Utilities, Funds, Streets, And Marketing–

Town Churns Through FFH Work

By Kendra Bobowick

With a swift shake, the bits and pieces of Fairfield Hills business swirled during conversations at recent meetings.

From a proposed underground electrical loop, a movie deal that stalled and eventually failed, grant funds, street names, and work on the verge of going out to bid, the Fairfield Hills Authority this week and the Board of Selectmen in past weeks have focused on the former state hospital’s redevelopment.

Officials talked cash. Connecticut Light and Power held out a financial incentive for energy savings measures, and First Selectman Joe Borst, for one, reached for it regarding work at Bridgeport Hall. During May’s selectmen’s meeting, Mr Borst told the board that CL&P representatives accompanied site project managers on a tour of Bridgeport Hall. The building is being refurbished to house the education department and municipal offices. “They came up with money savings,” he said, explaining that as much as $63,000 in refunds could be available “if we take their [energy savings] suggestions.”

This week Mr Borst added, “I think CL&P had five recommendations for energy savings.” Mr Borst spoke with project manager Dave Cravanzola with O&G Industries Inc, who told him that the items were already part of the plans.

Mr Borst told selectmen in June what he had repeated this week: Mr Cravanzola indicated that O&G specifications reflect compliance with the recommendations.

As the renovations reshape the interior space at Bridgeport Hall, Mr Borst signed an agreement with the power company in late May — a move that had fellow selectman suddenly alert. Their response to the first selectman’s news was only lukewarm at the time.

Paul Mangiafico asked, “Did an expert look at [the agreement]?” And Herb Rosenthal was concerned about obligations to CL&P. At the May meeting Mr Borst had explained that if all the power company’s recommendation were incorporated into the final work, reimbursements could be as much as $63,000; and less money for less work, and on down to “zilch,” the selectman said. At the time Mr Borst had also reassured Mr Rosenthal, “No [obligations], but if we do all the suggestions it could be $63,000. It doesn’t cost us anything and I think it’s worthwhile.”

A month later Mr Borst’s fellow selectmen were warming to the deal. By June 7 Mr Mangiafico had changed his tone. “I commend [Mr Borst]. I was concerned at first that this would be [an obligation] we couldn’t fulfill, but it’s $63,000 that hopefully we’ll see. When the electrical hookup is completed, CL&P will inspect the work to determine the energy savings measures, and the amount of potential reimbursements.”

Sand Or Cement?

Utilities are going to run underground, but will the amps run through sand or cement? The Fairfield Hills redevelopment managed to dodge an $800,000 bill for its underground utility loop carrying power and technology to the buildings eyed for reuse. Work is underway to “lay new lines” underground, but as Mr Mangiafico reported to the board in May, “CL&P said, no, you have to lay the lines in concrete.” The consequence was significant. “It became an $800,000 problem if we had to pour concrete.”

Poor communication may have been partly to blame.

Initially, “we couldn’t tell them the loads in certain buildings…they couldn’t determine the power going in…” Mr Mangiafico said. At first glance, CL&P could not get a clear answer about the load in the power lines traveling to the buildings. Mr Mangiafico met with CL&P representatives after meeting with Public Works Director Fred Hurley and had better news for the board by June.

After “a nice meeting” where parties “resolved some concerns,” Mr Mangiafico said CL&P indicated that if the lines stayed under a certain number of megawatts, then the town could backfill with sand. He noted additionally, “It looks like we may be able to keep power loads down.” Or, as Public Works Director Fred Hurley explained this week, “As long as they don’t need multiple circuits.”

Mr Mangiafico left the May meeting feeling “optimistic, but it’s still early.”

While searching for clarity regarding the power loop, one fact remained: power needs to get to the Newtown Youth Academy, a privately funded indoor sports complex, by November 1, when owner and developer Peter D’Amico hopes to open doors. Poles will run to the back portion of the campus continuing AT&T service from Mile Hill South, Mr Hurley explained.

 

What’s In A Name?

Selectmen learned earlier this month of a proposal to rename roads within the Fairfield Hills campus. In past months the Fairfield Hills Authority had researched the former campus maps with the help of Town Historian Daniel Cruson. They came across names of farmers and families displaced by the state hospital. Authority member Amy Dent had hoped to nod to the past by renaming roads for the former property owners of the sprawling pastures that make up Fairfield Hills. The authority liked the idea, and this month selectmen also gave approval. Why the change?

The town needed to designate a post office address, for one, before power went in, Mr Hurley said.

Fairfield Hills Authority members had immediately and unanimously agreed with Ms Dent’s suggestions on April 15 about how to rename the streets within the former state hospital campus.

She said, “We went over the map of a 1929 survey of Fairfield Hills — and [Mr Cruson] suggested and I agreed — that it would make the most sense to give [recognition] to people with homesteads up there,” she said.

Long before the state hospital and now Garner Correctional Institution settled into the landscape, a quieter life had existed.

People farmed the fields.

Trades Lane on the campus [not Reed Intermediate School] side of Wasserman Way will take the name D.G. Beers Boulevard.

Second Avenue within the campus will become Primrose Street after William Primrose, who owned farmland along the Mile Hill South area. Fairfield Circle South will have the new name, Simpson Street, named for Carrie Simpson, who owned a house in the West Meadow area near Reed Intermediate School. Keating Farms Avenue, named after the Keating brothers, will replace Cochran Avenue, which turns to Old Mile Hill Road on one end with a cul-de-sac where hikers leave their cars. John and Michael Keating owned adjacent farmland, and also represented some of Newtown’s Irish population.

As Mr Hurley conveyed the information to selectmen on July 7, he met few questions. After listening to the reasoning behind the new names, Mr Mangiafico said he was not inclined to change the decision after learning of the reasoning. Looking at Fairfield Hills Authority Chairman Robert Geckle, he asked, “This was a unanimous decision?”

“Yes,” Mr Geckle said.

“I move we accept the names,” Mr Mangiafico concluded. Attorney David Grogins suggested that the roads become part of the town road system.

An Open House

Another conversation about bolstering the Fairfield Hills campus appeal continued at the authority meeting this week. The discussion began in May when the Director of Town Planning and Community Development Liz Stocker told the authority, “We really need to promote the properties.”

During that authority meeting she offered several ideas for promoting development that, in part, faltered when redevelopment plans afoot since 2001 were a heavy point of debate in the 2007 municipal elections. Number one on Ms Stocker’s list was making updates to a developer’s package prepared for the authority by Robert Barclay, president of North American Realty Advisory Services, LP. The package is online at the town’s website, www.newtown-ct.gov.

The advisor had worked with the authority for months to produce a snapshot of the campus properties and selling points. Ms Stocker suggested updating the package to “reflect progress.” After sharing these and other ideas meant to lure developers was a final thought that caught authority members’ attention: sponsor a broker’s breakfast, or open house. A date has not yet been set.

Member Don Studley later remarked, “An open house for brokers is a great idea.”

This week Mr Geckle noted a date for a different broker’s reception set for July 22, at the Dana Holcomb House. This reception is sponsored by the Economic Development Commission. The meeting is not open to the public. The message the commission hopes to portray? Ms Stocker said, “We’re friendly to business and embrace economic development in Newtown.” Discussion of Fairfield Hills will definitely be included, she said. “I think it’s great opportunity.”