Date: Fri 10-Sep-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

Fairfield-Hills-Ruby-Johnson

Full Text:

Petitioning For A Town-Owned Fairfield Hills

BY STEVE BIGHAM

The group that calls itself "Save Fairfield Hills for Newtown" got a big boost

this past weekend when more than 800 residents signed its petition calling for

the town purchase of the 186-acre campus.

The group has now collected nearly 1,000 signatures and is expected to pick up

many more in the coming weeks. Most of the signatures from the past weekend

were solicited at the parade and the library book sale.

"Boy did we hit the jackpot," said an enthusiastic Ruby Johnson, who has led

the effort to convince town officials to reconsider their decision not to buy

Fairfield Hills. She sees it as the answer to many of Newtown's current and

future growth issues.

Currently, three private development firms are being considered for purchase

of the valuable land. However, the town will ultimately have right

of-first-refusal. "Save Fairfield Hills for Newtown" wants to make sure we

don't refuse. The petition urges First Selectman Herb Rosenthal to notify the

state, at the appropriate time, that Newtown is interested in buying Fairfield

Hills.

"People were saying, `Oh, I want to sign that,'" Mrs Johnson said. "We didn't

have near enough workers to get to everyone, though."

Rest assured, those who have not signed the petition and would like to will

still have an opportunity. The group is expected to continue soliciting

signatures over the next couple of months or until the combined state/town

committee makes a decision on one of the three developers. Whether it be

Newtown High School football games, PTA meetings or in front of the Grand

Union, members of Mrs Johnson's group welcome all residents to speak their

minds.

Call For A Town Meeting

The petition also requests that First Selectman Rosenthal call a town meeting

to allow residents an opportunity to vote on this issue. Under the town

charter, however, there is no provision that allows residents to petition for

a town meeting. They can petition for a referendum -- after a town meeting has

been held -- but a town meeting must be called by the Board of Selectmen on

the direction of the Legislative Council. Therefore, residents could be

thwarted in their efforts to vote on the issue.

"Save Fairfield Hills for Newtown" is proposing what it believes is a fourth

choice in the quest for the best re-development of Fairfield Hills. With that

in mind, the group is seeking an equal voice. It will not be speaking at the

September 21 meeting at NHS (when the three private developers will present

their proposals). However, it has prepared a booklet of information which will

be on hand at the Cyrenius H. Booth Library.

"It will be a visualization of uses of what the people in town have indicated

they want," Mrs Johnson said.

"Save Fairfield Hills for Newtown" has been handing out green ribbons to all

those who favor the town purchase of the property.

Neck-And-Neck

The latest results of The Bee 's informal "Vox Populi" poll on its Web site

(www.thebee.com) shows both the development firm of Becker and Becker and a

town purchase of Fairfield Hills continuing to run neck-and-neck. Becker &

Becker has 37 percent of the vote, while the Town Purchase Plan has 36

percent. Becker & Becker plans to preserve and adapt the buildings for new

uses, housing, 5/6 school, hotel and public recreation.

Wilder & Balter, which plans to demolish the buildings, put up housing and

build a golf course, checks in with 25 percent of the vote -- well up from 17

percent just three weeks ago.

SBC Associates, which proposes to demolish most buildings, build housing, a

retail village and hotel, has received three percent of the vote in the

informal survey.

As of Wednesday (3:15 pm), a total of 320 online votes had been cast. The poll

allows just one vote from each computer.