A Momentous Decision

To the Editor:

August 12, 2003, will possibly be one of the most important dates in the history of the Town of Newtown. On that date the voters of Newtown will have the opportunity to decide the future of Fairfield Hills and possibly Newtown.

To assist you, the voter, in making this momentous decision, may I suggest you set aside the last two-and-a-half years of rhetoric and consider the following:

1. On May 29, 2001, the Legislative Council voted unanimously to approve the “Resolution appropriating $21,850,000 for the purchase of the Fairfield Hills campus and renovation and improvement to various buildings thereon, the planning, design and construction of renovations and code updates to Edmond Town Hall, and for various other public improvements…” This resolution was subsequently approved by the majority of voters at a town meeting in June 2001.

2. Over the next year-and-a-half the Fairfield Hills Ad Hoc Committee developed a master plan based on their research and public input.

If you have not already done so take the time, before you vote, to go to the town clerk’s office or the library and read page ES11 of FFH Master Plan. On this page you will find the summary and conclusion of the master plan. You will note that the first three items in the summary deal with the creation of a town hall building for the town and Board of Education offices (this could be a renovation of Shelton Hall), 12 playing fields and related building, demolition and environmental activities. These are the only activities authorized by the authorizing resolution.

The following seven statements in the summary are prefaced by the words “Opportunity for” or “Provision of,” which, to me, means they are subject to future planning.

The last paragraph of the summary states: “Entire campus remains under the control of the town to assure conformance with the plan and appropriate design.”

The forgoing is backed up by the following statement in the conclusion: “The master plan meets fully the objectives and requirements of the Fairfield Hills Adaptive Reuse District contained in the Town’s Zoning Regulations.”

In conclusion, I feel that the proposed master plan provides the town with sufficient control and flexibility to administer the Fairfield Hills campus.

I also agree with Mr Andras’s letter to The Bee dated July 29, 2003. Let’s move ahead, vote and make history for Newtown together.

Sincerely,

Joseph E. Borst

10 Beechwood Drive, Sandy Hook                              August 6, 2003