Officials Review Draft Lease For Clinic At Fairfield Hills

By Kendra Bobowick

With a draft lease in hand for Kevin’s Community Center (KCC), Fairfield Hills Authority members during an executive session Monday, November 8, reviewed the 11 pages, then decided to pass their remarks and questions to the town’s attorney and first selectman.

Kevin’s Community Center provides free primary health care to persons over the age of 18 who are uninsured, underinsured, or have limited financial resources.

“We’re setting the table, so to speak,” said authority Chairman John Reed. He hopes to soon present the KCC board with “something to react to.”

“The draft we’ve been asked to comment on is in preparation to share with Kevin’s Community Center,” he said.

Officials have plans to relocate the nonprofit medical clinic to the duplex area on the former state hospital campus. Newtown also has a $500,000 grant on KCC’s behalf to upgrade and prepare one of the smaller buildings for occupancy.

After more than an hour  in private session, member Walt Motyka moved publicly to take action that “findings of review of the draft lease for Kevin’s Community Center be shared and discussed with the town attorney and first selectman.”

The KCC staff will respond, “and we’ll have a back and forth discussion and hopefully come up with results in a lease that is agreeable to all parties,” said Mr Reed.

In recent weeks First Selectman Pat Llodra has raised discussion about the community center, the associated $500,000 state grant the town has received, but not yet executed for renovations on KCC’s behalf, and general reuse for the duplex area. She also has been speaking with KCC regarding possibilities for moving to Fairfield Hills.

Kevin’s Community Center Director and founder Dr Michael Taweh said recently that a move to Fairfield Hills “was a step in the right direction.” He is speaking with town officials now to “work out details of a lease — a step closer to where we need to be.”

The free medical clinic, which serves residents from towns included in the Newtown Health district, does have a “close working relationship with the town,” Dr Taweh said. “They understand why we are vital for Newtown. A majority of our patients are from Newtown.” He estimates that the clinic provides more than $500,000 in free and volunteer services each year.

Talking Figures

Documents before authority members earlier this month did not contain any figures for a lease amount,  or hint at a timeline for the project.

“We don’t determine the finances,” clarified Mr Motyka.

Speaking generally, Mr Reed said, “We realize the services they provide to Newtown.” He also noted that KCC “might not have the wherewithal to undertake renovations” without the grant funds. Mrs Llodra in recent weeks had addressed executing the funds, and said recently that the KCC board and the town need to be sure that the grant will provide a sufficient amount of money to renovate the duplex. An additional $350,000 is in the town’s Capital Improvement Plan to bring infrastructure to the duplex loop.

Mrs Llodra said, “We think we have enough resources.”

Regarding a lease agreement, she said, “At the end of the day, the town benefits from the relationship with KCC. We end up with an asset — a $500,000 rehabbed building that the town leases to KCC — we’re the owners — and that’s a financial benefit.” She also notes that the KCC is a not-for-profit organization run by volunteers. “A lease will reflect that, but there will be rent.”

She said, “It’s a responsibility we have to the taxpayers.” Rent would reflect common area charges, but the details are not hammered out.

Grant Uncertainty

The state funds may not be on the table indefinitely. “I am getting unofficial hints,”  said Mrs Llodra in late October, that funds authorized for the past two years by the state for the town’s use “could be recalled.” The state — like everyone — is also facing economic troubles, she had said. Selectman Will Rodgers this week also commented following a November 15 Board of Selectmen’s meeting, that “the state is looking for excuses to retract grants,” in his opinion.