Rosenthal: FFH Contract Signing Due Soon

By Jan Howard

First Selectman Herb Rosenthal told Board of Selectmen members Tuesday the town’s attorneys have resolved all outstanding issues with the state and that he expects to sign the contract to purchase Fairfield Hills within the next few weeks.

He said the town was “moving along” with a water agreement with the Potatuck Fish and Game Club, which owns the water supply for Fairfield Hills.

“Most issues have fallen in place,” Mr Rosenthal said.

Once the lawyers have said everything is in place, Mr Rosenthal said he would need authorization from the Board of Selectmen to sign the contract with the state.

In other business, the Board of Selectmen will meet during its September 15 meeting with representatives of the town’s Pension Committee, who will explain strategies and philosophies and review performance of the pension system.

The selectmen also discussed an upcoming meeting, the date yet to be set, for a joint meeting of the Board of Selectmen, Legislative Council, and Board of Finance for a presentation by Rob Sibley of the Conservation Commission and Open Space Task Force and Tim Northrop, director of the Trust for Public Lands, regarding the acquisition of open space.

The presentation will review the most appropriate way to protect open space in Newtown, Mr Rosenthal said.

Mr Rosenthal noted that the Open Space Task Force has identified parcels of land of more than ten acres and sent letters to land owners asking them to notify the town of their intent to sell their property.

During a recent interview with Mr Rosenthal, he said that the Legislative Council committed by consensus to looking at an authorization of funds so in the future when parcels of land become available the town can purchase them.