest of both the town and the state, so the price tag is soft."

Joe Borst said the town should not be afraid to move on the state's offer

pointing to the success Bethel has had with the Francis Clark Park.

Mr Rosenthal said he plans to make every effort to keep the town informed as

to what is happening at Fairfield Hills.