Open Space/Neighborhood Protection
Continuing his goal to preserve and acquire open spaces around Town, the First Selectman, through the approval of appropriate town bodies, has negotiated and is acquiring open space property on Hoydens Lane. The property, which is 9.42 acres, is contiguous to town-owned property at H. Smith Richardson Golf Course driving range. The Land Acquisition Commission is also looking into other properties for possible preservation.

The acquisition of open space for passive or active use is highly beneficial for the protection or our residential areas and preservation of quality of life in our town. An example of passive open space is the new neighborhood pocket park which is located at the corner of Jennings Road and Hunyadi Avenue. The Town used grant money to tear down the former Pigeon Club which was a big eyesore to the neighborhood for years. An example of active open space is the beautiful Burroughs Soccer Field on Burroughs Road which the Town acquired to not only provide for more active recreational fields, but to thwart the proposed building of over 55 new condos.

Schools
We are all very proud Fairfield is a community that prides itself on its strong education system. All children will continue to receive a strong education in safe, well-built schools. The First Selectman continues to support school resources that help deliver top-quality services along with enhancements to language programs, elementary education and ongoing retrofitting of roofs, windows, masonry and bathrooms.

With all large construction projects behind us and Tomlinson and Fairfield Warde High School completed, the First Selectman continues to now focus on necessary maintenance upgrades at our elementary schools.

The First Selectman has reviewed the needs of Stratfield School. A Stratfield Building Committee has been formed by the Board of Selectmen and ratified by the RTM to assess and fix the needs of Stratfield School. The Town's website features an information page on the new Committee.

The First Selectman has also asked the Special Projects Standing Building Committee to gather information on how to replace Sherman School portables. The SPSBC issued the First Selectman recommendations including a new prefabrication replacement pod.

The First Selectman has also set up an Elementary School Space Utilization Task Force to assess the needs of the existing classroom space at Town's elementary schools. Members include Co-Chairs First Selectman Ken Flatto and BOE member John Mitola; BOE members Helen Dodson and Sue Dow; BOF members Debby Zieff and Mary LeClerc; RTM members Paul Cramer and Paul Fattibene; and TFC member Bill Sapone. The Task Force will meet over the next four to five months and issue a report of recommendations.

Fairfield Neighborhood Preservation Fundamental Principles:

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. Town neighborhoods are to be protected from overdevelopment by the elected TPZ. Ongoing strengthening of regulations is imperative. A better house height amendment passed last year and a number of proposals have been made. I believe a top priority must address the recent trend toward assemblage of multiple adjoining properties solely for the development of subdivision purposes. While this may occur only a couple of times a year, with town’s land limited, such activity must be curtailed. I have asked the town attorney to seek legislation at both the local and state level to address these issues.
5. Residential neighborhoods and homeowners are and must be fully protected from construction activities. Construction activities should be limited on weekends to start after 9 am.
6. The residential character of town is maintained in part by citizen protection of trees within public rights of way and by preservation of stone walls. Residents are guardians of these aesthetically meaningful assets and we appreciate homeowner efforts to take care of their property.
7. Property that becomes blighted must be cleaned. The new ordinance passed last year by the RTM has made a significant difference in this area.
8. No encroachment of commercial/retail zones can be allowed in residential zones. This presumption must continue and be protected forever.

Reverse 911 System
The Town's new Reverse 911 system, which was made possible through a federal grant, can send emergency messages using a combination of database and Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping technologies. The system can quickly target precise town areas and reach all residents within minutes of an emergency to inform and protect citizens. Reverse 911 offers a variety of options that allow the Police, Fire and Health Departments to custom-build a notification system to meet the exact needs of our community.

Reverse 911 can be used for many situations including emergency evacuations, natural disaster alerts, neighborhood emergency situations and hazardous material leaks. Citizens who have unlisted or unpublished telephone numbers will not be contacted unless they register online at www.fpdct.com/reverse911.htm or completing a form that can be obtained at the Police Department.

2008-09 Budget
First Selectman Flatto and the Town's Finance Office are meeting with individual town department managers to review and discuss their respective proposed budgets for fiscal year 2008-09. The Boards of Selectmen and Finance will hold joint budget public hearings in March. After those boards vote on the budget, the RTM will adopt a final budget in early May. All budget hearings are open to the public and interested residents are encouraged to attend.

As First Selectman Flatto puts together his budget proposal, he will continue to keep taxes as moderate as possible and ensure the Town continues down the road of fiscal stability. Sound fiscal management resulted in the Town receiving a surplus the past two years. Extra surplus will be used to offset tax increases in the 2008-09 fiscal year.

The First Selectman's proposed budget will continue to offer expanded senior tax relief and will continue to meet the needs of our children. The First Selectman seeks to preserve the best of Fairfield's services alongside fiscal restraint and fiscal discipline.

Senior Citizen Tax Relief
We are very pleased that many Fairfield senior citizens 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 Senior 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, an additional funding was budgeted to help about 1700 senior citizen households.

Written information is available in the First Selectman's Office (2nd floor, Sullivan Independence Hall) or in the Tax Assessor's Office (1st floor, Old Town Hall).

Seniors and disabled persons can apply annually for tax relief beginning February 1, 2008 - May 15, 2008 in the Tax Assessor's Office (Old Town Hall). Applicants must be 65 years old. For more information, call 256-3110.

Penfield Pavilion
The Town has embarked on a two-phase rehabilitation project for Penfield Pavilion which is in dire need of major improvements that had not been made in decades. The Town received a $400,000 state grant for Phase I of the project which entails rebuilding the East Wing of the building before the 2008 summer beach season. Phase II, which will be completed within two years, will involve the complete renovation of the West Wing of the building. The Town will seek state grants for Phase II. The project is meeting both flood elevation and ADA compliance requirements.

Penfield Reef Lighthouse
In mid-January, the Town will submit an application for ownership of the Penfield Reef Lighthouse to the Federal Government. By Spring/Summer of 2008, the Federal Government will select the owner of this treasure. If the Town becomes the lighthouse owner at the cost of $1, the Town will seek grants and private donations to help maintain and preserve this historic structure.

Economic Development
As another new year begins, the Town's Community and Economic Development Department and Commission will continue to attract new quality stores and restaurants to Fairfield. Over the past six years, Fairfield has become a destination for many new businesses that are flourishing all over town.

• Whole Foods Coming to Fairfield
       The Town of Fairfield is very pleased to welcome Whole Foods as one of the high-end retailers to utilize space in a new shopping center at the former Handy & Harman site. First Selectman Flatto said, "We are delighted to have Whole Foods coming to our community. Kings Crossing Shopping Center represents a significant step in fulfilling our Master Plan's objective of transforming former industrial sites into new and vital mixed-use commercial and retail hubs. We expect the Center will be a catalyst to attracting other quality retailers to our Town and will add to the diversity of shopping experiences for our residents." The store is scheduled to open in 2009.
• Exide
       The First Selectman's Office has led the way to achieve a full clean up plan for the Exide property. The State Department of Environmental Protection (CTDEP) has been working with International Nickel, INC (INCO), the parent company of the former Exide Battery Plant, to clean the Exide site on the Post Road. After at least 20 years of waiting, the clean up of the uplands site has been approved by the CTDEP and is completed. The cleanup was paid entirely by INCO. The Phase Two cleanup of the Mill River will hopefully take place in 2008 and 2009 upon DEP approval. We applaud the efforts of all parties toward cleaning the site.
• Third Train Station
       The construction of the new train station is planned to start by late summer. The vital site, which is located between Black Rock Turnpike and Kings Highway, will help revitalize the surrounding area. New stores and offices will help bring new revenues to Fairfield and provide jobs. The third train station will help alleviate the long list of commuters waiting to receive a train parking pass and will help alleviate downtown traffic congestion. The current Administration had negotiated the original proposed price from $24 million to $0 with the help of federal grants. This former brown field that had sat idle for over 25 years will now be a profitable economic benefit to the Town.
• Clean Energy Initiatives
       The Town's commitment to clean energy reflects on strong leadership on environmental health issues. The Town is helping save energy, money and the environment through several important initiatives. 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. The campaign seeks to have 20 percent of Connecticut's electricity come from clean sources, like solar and wind, by the year 2010. In February 2006, the United Illuminating Company and the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund gave the Town a check in the amount of $135,462 in recognition of Fairfield's significant efforts with energy conservation in town buildings. Over the past few years, Fairfield received an additional $329,880 for our school's participation in the program. First Selectman Flatto has fought to obtain 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. The Town of Fairfield is only one of thirty seven municipalities in the country to receive this important grant. Through its comprehensive energy management program, the Town has reduced electricity consumption and saved citizens significant dollars in utility costs. Fairfield has acquired several clean energy systems that utilize fuel cell and solar photovoltaic technologies for use at its wastewater treatment facility. The town also uses 15 natural gas vehicles. Last fall, the First Selectman helped local citizens launch the Town Green Committee (www.fairfieldct.org/towngreen.htm) which is energetic committee made up of residents and town officials committed to local acts of stewardship to encourage clean energy and environmentally responsible lifestyles and to preserve and protect the environmental viability of the Town of Fairfield.

Constituent Concerns Day
As part of an effort to provide open and accessible government to Fairfield's residents, the First Selectman schedules bi-monthly constituent concerns days in his Independence Hall office. The next Constituents’ Concerns Day will be held in March. In the interim, residents with any concerns should call the First Selectman's Office at 256-3030.

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