Authority Chairman Asks For Help Seeking State Funding For FFH

By Kendra Bobowick

Appealing to Newtown’s legislative team, Fairfield Hills Authority Chair John Reed asked that they “share information with your colleagues at the legislature” regarding financial struggles accompanying campus reuse plans.

Facing State Representatives Chris Lyddy and DebraLee Hovey and Senator John McKinney, he told them, “We’ve heard that Newtown shouldn’t ask for things from the state since we got such a good deal on Fairfield Hills.”

He then provided the delegation with cost summaries of past years’ projects compared with “early on good faith estimates and realities of the market. We think you’ll find a significant difference.”

First Selectman Pat Llodra noted later in the meeting, “We need to recognize” that buying the former state hospital removed a burden from the state “and put it squarely on the taxpayers’ backs; we need respite.”

She said, “We ask our representatives to be our voice in Hartford.”

With estimated expenditures drawn up in a succinct list — purchase of property, soil remediation, legal consulting, planning, abatement, demolition — he said, “Here is what we have had to shoulder.” What’s “not in there” are values of in-kind services of work performed by town crews, he added.

Across the bottom of that page was an estimate of funds needed to complete building demolition: between $15 and $18 million.

Mr Reed stressed, “We want the legislature to understand the profound partner Newtown has been in the purchase of Fairfield Hills and to match Newtown’s commitment to make this work.”

Addressing the “good deal,” he explained the financial burdens the town and its taxpayers have shouldered since buying roughly 180 acres of former state hospital facilities after bonding roughly $21 million in 2001 — less than $5 million of which was devoted to the purchase while remaining funds focused on remediation, infrastructure upgrades, remodeling, renovation, and demolition.

The state closed the facility in 1996, leaving the town with a decision. Purchase and maintain control of a central swath of bucolic fields and brick facades, or lose it to private development.

Looking at future projects, infrastructure work, and failed plans to lease buildings and use that revenue for demolition, Mr Reed said, “I know everybody is out of money, but perhaps we can get some help with the Herculean task of taking down buildings.”

Ms Llodra said, “What we’re asking for is money, a major infusion of capital.”

The delegation, while supportive, also expressed reservations.

“We’re days away from electing a new governor who may have different vision coupled with a $3.2 billion deficit…” said Sen McKinney. “Having said that, the state still has a bonding package and will still want to partner with local projects.”

Rep Lyddy said the state may want to see clear future plans. “My problem is going to bat when we’re in limbo.”

Sen McKinney agreed that estimates — referring to Mr Reed’s mention of early on good faith estimates — are not an exact science, “and it’s not unfair to say we’re not whole, but we’ve got to connect [appeals] to the future.”

Rep Hovey said, “I want to assure the group that we are willing to advocate what the community wants. You do have a difficult coin.”

She advised, “The more succinct you are with me about your vision and what you want the state to do — if it’s adjustment around bids or grants and funding and making Newtown whole — we can make the argument. I am willing to go to the mat with this, but I have to know succinctly what you need. It doesn’t happen in a day either. I’ve got to bend the ear, change thinking.”