Traffic Panel Endorses Fairfield Hills Stop Signs

By ANDY GOROSKO

Published: Oct 17, 2008 12:00 am

By Andrew Gorosko

Following a review of a traffic report prepared by the police department, the Police Commission has endorsed the locations of existing stop signs at the Fairfield Hills core campus in preparation for increased public activity at the site, which is undergoing redevelopment by the town.

The Police Commission, acting as the local traffic authority, on October 7 endorsed having 15 stop signs at Fairfield Hills intersections remain in their current locations to control the traffic that will be using the site.

Officer David Kullgren of the police departmentâs traffic unit presented the traffic report to commission members.

The town purchased the 187-acre site of the former Fairfield State Hospital from the state for $3.9 million in August 2004. The town then formulated a Fairfield Hills Master Plan to provide a framework for the redevelopment of the property, which formerly housed several thousand psychiatric patients. The state hospital closed in December 1995.

The town is converting Bridgeport Hall at Fairfield Hills into a town office building.

The 15 stop signs posted at Fairfield Hills were installed by the state when Fairfield Hills was still owned by the state. Now that the town owns the site, the Police Commission has jurisdiction over such signs. The commissionâs October 7 action thus allows town police to enforce stop sign violations at Fairfield Hills.

The stop sign locations endorsed by the Police Commission pertain to Fairfield Hills streets including Keating Farm Road, Simpson Street, Washington Square, Trades Lane, Beers Boulevard, and Primrose Lane.

In the traffic report, Officer Kullgren states that the 15 stop signs will be needed to ensure safe pedestrian and vehicular traffic at Fairfield Hills when the site is redeveloped and handles much more traffic than it does now.

The traffic report states that the site will host a multitude of recreational activities, seven days a week, on a year-round basis. Both the town government and businesses will be using the site in the future.

After the November opening of the Newtown Youth Academy sports facility at Fairfield Hills, plus other planned uses, pedestrian and vehicular traffic will greatly increase, according to the report.

The policeâs duty is to ensure the safe and efficient movement of pedestrians and vehicles on the site, according to Officer Kullgren.

Police Chief Michael Kehoe told Police Commission members that the town has accepted all the Fairfield Hills core campus roads as town roads, permitting the commission to serve as that areaâs traffic authority.

Details about of the extent of the sidewalk network that would be constructed at Fairfield Hills remain unclear.

Police Commission member Bruce Walczak said that because the commission has not yet made any traffic flow changes at the core campus, it has not yet required the services of a traffic engineer.

Chief Kehoe said police will be reviewing setting speed limits for the core campus roads and will report back to the commission on the matter.

Families United In Newtown Wraps Up The Season With Celebration At Dickinson Park

Attendees Have Fun At NFA's Third Annual SpringFest

Town & Country Garden Club Of Newtown Celebrates 60 Years Of Commitment To Club & Community

Enjoy A DJ Dance Party, Arts And Crafts, And More At Summer Luau

The Way We Were

The Editor suggest a meeting between the "Rock This Democracy " and the Police Commission. As a former Police Commissioner the Chief should have followed the chain of command and discussed this with the Police Commission. The Chief reports to the Elected Police Commission not our Republican First Selection. Can't help but feel this is Republican politics again making an issue out of a non issue.

Assembly Ordinance?

I support Chief Kullgren’s request to explore permitting, and cost-sharing for large gatherings. The right to protest is a cornerstone of our democracy, and I fully support the constitutional right to free speech and assembly. However, where and how often these protests occur matters. Main Street is not just a symbol — it’s a vital artery for daily life in town. When events are held there monthly, and at increasing scale, they cause disruption to residents, businesses, and traffic. While the Rock This Democracy group may describe these protests as unique or urgent, the frequency — roughly once every two weeks this spring — suggests more of a recurring series than a singular, spontaneous moment of civic expression. This isn’t about silencing anyone. It’s about fairness, public safety, and fiscal responsibility. Every time a protest happens, our police department is forced to assign resources, often on overtime. That expense adds up quickly. If any group wants to use public space regularly, particularly in a way that impacts traffic and requires police presence, then it’s reasonable for the town to consider permitting and cost-sharing — just as we do for other organized events like races, festivals, or parades. Let’s protect everyone’s rights — including the right of the community to function smoothly and the right of taxpayers not to bear undue cost for repeated events. I trust the Council to consider a reasonable path forward that balances speech with responsibility.

David, your passion for transparency would carry more weight if it weren’t routinely wielded like a cudgel. Let's set the record straight: no one is against easier access to documents or better online availability—we all want an informed public. But there's a difference between constructive advocacy and the kind of grandstanding that costs this town time, morale, and taxpayer money. You cite Ridgefield’s practices—great. Let's talk about that like adults. But instead, what we see is a steady stream of accusatory posts, legal challenges, and FOIA blitzes aimed less at solving problems and more at creating headlines. It’s not “slander” to point out that your approach often does more to divide and exhaust than to help. I’ve been at the very meetings you claim are inaccessible or opaque. I’ve seen your group turn logistical hiccups into conspiracy theories. I’ve watched as staff—who already work overtime—are dragged into another fishing expedition while real civic needs are left hanging. You’re not just pushing for access; you’re using the tools of open government to grind its gears to a halt. That’s not progress. That’s obstruction dressed up as advocacy. And the people paying for it—literally—are your neighbors. Let’s stop pretending it’s just about uploading PDFs. The issue here is how we engage. We can have real conversations about modernization without constant accusations, FOIA skirmishes, and Facebook pile-ons. Until then, I’ll continue to call out tactics that undermine, not uplift, our town.

Calls For Policies To Create Greater Transparency

The bottom line is this: costs are up, and no group—including teachers—is exempt. Ignoring Anthem’s recommended 22% increase last year may have directly caused the $2 million shortfall. Everyone has to share in the fix. That might mean higher premiums and leaner benefits. Complaints alone won’t solve the problem—realistic solutions will. I urge all Newtown Teachers to email their Union leaders and express their support for higher premiums.

Discusses Town Self-Funded Insurance Plan

Its really easy to make assertions and cast doubts from behind a keyboard....a little too easy aparently. You might try conducting the actual research BEFORE doing it next time. If you do, you too will find that there's no need to imagine such a policy to improve public transparency and participation. Take a look at Ridgefield's P&Z meeting agendas on their website for starters. They are just one town that provide links to electronic copies of applications and other public documents, so that their commissioners and residents can easily access them and be well-informed, before meetings and public hearings occur and without making them drive to town hall (during business hours) to ask their land use staff to pull the files and make copies of them, saving everyone time (time is money), and gasoline, and missed work. Most applicants alrleady submit electronic copies, and for those who don't, it's a lot easier for a staffer to scan them once, than to have to make copies every time someone asks for them. And please don't misrepresent or slander those who advocate for smart, low impact & sustainable development policies and practices as 'anti-development'.

<< Jun 2025 >>
S	M	T	W	T	F	S
1	2	3	4	5	6	7
8	9	10	11	12	13	14
15	16	17	18	19	20	21
22	23	24	25	26	27	28
29	30	1	2	3	4	5

Log In

Traffic Panel Endorses Fairfield Hills Stop Signs

Leave a Reply Cancel reply