An Authority For Fairfield Hills?

To the Editor:

The proposal to establish an authority to govern Fairfield Hills has surfaced again — I wonder if it is a bit premature. Unfortunately, establishing an authority at this time would circumvent Section 7-80 (pages 33–35) of our Town Charter that requires the approval of a town meeting for the “Acquisition or Disposition of Real Property.” Disposition can mean the sale or lease of town property. Simply stated, it seems town officials want to be able to offer leases or sell property, such as the single-family homes, without holding a town meeting to secure citizen approval. Under state statutes an authority has such broad powers that it actually cancels the system of checks and balances established in the town’s charter.

We should be concerned about transferring this amount of power to a small group of individuals when our elected officials have not stated a clear objective for either immediate or future use of the property.

On the other hand, Newtown residents have spoken — they want this property to remain for Newtown. Fairfield Hills should be preserved for present and future municipal needs. The 38 acres in the proposed commercial park, combined with privately held commercial sites, will be more than adequate to accommodate the potential demand for commercial property. Pressing forward with the development of the commercial park and in assisting private commercial site owners to successfully market their sites is extremely important.

It is fair to anticipate that the Park and Recreation Department would mow the grass and manage the playing fields and the proposed recreation center if it is built at FFH. The Highway Department would plow the roads and parking lots, the Police Department secure the campus, and the selectmen oversee municipal office use? Similarly, the superintendent of schools would manage any school activities there.

If any of the buildings are determined to be useful for economic development or multihousing, the selectmen could appoint or hire a manager. In this way, our elected officials would remain accountable to the public, but an authority is not.

Until our elected officials provide all of us with stated objectives and a new map for the future uses of FFH, transferring power to an authority by changing the charter seems premature.

Visit our website at www.friendsoffairfieldhills.org for more information on FFH.

Ruby K. Johnson

16 Chestnut Hill Road, Sandy Hook                    September 15, 2004