The Proposed Town Hall and FFH
The Proposed
Town Hall and FFH
To the Editor:
Since the Kaestle-Boos firm, hired by the selectmen, proposed a 23,500-square-foot addition to the 44,000-square-foot Edmond Town Hall for $11,239,504 million in 1999, little progress has been made to address the overcrowded conditions of our town employees. Kaestle-Boos warned that this addition was based on a 20-year projection, and the site had limited expansion possibilities.
Citizens supported the purchase of Fairfield Hills, partly because the bond issue included $6 million for the renovation of Shelton House for a new town hall. The selectmen have rejected Shelton House even though the hospital administrators successfully used Shelton Hall for 50 years. The Fairfield Hills Authorityâs architect proposed construction of a 22,000-square-foot, two-story building attached to Bridgeport Hall, the one-story former dining hall for Fairfield Hills patients. Now, however, not enough bond money remains for this plan, and the senior baseball field and the road (hiking trail) to the high meadow costing $1,836,930, so the newest plan is to utilize only Bridgeport Hall.
The selectmenâs master plan continues to change. For example, their master plan made no mention of renovating the house on Trades Lane for a security building.
What can citizens do to reign in this continuous abuse of power? Some suggestions are: 1. Show your support for Matt DeAngelisâs effort to enforce the principle that citizens be allowed to choose a master plan for Fairfield Hills. 2. Insist on a serious consideration of two recent proposals. A. Purchase of the 24-acre site and Kendro Building for $4 million to house all town offices using Fairfield Hills bond money. B. Renovate Edmond Town Hall converting the gym into office space. 3. Support setting aside 75 flat acres at Fairfield Hills for a future high school and abandon economic development at Fairfield Hills. 4. Insist on consideration of Bridgeport and Plymouth Halls for recreation and senior center activities until the town can afford better facilities and 5. Use the flat land for the seven new playing fields funded in the bond issue.
Should citizens spend $20 million to subsidize developers? The Fairfield Hills Authority is considering offering a 30-year âas-isâ lease for Newtown Hall for $860,000 along with business tax abatement and personal property tax reductions. The town will still own the buildings; thus, a developer will not pay âreal propertyâ taxes during the 30-year lease.
Let our elected officials know that if they want our support at budget time, they should listen carefully now. November 2007 elections are looming.
Ruby Johnson
16 Chestnut Hill Road, Sandy Hook                   December 13, 2006