Unfolding Over Six Years, Fairfield Hills Projects Now Face Questions

By Kendra Bobowick

Critics of various aspects of the town’s planned development of Fairfield Hills have called for a reassessment of those plans and possibly a reordering of priorities for the use of funds already allocated for projects at the site.

In a recent letter to the editor of The Newtown Bee, writer Michele Hankin suggests, “Funds for the new town hall should be reallocated to pay for the community’s real needs.”

But can funds now secured for town hall renovation, grounds improvements, playing fields, and recreation trails be reassigned to cover more current concerns? According to discussions at a recent Legislative Council meeting, the answer is no.

First Selectman Herb Rosenthal, Finance Director Benjamin Spragg, and Board of Finance Chairman John Kortze each commented that reallocating funds for uses not specified in the original 2001 bond resolution for Fairfield Hills could slap the town with both civil and criminal penalties for misappropriation of funds, could prompt Internal Revenue Service penalties, and potentially jeopardize the town’s bond rating, officials said at last week’s Legislative Council meeting.

Several residents’ wrote to The Bee and expressed views countering the proposed use of funds, however. Controversy arises from two areas — plans currently moving ahead with the already bonded (roughly) $21 million for Fairfield Hills redevelopment and other planned capital improvements projects also carrying multimillion-dollar estimates.

Fairfield Hills plans call for the renovating Bridgeport Hall to house a new town hall and the Board of Education offices. Recent proposals for capital improvements include requests from the Parks and Recreation Department for $6.2 million for a recreation/community center/senior center/pool, and Board of Education requests for high school expansion at $40-plus millions. The entire Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) is $90,120,000.

Letters appearing in the January 12 Bee made the divided opinions clear.

Deseree Galassi asked, “Does a new town hall serve the immediate and urgent needs of our children, our families, our elderly, and our business?”

Ms Hankin also stated, “Many people feel very strongly that a new town hall…is not a prudent decision…” She stressed the high school expansions were “an absolute necessity.” Recreational needs also topped her priority list.

Resident Justin Scott’s letter expressed similar views. He wrote, “I am beginning to think that building a new town hall…is an idea who time has come and gone…”

Letter writer Kevin Fitzgerald even raises the possibility of legal action. One resident and local businessman, Matt DeAngelis, has already taken that step, filing a civil suit against the town and individual officials contesting, for one, the validity of the master plan guiding the Fairfield Hills development.

Mr Fitzgerald’s letter states, “With the opportunity for public discourse closed to the public long ago, legal action is the only way to force a review of the decision…” He also writes that the town is heading for “a colossal financial blunder at a time when Newtown can least afford it.”

Trying to sort through the conflicting opinions over various projects, Mr Rosenthal said in an interview this week, “The [Fairfield Hills] project has been unusual.” Most often the times between securing bonded funds and spending them on the project are close together, he said. Fairfield Hills funds were secured in 2001 and the decision process has been spread over the past several years. Cost estimates for aspects of the project such as new town hall renovations occurred in the last 12 months.

Also, public opinion will shift as individuals priorities and needs change over time, Mr Rosenthal said.

“You can’t keep redoing the process over and over,” he said. Compared to the overall $100 million-plus proposed capital improvement package, an approximate $10 million for a new town hall “is less than 10 percent,” Mr Rosenthal said. He also stressed that Fairfield Hills plans are not overshadowing other needs, aside from relocating the town and school board offices in a new town hall at the former state hospital campus.

“Needs are being addresses in addition to municipal and school offices,” he said, noting that the Legislative Council just approved the capital improvement proposal encompassing school expansions and recreation needs. Finances will not be overextended.

“The Board of Finance feels we can afford this,” Mr Rosenthal said. Council member and acting chair Timothy Holian had said at last week’s meeting, “…the Board of Finance did exactly what we asked them to do — provide a plan that stays within the debt cap, while doing as much for the entire town as possible.” Each proposed sum must still move through each step of the approval process, which ultimately lands in voters’ hands.

Regarding Fairfield Hills, money has already been bonded for specific uses, and plans are already in motion to relocate town hall offices to Bridgeport Hall, where space will also be renovated to accommodate the Board of Education.