Selectmen Want To Hear More On Fairfield Hills

By Steve Bigham

The Board of Selectmen this week said it needs more information from the Fairfield Hills advisory committee before it makes a recommendation to the Legislative Council on whether or not Newtown should purchase the former state mental health hospital.

The selectmen plan to meet again with Michael Floros’ board in early May. Last month, the ad hoc advisory committee proposed that the town purchase the 185-acre campus and use the central buildings as a corporate campus. This, Mr Floros said, would provide revenue to offset the costs to the town.

The advisory committee made its presentation at a joint meeting of the selectmen and council last month. However, as Selectman Bill Brimmer pointed out, there was too much noise in the high school cafeteria that night. The selectmen feel the need for a more informal question and answer period.

On Monday, the selectmen indicated they favored Mr Floros’ plan over the one currently being hailed by the “Save Fairfield Hills for Newtown” group. That alternative plan calls for less corporate development and more parks, fields, and open space for the community.

First Selectman Herb Rosenthal credited the recent presentation made by the Save Fairfield Hills group, but he does not believe it was realistic. Under that plan, it is assumed that the state would contribute money rather than generating revenue from corporate tenants. But Mr Rosenthal, who has been in negotiations with Hartford officials on the purchase of Fairfield Hills, doesn’t buy it.

“The state is not going to give us the property or spend the kind of money they were talking about,” he said Monday. “The town already plans to bond $45 million. Where is the other $40 million going to come from? Their plan would cost the town an additional $40 million because we would front the money to do the work. Under [Mr Floros’] proposal, those big costs would be fronted by the developer.”

While the selectmen may favor one plan over the other, they remain unprepared to pass on a recommendation. Even Mr Rosenthal has indicated that he does not necessarily agree with the entire advisory committee proposal. In addition, the first selectman said, the Board of Selectmen can not make a recommendation until an offer has been made by the state.

“We need to know the issues before we make a recommendation,” he said. “But we should have an idea what we think should be done at Fairfield Hills [even before an offer is made]. There are certain issues we can take a stand on.”

 The Board of Selectmen must also determine if it wants to hold a public forum before or after it votes on the issue. Meanwhile, the Legislative Council’s own ad hoc committee on Fairfield Hills held a meeting April 12. It has been charged with coming up with a process for the council to follow in the development of a master plan for Fairfield Hills should the town decide to buy the property.