To The Editor:

I watched yesterday’s Legislative Council meeting from the comfort of my home, and it was deeply gratifying to see the council vote to approve the lease with Winn Development Company. This milestone marks a major step forward for our community.

Bringing a complex deal like this to the finish line requires immense dedication. I want to offer my kudos to First Selectman Bruce Walczak for successfully closing a deal that actually began well before our tenures, under the leadership of past First Selectmen. I also want to thank Peter Schwarz and Tony Filiato of the Fairfield Hills Authority for their excellent presentation of the lease to the Legislative Council, as well as their fellow member Ross Carley for his years of tireless advocacy and volunteering toward the success of this project. Seeing this effort through all of its twists and turns is a testament to what can be achieved with persistence and collaboration. Thank you to everyone involved for securing this positive outcome for Newtown.

While this action is clearly a historic milestone that marks the beginning of the rehabilitation of two beautiful buildings on the campus, it will still be years before a Certificate of Occupancy is issued. I hope our Building Department and town agencies will work closely with the developer to ensure the absolute best outcome for our community moving forward.

Jeff Capeci

Newtown