FAIRFIELD LAUNCHES VOLUNTEER BIKE AND PEDESTRIAN PLANNING STUDY COMMITTEE
The Fairfield Board of Selectmen recently launched an Advisory Committee to perform a Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning Study. The Committee was formed after a group of local citizens, with the help of the Greater Bridgeport Regional Planning Agency (GBRPA), recommended the Town perform a cost free study on the possibility of more access for bicyclists and pedestrians and the promotion of traffic safety and safe routes. The Committee will plan and implement the study with a goal to issue a report to the Board of Selectmen by the end of 2010.

The Committee consists of volunteer residents and town officials. If anyone from the public wishes to attend meetings or receive information, please call the First Selectman's Office at 256-3030.

First Selectman Flatto said, "This cost free study will play an integral role in our community's long-term goals of increasing traffic safety, being more pedestrian friendly, and reducing green house emissions. I look forward to the Committee's recommendations later this year."

TOWN FINANCES: the 2010 Budget
We kick off the 2010-11 budget process during these difficult economic times with a message of hope for our town and our town's financial stability. Fairfield has achieved the difficult task of handling fixed expenses while achieving the lowest proposed tax change in over ten years. The negligible proposed tax increase for next year, a 1.3% change, demonstrates how we must limit town spending while preserving the quality programs citizens deserve. This Town budget proposes no new town or school departmental programs, but maintains all key services. Fixed cost increases are solely due to required contractual costs. Every town department head has worked hard to manage their budgets.

Our zero based budget approach and financial planning efforts seek to offer residents a stable budget picture for the remainder of this decade, with a focus upon keeping taxes moderate. The First Selectman's proposed budget demonstrates a commitment to maintain the strong AAA financial condition of our town. By scrutinizing every budget line, we ensure lean and efficient expenditure levels. The Board of Education is recommended to receive a proposed budget with a 1.5% increase satisfactory to sustain school programs.

Small but critical priority items to enhance public safety operations and to strengthen services are included where necessary. Department managers nor the First Selectman are deferring essential needs. This FY 2010-11 budget is fair and balanced and contains spending to keep taxes as low as possible. We will work carefully with town bodies as they review and adopt a final annual budget that best suits the needs of our town and all taxpayers. We will continue to do our best to work for the citizens of Fairfield.

SCHOOLS
Fairfield prides itself on having a very strong education system. All children receive a quality education in safe, well-built schools. The First Selectman's Office continues to support school projects and resources that help deliver top-quality services along with enhancements to early childhood education, technology and ongoing infrastructure maintenance.

The Town is proceeding on a vital project to renovate and improve Stratfield Elementary School. The Building Committee is fixing space needs at this overcrowded school and replacing old infrastructure systems, some of which date back over 40 years old. First Selectman Flatto said, "This top priority for our town will be completed successfully and cost-effectively to solve all key problems at Stratfield School by next year." More information can be obtained from the Stratfield Building Committee page on the town web site.

With large construction projects behind us, the Board of Selectmen continues to focus on necessary maintenance upgrades at elementary schools for the next several years. Two beautiful new classroom annexes opened at Osborn Hill and Sherman Elementary Schools to solve overcrowding.

A Fairfield Woods Building Committee is moving forward to resolve space needs in the Town's middle schools for the next several years. The plan includes up to twelve classrooms and associated space needed for the next decade. More information can be obtained from the Fairfield Woods Building Committee page on the town web site.

SENIOR CITIZEN AND DISABLED PERSONS TAX RELIEF
We are very pleased that many Fairfield senior citizens and disabled persons continue to apply for and receive the significantly expanded tax relief programs which will help our most vulnerable senior citizens remain in their homes. The Tax Relief Programs are the most generous and widespread in Connecticut and are used as models by other municipalities. Close to $3 million is given out to senior citizens in tax relief every year. Last year, additional funding was budgeted to help about 1600 senior citizen households. Information is available in the First Selectman's Office or in the Tax Assessor's Office (1st floor, Old Town Hall).

Seniors and disabled persons can apply annually for tax relief each February to May at the Tax Assessor's Office (Old Town Hall). Applicants must be 65 years old. For more information, call 256-3110.

FAIRFIELD CARES TASK FORCE
Last Fall, First Selectman Ken Flatto launched a volunteer town-wide alcohol abuse prevention coalition, "Fairfield Cares Task Force on Alcohol and Health" to seek to address and raise awareness about alcohol abuse and over drinking in our community. The Task Force, which is comprised of representatives from the business, medical, social services, clergy, town and school communities, aims to address the issue of abuse with educational materials and meetings, awareness programs and periodic surveys.

First Selectman Flatto said, "Given the current economic climate coupled with every day pressures, town leaders and residents have come together to create new ideas and raise awareness about alcoholism and health. We see too many instances of injuries caused by alcohol issues." The Task Force will be providing educational materials to the public and information about current state laws. For more information, please contact the First Selectman's Office at 256-3030.

SENIOR AND SOCIAL SERVICES
In an effort to increase efficiency and save taxpayer dollars, while improving services, the Senior and Social/Human Services departments have been combined into one department. The Senior Center Director, Claire Grace, is the Director of Senior and Human Services who oversees all senior and social issues. Our social services offices, including Persons with Disabilities, are located at the Senior Center on Mona Terrace. For information, such as heating assistance programs or questions, please call 256-3166.

SENIOR CITIZEN AFFORDABLE HOUSING
The Town is very proud of the senior affordable housing at the former Washington Park site on Villa Avenue. The site is an important and necessary addition to our community. Our congratulations go out to Mutual Housing, the Town's partner, and the many individuals, organizations and programs that contributed to the success of the project. For a List of Elderly and Disabled Housing Providers and Information/Services, go to www.fairfieldct.org/ced-elderly.htm

TREE CITY USA-STATE GRANT ENHANCES TOWN'S QUALITY OF LIFE
For the sixth time, the Town of Fairfield, which has been designated "Tree City USA" will be receiving an "America the Beautiful Grant" from the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection's Forestry Division. This state grant will help our community continue to create a forest plan that will guide the effective management of town-owned trees for the benefit of the public and to otherwise advance the Town's ongoing community forestry program. For more information on the Town's Forestry Committee, go to www.fairfieldct.org/forestry.htm.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Beautifying Downtown Fairfield
After an initiative to secure funding by First Selectman Flatto, we are very pleased with the completion of a streetscape and beautification improvements program encompassing the area from Sherman Green to Sanford Street to Unquowa Road. A $450,000 state STEAP grant allowed the Town to work toward its long-term goal of creating an overall plan to enhance the beautification and economic vitality of the downtown corridor and give it a more aesthetically pleasing and more unified look.

The Town coordinated efforts with the Fairfield Garden Club which has generously donated flower beds at Sherman Green. The Town also appreciates the Sasqua Garden Club's $10,000 donation for the purchase and installation of elm and flowering cherry trees at the end of Sanford Street near the train station. The Town replaced the chain link fence at the corner of Sanford and Carter Henry Drive which had been a visual eyesore to visitors and replaced it new sidewalks.

Some of the parking on Sanford Street was realigned and new Victorian style lampposts have been put up. Elm trees and a rain garden are being planted near the corner of Sanford and Carter Henry Drive. Lovely flower baskets now hang along lampposts on Post Road.

Whole Foods
The Town is eager to see the completion of Whole Foods which will soon be built at the former Handy & Harman site in the Grasmere area. Whole Foods, which is a very environmentally friendly company, will bring new needed tax base revenue to the Town. Construction at the site, along Grasmere Avenue, is expected to be completed by 2011.

Third Train Station
Nine town bodies and civic organizations, including the Board of Selectmen, Board of Finance, RTM, Town Plan and Zoning Commission, Shellfish Commission, Fairfield Economic Development Commission, Fairfield Parking Authority, Fairfield Chamber of Commerce and the Fairfield Board of Realtors support and approved the concept and plan for revitalizing the former steel foundry and brownfield, known as the Bullard's site, turning the dirty unused site into a third commuter train station, parking facility, and proposed office park and open space greenbelt.

A three party agreement was entered into by the Town, State Department of Transportation and private owner of the site. All required local, state, and federal permit approvals have been approved. In addition, the State Bond Commission, which includes Governor Jodi Rell and Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, unanimously approved $19.4 million of state bond funding to the CT Department of Transportation to continue their work at the site and finally complete it. The State's contractors have reached 85% of their scope of work, including constructing train platforms and constructing an access bridge from Kings Highway East north side of the train tracks onto the private site south of the tracks. This phase of work is expected to be completed by the end of this summer. The Town meanwhile is completing design work on the public parking lot area and we expect to be ready to bid by late-Spring. Thanks to a federal grant, offsite work will be done on over a dozen area intersections and side roads, including new traffic installations, road paving and safety improvements to the rotary at exit 24.

The Town Administration is fully committed to ensure this project is completed in a timely manner. The Town's desired schedule of completion seeks to have this project operational within about a year from this Spring. This schedule depends on weather and the speed at which final decisions are made regarding work phasing and responsibilities.

Our community, residents, and federal and state delegation from both sides of the aisle are solidly behind this project and they want this smart growth, brownfield revitalization and commuter parking solution completed as soon as possible. The project will provide tax income. This site is virtually the only area in town where new commercial development can take place and the positive impact along the entire Kings Highway East and Commerce Drive areas has already started.

The project will improve Fairfield's quality of life in many ways:

• thousands of commuters no longer have to wait years to obtain a train parking pass;
• the new station will offer full ADA accessibility;
• a catalyst for positive economic development is being created;
• local jobs will boost the State's economy;
• the neglected site will finally be cleaned up and environmentally safe;
• long over-due traffic safety and road improvements will be made;
• surrounding house values have increased;
• downtown roads will be less congested and safer;
• less vehicles on roads will reduce emissions; and
• a new 10 acre open space park will be created.

HISTORIC FAIRFIELD
As the fourth oldest town in Connecticut, Fairfield continues to honor its rich history in many ways. Upon receiving a state grant in 2008 from the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism, the Town formed a committee to survey and inventory 155 historic homes not previously inventoried. This information has been added to the Fairfield Museum and History Center's Library and is accessible to the public. The Town is currently working with a new State grant to digitize all of the existing historic inventories in an effort to upload and map the information for the Town's website. This project will be completed by the end of summer 2010.

PENFIELD PAVILION
The town is very pleased the first phase rehabilitation project for Penfield Pavilion is complete. The pavilion was in dire need of major improvements that had not been made in decades. The Town is seeking grants to complete Phase II, which will involve the complete renovation of the Middle and West Wings of the building. The project meets both flood elevation and ADA compliance requirements. Town bodies have now approved design funds for Phase 2. The Penfield Building Committee, which was appointed by the Board of Selectmen, has been doing a terrific job in keeping the project on time and supervising necessary upgrading and rebuilding of Phase II. Phase II is hoped to open by the summer of 2011.

FAIRFIELD NEIGHBORHOOD PRESERVATION FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES:
The First Selectman has implemented the following important goals as a means to keep our residential areas safe and protected.

1. All Fairfield neighborhoods are entitled to the best in town public safety operations which continue 24/7 to protect the safety, peace and tranquility which residents deserve.
2. Open spaces and parks enhance quality of life and must be preserved and expanded at every opportunity.
3. Historic community landmarks and homes are priceless and should be valued and preserved by all possible means, including historic trust designation where possible.
4. The residential character of the town must be maintained. Residents are guardians of our neighborhoods and we appreciate homeowner efforts.
5. Property that becomes blighted must be cleaned, as required by a new ordinance.
6. No encroachment of commercial/retail zones can be allowed in residential zones.

GOING GREEN
Clean energy and conservation are paramount issues to First Selectman Ken Flatto and other town officials who have championed and supported dozens of initiatives to promote environmental health while cutting municipal spending in Fairfield. Through its comprehensive energy management program, the Town has reduced electricity consumption and saved citizens significant dollars in utility costs.

The Town's commitment to clean energy is reflected in our strong leadership on environmental health issues. The Town is helping save energy, money and the environment through several important initiatives. The Flatto Administration has made it a priority to save hundreds of open spaces throughout town from being developed. These open spaces, which are both passive and active, are enjoyed by residents of all ages. In addition, the Town became an early member of the Cities for Climate Protection Campaign, which seeks to address global warming on the local level. In 2005, Fairfield became the first municipality in Fairfield County to commit to the 20% by 2010 Clean Energy Campaign. Fairfield's Clean Energy Task Force has done a superb job. The campaign seeks to have 20 percent of Connecticut's electricity come from clean sources, like solar and wind. The Town is in the process of implementing an exiting federally ARRA funded $500,000 energy efficiency program. Over the past few years, Fairfield received $329,880 for our school's participation in the program. First Selectman Flatto has obtained grants to reduce emissions from school buses and to clean waters in Long Island Sound. In March 2006, the EPA presented the Town with a $369,000 grant for the placement of new controls in all existing school buses that cut 90% of fuel emissions that cause cancer and respiratory problems. In 2009, the Town was awarded a $545,100 federal grant to make energy efficient improvements. Each year, the Town celebrates Earth Day to highlight green initiatives. The Town has a very active Clean Energy Task Force and Earth Day Committee, made up of compassionate volunteer residents.

CONSTITUENTS' CONCERNS DAY
First Selectman Kenneth A. Flatto will hold the next Constituent’s Concerns Day on Thursday, May 6, 2010 from 1-3 pm in his second floor office at Sullivan Independence Hall, which is located at 725 Old Post Road. Constituents wishing to share ideas or discuss any concerns with the First Selectman should call Jennifer Carpenter at 256-3030 to make an appointment.

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