Connecting Fairfield
News from First Selectman Bill Gerber
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Former First Selectman Stops by Town Hall
Paul Audley, Fairfield's First Selectman from 1993 to 1997,
stopped by Town Hall for a visit and posed by his portrait with Bill Gerber.
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Jan. 16, 2025
Dear Fairfielders,
I’ve held two coffees with residents in recent weeks, and zoning issues and new development in Fairfield have topped the list in our discussions.
Many of you have asked questions about developments in Town that are designed as multi-apartment units, sometimes in areas where neighbors have unsuccessfully tried to oppose them. It's important to understand Connecticut General Statute 8-30g, also known as the Affordable Housing Land Use Appeals Procedure.
Many jurisdictions across the United States have “inclusionary zoning” programs that incentivize the construction of housing units that are more affordable than comparable “market rates”. Some of these programs require minimum “set-asides,” typically 10% to 20% of units in a development must be designated as affordable. Fairfield’s zoning regulations require a 10% affordable unit set-aside for developments with 10 or more units, or 12% in defined Transport Oriented Development (TOD) districts.
In 1989, the Connecticut legislature enacted C.G.S. 8-30g as a way to facilitate the construction of affordable housing. This law allows developers of affordable housing projects to override most local zoning requirements in municipalities that have less than 10% of housing units meeting the State’s definition of “affordable”. Fairfield has only approximately 3% of units meeting this definition.
An application under 8-30g includes residential units only (no commercial) and at least 30% of those units deemed “affordable” (based on the formula in the statute). Successful arguments for zoning boards to reject an 8-30g application revolve around significant health, safety or other concerns that are deemed to outweigh the need for affordable housing in Connecticut.
What is defined as an affordable unit under C.G.S. 8-30g and how are units counted? Municipalities are awarded points for each affordable unit based on the level of affordability. The formula for affordability is 30% of a percentage of area median income (AMI), typically 80% or 60% for these developments. Sixty percent AMI units provide more points than 80% ones.
AMI is a different number based on the number of family members. For example, if AMI for a two-person family is $93,750, then 80% of that number is $75,000, and affordable rent under the statute is 30% x $75,000, or $22,500 per year (or $1,875 per month). Many people are surprised that $1,875 per month is considered “affordable”, so a better description might be “workforce housing”, for the many people who make Fairfield what it is (teachers, policemen, firemen, public works employees, many healthcare workers, etc.)
Based on the Town's number of points as of December 2024, Fairfield has applied for an 8-30g moratorium.
Fairfield’s application has been accepted by the state and is currently under review. If granted, the Town will not have to accept unwanted 8-30g proposals for a period of four years. During that period, Fairfield can (and should) leverage greater control over the size and design of developments in order to achieve a subsequent moratorium (which would be for five more years). There is an up to 90-day waiting period, however, before the moratorium is granted. During that period, developers can continue to file proposals that must be “grandfathered in” for consideration under the 8-30g statute, so the moratorium may not officially begin until March 2025.
You can read the Town's Application for Certificate of Affordable Housing Completion here.
As always, I welcome your thoughts about our Town. You can email me at firstselectman@fairfieldct.org or call the office at 203-256-3030.
Bill Gerber
First Selectman
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MOVING FAIRFIELD FORWARD
Town Government in Action
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Southport Harbor Dredging Project : Saving Native Plants
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) dredging crews have begun work removing a hazardous sandbar at the mouth of Southport Harbor, with the USACE 156-foot long, 35-foot-wide dredging vessel expected to arrive on January 17. The effort is part of a four-week long mission using powerful equipment to restore the channel to a nine-foot depth and a 100-foot width at low tide.
Two native plants in the dredging area are listed as threatened in Connecticut and required relocation and protection: Coastal panicgrass (Panicum amarum) and Sand dropseed (Sporobolus cryptandrus).To help meet the CT-DEEP imposed conditions, the Harbor Management Commission retained the services of a professional botanist who assessed the plants, identified their locations, and devised a mitigation/transplanting plan to protect them during the dredging operations.
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Photos by Geoff Steadman. | |
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On November 19, 2024, volunteers supervised by the botanist transplanted several hundred Sand dropseed plants to a protected area. This was a day-long process, including relocating some panicgrass as well.
Both native plants play an important role in the beach ecosystem. Coastal panicgrass stabilizes windblown sand, has good salt-tolerance, and will remain standing through the winter, thus providing wind erosion protection and cover for wildlife. Sand dropseed's fibrous root system effectively stabilizes sand dunes and hills, with seed eaten by birds and small mammals.
The Beach rose is an invasive species, so an area covered with this plant will be removed during the dredging operations and panicgrass will be relocated to the area.
More information, including the history of Southport Harbor, can be found here.
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Photos by Geoff Steadman | |
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United Illuminating Monopoles Update
The hearing for The Town of Fairfield vs. Connecticut Siting Council, et al. was held on Monday, January 13 in New Britain's Superior Court. After an all-day hearing in which the Court heard argument from the Town's attorney, other plaintiffs involved in the case, and attorneys for the Connecticut Siting Council and United Illuminating, Judge Matthew Budzik said he had heard sufficient evidence to render a decision. He has 120 days to write an opinion, making it likely that we won't have a ruling before spring.
At the beginning of this administration, the Town took a significant step in hiring a larger firm to serve as counsel. By choosing the law firm Cohen and Wolf, Fairfield has had the benefit of the firm's larger capacity, and attorneys with specialized expertise, which is extremely useful in complex matters.
Cohen and Wolf attorney David Ball serves as the lead counsel in the Town's case against the CSC and United Illuminating, expertly organizing our compelling arguments with other plaintiffs' attorneys, including lawyers for the City of Bridgeport, SCNETI, Southport Congregational Church, and B.J.'s Wholesale Club.
At the hearing, Attorney Ball argued that the CSC violated its statutory authority when it granted UI a Certificate of Public Need that approved the rebuilding of the 1430 line to the north side of the Metro North railroad tracks as well as a modification of the existing 1130 line. Because UI never filed an application for a modification of the 1130 line, Attorney Ball argued that the CSC should have denied UI’s application and required it to file a new application with a fully designed project. In arguing that northern abutters had no way of knowing that a new project could be sited to the north, Attorney Ball pointed out that UI had very clearly said that they ruled out changes to the north side's 1130 line, and informed the public that any new construction would be to the south. Attorney Ball also challenged the public need for this project arguing that the project approved by the CSC was not just a replacement of the 1430 line that is affixed to aged catenary structures -- which was UI’s stated need for the project -- but rather an upgrade in transmission capacity when UI witnesses admitted that there was no projected load growth in Connecticut for the next decade.
Although UI presented to the Siting Council a significant number of reports, analyses and design plans for a project to the south, including a construction schedule of dates, aerial photography maps, heights of proposed monopoles, and specificity as to required easements to the south, none of this evidence was presented by UI for a combined double-circuit design to the north. Accordingly, the Town and its residents had no design plan to evaluate. Attorney Ball argued that this absence of evidence prevented the CSC from carrying out its statutory duty to balance the need for the project with environmental impacts to the north. Therefore, it was then incumbent on the Siting Council to deny UI's application.
The attorneys for United Illuminating and the Connecticut Siting Council argued that the CSC has broad authority to grant modifications beyond what was proposed by the applicant. Confronted with the charge that property owners on the north side of the railroad tracks were denied their due process rights to act as intervenors, UI's attorney stated that in spite of the company's repeated assertions that they had ruled out locating the 1430 transmission line to the north of the tracks, that residents to the north should have assumed that possibility and ignored it "at their peril."
Judge Budzik was extremely engaged throughout the hearing, and the Town is grateful for his review of this matter and consideration of the Town’s arguments. We are also grateful to the many concerned residents in Fairfield who attended the hearing.
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Penfield Pavilion Update
This past month, the contractor was able to complete curb installation, pour all the new sidewalks and pave the parking lot. In addition, all utilities and site lighting have been installed and reconnected. The contractor will now focus on installing deck boards, finishing the building skirting and cleaning up the site. We plan for the site to be substantially completed by the end of January and have the building open in February.
Quick Facts:
Contaminated Julian Fill Removal – 100% complete
Grade Beam Removal – 100% complete
Helical Production Pile – 100% complete
Pile Caps – 100% complete
Deck Framing – 95% complete
Deck Board Install – 50% complete
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Riverside Drive/Turney Creek Update:
We are pleased to announce that a major milestone has been achieved in the Riverside Drive culvert replacement project. The concrete bridge structure has been successfully removed, and the cofferdam sheeting for phase one is now in place, fully reinforced with perimeter walers and struts. This installation will enable the contractor to work within the cofferdam.
Looking ahead, we anticipate that, during January and February 2025, the contractor will begin driving production piles within the cofferdam.Overall, the project continues to progress smoothly.
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CHARTER REVISION COMMITTEE UPDATES
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From the CRC Chairman:
Happy New Year from the Charter Revision Committee (CRC). 2025 is an important year for the CRC and the Town of Fairfield. Our Commission is scheduled to deliver a draft Charter to the Board of Selectman in May, and after careful review and update, that Charter revision will be on the ballot for the election in November. There is a lot of hard work required to get us to our draft submission in May.
Since my last update in November 2024, the CRC has received many new ideas to improve the Charter. You can view these ideas here. Using this data from Department Heads, Board/Commission leaders and Fairfield taxpayers, the CRC has addressed and internally recommended changes to substantive issues where Charter updates are warranted.
It is my commitment that all data supplied to the CRC be readily accessible to every Fairfielder, so that we can have an open and honest discussion about the issues. Please consider adding your thoughts to the CRC using this link: Contact the Commission.
At our January 22nd meeting we will begin to tackle the important topic of "Boards and Commissions" and how they are portrayed and governed in the Charter. For future meeting dates and links to our recorded meetings, check out the CRC website at 2024-2025 Charter Revision Commission.
Chris DeWitt--Chairman, CRC
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Tom Harris Joins Town of Fairfield as Chief Fiscal Officer
Effective January 6, Tom Harris joined the Town as Chief Fiscal Officer with expertise in addressing complex financial, strategic, risk management, governance, and operational challenges. He has served in executive leadership roles, primarily as CFO, in several public, private, and non-profit organizations, including Time Warner Inc., Time Warner Cable, The Associated Press, and most recently, the Jewish Federation of Western Connecticut. He also has provided consultancy services to public and private organizations.
Tom has led the entire portfolio of accounting and finance functions and several operating functions, including acting as controller. He has a history of mentoring finance teams and emphasizing cross-functional collaboration. He began his career with PwC in New York City, becoming a Senior Audit Manager serving public, private, and non-profit clients. He is a certified public accountant, licensed in Connecticut and New York. He has a B.S. degree in accounting from Southern Illinois University and an M.B.A. from Long Island University.
In his new position, Tom will oversee the Town’s financial operations, including preparing financial statements and reporting; oversee audits; supervise of the collection of taxes, fees, and revenues; and monitor Town expenditures. As he assumes his new responsibilities, he is fortunate to have the deep experience of a highly qualified Finance team, with Controller Caitlin Bosse and the department’s dedicated professionals to rely upon.
Welcome, Tom!
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Property Taxes Became Due on Jan 1; Last Day to Pay Timely is Feb 3
Third quarter Real Estate taxes, second half Business Personal Property taxes and single installment Supplemental Motor Vehicle taxes became due on January 1, 2025. The last day to pay timely is Monday, February 3, 2024. Per state statute, interest accrues at 1.5% per month from the original due date of January 1, 2025. On February 4, 2025, the initial rate of interest is 3% to cover both January and February. Please note that a Supplemental Motor Vehicle tax bill is only issued to any recently registered vehicle after the date October 1, 2023.
Any original tax bill can be paid at any M&T Bank branch location between January 2, 2025, and February 3, 2025. You do not need to be an M&T customer. For more details on payment options, penalties and contact information, view the Legal Notice, or contact the Tax Collector's Office.
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Conservation Director Tim Bishop Named to the CT Council on Environmental Quality
The Town of Fairfield's Conservation Director, Tim Bishop, has been appointed by the Connecticut General Assembly's Speaker of the House Matthew Ritter to the Connecticut Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ). In this role, Tim will be the sole CEQ member representing Fairfield County and the Town of Fairfield. State Representatives Jennifer Leeper and Cristin McCarthy Vahey were instrumental in making the connection to fill the empty seat.
The Council on Environmental Quality (Council) was created in 1971 to do three jobs:
1. Assess the condition of Connecticut's environment and report its findings annually to the Governor and recommend actions to improve state environmental programs.
2. Advise other state agencies on the environmental impacts of proposed construction projects.
3. Investigate citizens' complaints and allegations of violations of environmental laws.
Council members serve an eight-year term. Congratulations, Tim!
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Age Friendly Fairfield Community Health and Wellness Survey
Age Friendly Fairfield is a town-wide initiative dedicated to making our community an ideal place to grow up and grow old. As a member of the AARP Age Friendly Network, Fairfield is committed to understanding the unique challenges faced by its aging population and identifying policies, programs, and innovative solutions to enhance the quality of life for people of all ages. This effort is driven by collaboration with residents, local organizations, and community partners.
We invite you to take a moment to complete the Age Friendly Fairfield Community Health and Wellness Survey. Your input is invaluable in helping us assess key aspects of health, wellness, and community engagement. By gathering insights from Fairfield residents, we can identify opportunities to improve healthcare services, strengthen social connections, and create a more inclusive and supportive environment. Your feedback will play a crucial role in shaping our Age Friendly Action Plan, with the ultimate goal of promoting aging in place and enhancing the overall well-being of all Fairfield residents. For more information about Age Friendly Fairfield, go to the Age Friendly Fairfield website.
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Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Proclamation
First Selectman Bill Gerber visited Pequot Library on Thursday, Jan. 16 for their annual Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School Debate to read a Town proclamation in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
At the library event, teams from Bridgeport middle and high schools engaged in spirited arguments while debating issues related to civil disobedience and civil rights.
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Following the reading of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Proclamation, First Selectman Bill Gerber stands with the Debate Teams from the Discovery Magnet School in Bridgeport,
the Flood Middle School in Stratford, and the Debate Coaches.
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New Police Recruits Sworn in by First Selectman Bill Gerber
Two recruit officers scheduled to start their training at the Milford Police Academy on January 17, 2025 were sworn in by First Selectman Bill Gerber.
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Left to right, Recruit Officer John Serricchio, Chief of Police Robert Kalamaras, First Selectman Bill Gerber | |
Left to right, Chief of Police Robert Kalamaras, Recruit Officer Zachary Barry, First Selectman Bill Gerber | |
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Sustainable Fairfield Celebrates Gold Certification
Sustainable Fairfield held a Sustainable CT Celebration on Wednesday, January 15 at the Fairfield Museum and History Center. The event marked Sustainable Fairfield’s recent recognition with Gold Certification from Sustainable CT, a voluntary certification program to recognize thriving and resilient Connecticut municipalities. Achieving the highest level of certification is based on extraordinary leadership and innovation in sustainability.
Sustainable Fairfield is a group of resident volunteers formed by the Town to provide support for Town practices and projects that can help Fairfield manage its growth to safeguard the health of its environment, ensure the reliability and economical use of its natural resources, and preserve the quality of life of its residents – today and for the future.
Sustainable CT fosters inclusive, resilient, and vibrant Connecticut municipalities that provide opportunities for all to thrive by providing a menu of sustainability actions that build local economies, support equity, and respect the finite capacity of the environment; offering technical assistance to help advance sustainability initiatives; and recognizing and certifying municipalities for their achievements.
Congratulations and thank you, Sustainable Fairfield!
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From left to right, Fairfield Museum Executive Director Mike Jehle; Town Librarian Scott Jarzombek; Jim Marren, Sustainable Fairfield; and Ted Luchsinger, Pollinator Pathway | |
State Senator Tony Hwang and Beverly Balaz, President, Fairfield Chamber of Commerce | |
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DON'T MISS THESE EVENTS
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Read along with Fairfield: The One Book One Town Selection for 2025 is....
The OBOT 2025 pick is Beautyland: A Novel by Marie-Helene Bertino! Beautyland was named one of Time Magazine's Best Books of the Year, one of the New York Times 100 Notable Books of 2024, and one of the Best Books of the Year by the Boston Globe and The Guardian. A companion book to Beautyland for middle-grade readers is Good Different by Meg Eden Kuyatt.
Copies of the books are available to borrow in print or digitally from Fairfield's libraries or to purchase at local bookstores. Author Marie-Helene Bertino will speak at the SHU Community Theatre on Wednesday, March 5 at 7:00 p.m.One Book One Town is made possible by the generous support of The Friends of Fairfield Public Library.
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Planning to read Beautyland? Join (left to right), Town of Fairfield Purchasing Director Adam Tulin, Chief Operating Officer David Becker, Town Librarian Scott Jarzombek, and State Representative Cristin McCarthy Vahey. | |
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Fairfield Museum and History Center: Community Day, Jan. 20
In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, families and friends of all ages are invited to learn about and play with toys and games. Explore the new exhibition Welcome to the Toyshop!, enjoy Native American games with educators from The Institute for American Indian Studies, try colonial games, challenge your family to board games, and more. Free Admission!
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Webinar on Artificial Turf, Jan. 23 1:00 p.m. | |
Fairfield Police Behavioral Health Network, January 25, 10:30 a.m. | |
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Economic Outlook Breakfast,
Jan. 30
You're invited to join colleagues, friends and the Fairfield business community at the annual Economic Outlook Breakfast on January 30 from 7:00-9:30 a.m.at the Patterson Club, 1118 Cross Highway. Guest speakers are Bill Gerber, First Selectman; John Traynor, President of Cambridge Trust Wealth Management of Connecticut; and Mark Barnhart, Director of Community and Economic Development, Town of Fairfield. The public is welcome to attend and hear the guest speakers share a unique perspective on the national, regional, state and local economy for 2025.
Register for the event here.
Screen Time: Navigating Devices in Education, Jan. 30, 5:00-6:00 p.m.
Fairfield University's January Campus Connect event on January 30 from 5:00-6:00 p.m. at the Fairfield University Store in Fairfield Center is an interactive panel discussion that promises to offer valuable insights into the challenges school districts, parents, and educators face in today’s digital landscape.
The panel will feature:
· Michael Testani, superintendent of Fairfield Public Schools, offering a local policy perspective on how districts are grappling with this issue.
· Joseph DeLuca, PhD, clinical psychologist specializing in youth mental health, who will explore the psychological and behavioral impact of cell phone and social media use on students.
· Joshua Elliott, EdD, associate dean of Fairfield’s School of Education and Human Development, and director of Education Technology, discussing how schools can adapt educational technology to promote healthy digital habits.
Register for the event here.
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Muslim Heritage Month Celebration, Friday, Jan. 31, 4:00-5:00 p.m. | |
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Southport Coast
Photo by Michael Redler, MD
Eyes on Fairfield is your space, a place where community members can share memorable moments and highlight the beauty of our Town. Please send us your photos at firstselectman@fairfieldct.org, capturing Fairfield landscapes, events, and places with special memories.
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SIGN UP FOR YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD EMAILS
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BOARD AND COMMISSION OPENINGS
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Current Openings
Per the Town Charter, Board and Commission members are appointed by the Board of Selectmen (BOS), the First Selectman, or, in some cases, both the BOS and the Representative Town Meeting. Read more about the process and how to apply here.
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Flood Prevention, Climate Resilience and Erosion Control Board:
Preferred Qualifications: Technical or Engineering background for at least one of two full-time members and two alternate members.
Learn more about this Board here.
- Land Acquisition Commission:
Seeking one resident to serve as an alternate (cannot be a Democrat) through 11/28.
Learn more about the Land Acquisition Commission
- Water Pollution Control Authority:
Preferred Qualifications: A background in Engineering.
Learn more about this Authority here.
Questions? Please contact Deputy Chief of Staff Jennifer Carpenter at 203-256-3095 or jcarpenter@fairfieldct.org.
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Board of Selectman Meetings
The next regular Board of Selectmen meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 22 at 4:00 p.m. Meetings are held in Independence Hall and open to the public. You can attend in person or by tuning into FairTV's YouTube channel here. You can view recorded meetings here or read minutes of previous meetings here.
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WHY YOU'RE RECEIVING THIS EMAIL:
As a resident, business owner, student, or individual interested in news about the Town of Fairfield, your name appears on an email list that belongs to the Town database. You might have requested to be on this list or added your name to another Town communication in the past.
This email arrives in your inbox every other Thursday and is official news from Fairfield's First Selectman and the Town of Fairfield. If this email was forwarded to you and you want to receive official emails from your First Selectman, click here. You can also unsubscribe from any newsletter you don't want to receive. Go to the bottom of the email and click unsubscribe.
If you know someone who may benefit from reading Town updates, please forward this newsletter to them and encourage them to subscribe. Thank you!
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Independence Hall
725 Old Post Road, Fairfield, CT 06824
203-256-3030
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