First Selectman: Keep Politics

Out Of Fairfield Hills Review

By John Voket

After acknowledging there would be a future venue in which Selectman Bill Furrier could fully and frankly discuss his concerns about separating powers related to the future administration and developments at Fairfield Hills, the minority selectman lent his vote to the unanimous endorsement of a charge to a committee that will review the facility’s master plan.

During about 30 minutes of deliberation on the proposal, and the beginning of subsequent discussions on how to staff that committee, Mr Furrier also agreed in theory with the logic of First Selectman Pat Llodra and Selectman Will Rodgers’ that its makeup should be primarily driven by talent versus politics.

Mrs Llodra has consistently maintained a master plan review committee should not be rooted in any political agendas of its members, or the agendas of the political parties who recommend potential members. And she furthermore explained during this week’s discussions, that if presented with enough talent from politically unaffiliated volunteers, she was ready to reduce or even forego appointing members solely on the basis of their respective political party endorsements.

Mr Rodgers said that in the end, he believes there will be some party involvement, he fully supported trying to solicit “a committee of unbiased (members) — altruistic if possible, and with no agendas.”

“We should be prepared to scale back party involvement equally across the board if we get lucky drawing from not the usual suspects, as it were,” he added.

“I don’t see (the review committee) rooted in a political agenda,” Mrs Llodra concurred. She told the selectmen that seven or eight individuals have already stepped forward for consideration, and their letters of interest left the first selectman uncertain “of any political orientation.”

“I’m interested in engaging community members who will be courageous in their discourse, and with the potential to take the group out of a political domain,” Mrs Llodra said.

The unified front presented by the first selectman and Mr Rodgers appeared to soften Mr Furrier’s resolve to have the committee tackle administrative and constitutional issues involving dispersing powers to affect new policy and projects at Fairfield Hills among several lead agencies — particularly the Legislative Council, and the town’s Public Building and Site Commission.

And while he agreed to support the committee’s charge as proposed, he acknowledged that, “it does not make me feel comfortable.”

“If there’s a problem with the balance of power, we need to discuss it,” Mr Furrier said.

Mrs Llodra agreed saying: “The eventual governmental structure will have to be addressed.”

The charge to the Fairfield Hills master plan review committee includes:

*Soliciting input and active participation from members of the public, from community boards and commissions, and from such Town of Newtown departments as determined appropriate by the Committee.

*Provide forum(s) for local discussion of key issues pertaining to the future use and development of the campus.

*Using the existing Master Plan (March 2005 as amended) as the starting point for its review, understanding that the Town Meeting in June 2001 identified five themes for campus development.

*Providing input, advice, and direction to the Board of Selectmen related to these core themes.

Further, the committee is encouraged to provide recommendations related to any additional themes, concepts or issues concerned with the development of the Campus. And the proposed revision of the Fairfield Hills Master Plan should be consistent with the Plan of Conservation and Development for the Town of Newtown.

Mrs Llodra said she will introduce all the candidates who have come forward with intentions to serve on the committee at the next selectmen’s meeting April 4.

In the meantime, Mrs Llodra urged any resident who may have particular talents or skills that could be applied to helping make Fairfield Hills an optimum public investment and destination, should contact her office as soon as possible by phone at 203-270-4201, or via email through her administrative assistant at: susan.marcinek@newtown-ct.gov.