FFH Authority Hopes To Move

Its PR Initiative Online

By Kendra Bobowick

John Reed intends to pull the early 1900s-era Fairfield Hills campus further into the electronic age so residents can have a better understanding of what is happening with the former state hospital’s redevelopment. Fairfield Hills Authority members and Communications Committee members Mr Reed and Andrew Willie look to the Internet.

“Anybody who doesn’t have an interactive website is kidding themselves,” he said. The site can provide answers for those curious about campus events and allow viewers to pose their own questions. An improved website, open public forums, providing representatives to speak with groups large and small, and possibly securing air time on local television are among the subcommittee members’ thoughts for opening a stronger line of communication with the public.

Chairman Robert Geckle said, “They have come up with a lot of good ideas.” Since the last authority meeting and committee update in June, the authority indicated, “Keep marching forward,” Mr Geckle said. He also likes the idea of providing more information through a website, and “endorses the idea” of televised information.

Already the authority has a door opened on the Internet through a link on the town’s website, which can be enhanced. Campus information, the master plan for development, and background information are already available at www.newtown-ct.gov. Recent estimates from earlier in July show a count of roughly 1,500 visitors to the town site, and 100 of those looked at the Fairfield Hills page.

“The good news is the current web service will cover the foreseeable things we want to do.” Despite the website’s current content about Fairfield Hills, Mr Reed wants to give visitors something more. When speaking to the authority in June, he said that photographs and captions depicting work are important. Certain documents and design plans may also interest residents who want to know at a glance about Fairfield Hills updates.

In recent weeks residents have seen physical evidence of the years of planning and coordinating with architects and advisors. Trees were removed from the grounds surrounding Fairfield House, which will come down to make room for a 90-foot baseball diamond scheduled for construction in coming months. Mr Reed believes photo images would help residents track progress toward redeveloping the site for the intended economic, municipal, and recreational uses.

The authority can now worry about details. “The primary task we face is to define what we want and assembling the digital content,” as stated in the committee’s report that Mr Reed offered the authority last month.

Included on the reference sheet are additional thoughts about what an enhanced website might contain. He anticipates that the site will allow visitors to obtaining information about requesting a speaker, learn how to make a contribution of goods or services to Fairfield Hills, and enable people to ask questions.

Request A Speaker

Residents who want face-to-face information may soon have their answer beyond attending a monthly Fairfield Hills Authority meeting. Based on his communication report, “The Fairfield Hills Authority welcomes the opportunity to supply your large or small group with a speaker to address the responsibilities of the authority and how it seeks to meet them.” Already, Mr Geckle has spoken with several civic groups. Mr Reed favors future “interactive dialogue with an audience,” and also suggested hosting a forum at a school, for example. A tentative late September forum is on authority members’ minds.

In his experience, groups have been welcoming, Mr Geckle said. In his past discussions with groups, he made several observations. “I think people misunderstand the role of the authority — we’re not policy making — we just execute the master plan.” He said that for some, the information was “a revelation.” Economic development on the campus is also a concern he has been hearing. “The economic and commercial development is limited,” he said. “We are interested in maintaining the character of the campus.” Hopefully, guest speakers or open forums will help residents form a better understanding of Fairfield Hills plans, he said.

Mr Geckle again noted that a date for late September is pending.

Mr Reed also aims to reach a potentially larger audience through Charter Communications. He eyes a regularly televised time slot on the community access channel.