CONNECTING FAIRFIELD

News You Need from First Selectman Bill Gerber

Commendation for Distinguished Service in the Fill Pile Case

The Town of Fairfield Board of Police Commissioners recognized the exceptional contributions of the following individuals for their instrumental roles in the investigation and prosecution of the Fairfield Fill Pile Case: Fred Hine, Retired Fairfield Police Detective Sergeant, Lead Investigator; John Bucherati, Retired Deputy Chief, Supervisor and Investigator; Tamberlin Chapman, Senior Assistant State’s Attorney for the State of Connecticut; Matthew Schroeder, Inspector; and David Posadas, Inspector. The Town owes each of them a debt of gratitude for their service.

April 10, 2025

Dear Fairfielders,

On March 31, the Representative Town Meeting (RTM) voted to dissolve the Parking Authority and institute it as a Town department. The vote was taken at my request. The process moved forward quickly to properly account for the financial impact in the FY25-26 budget. I also wanted to begin implementing positive change for our commuters. 

The lack of oversight over the Parking Authority is not best practices in government.  Fairfield has recently been through a painful environmental scandal (“the Fill Pile”) that would not have happened had there been appropriate oversight and controls in place. While I hope that there are no issues with the way the Parking Authority has been run, I cannot say for sure because neither I, nor anyone in my Administration, has visibility into their operations. The Parking Authority does not have to follow the Town’s purchasing or human resources practices and is not even subject to internal audits. 

As First Selectman, my initial exposure to issues with the Fairfield Parking Authority was an email from a resident (including photos) complaining about persistent litter and poor space markings at the Fairfield Center Train Station. 

The resident wrote: "The Town should realize that for many stepping off the train, [this] is the first thing they will see and associate with Fairfield. First impressions are everlasting. I suggest someone from town walk the parking lot, which is loaded with garbage, broken bottles and … weeds growing in between cars… We also need lines painted for commuter parking on the town side as it is hard to see outlines for spots. I’m not sure who is responsible for all areas but just take a look and put yourself there every day.” 

A few days later I drove down to the Fairfield Center lot to see for myself. The trash was still there. It was not easy finding out who was responsible for keeping our train stations clean. The Parks and Recreation Director thought this was the responsibility of the Department of Public Works (DPW). DPW thought this fell within the Building Department. 

Ultimately, we learned the following through an email from the Parking Authority's Office Manager & Board Liaison (OMBL), Eileen Flora: “Our maintenance person spends extra time every Monday morning cleaning up trash that blows against shrubs, walkways & platforms. When [there’s] more than our maintenance person can do, we call upon DPW for assistance (Thanks James) [reference to James Ryan, Fairfield Building Department]. Please note this is a continual issue we encounter, and we greatly appreciate James’ support.”

Unpainted lines make the parking lot confusing for commuters and create an unkempt appearance.

I have long been concerned about the lack of transparency and efficiency of, lack of oversight over, and level of service provided by the independent Fairfield Parking Authority.  As a department, the Town will require far more transparency and oversight and achieve greater efficiencies by drawing on the expertise and resources of many of the relevant Town departments. The Town is better resourced to provide a superior service to users of the train station lots and buildings. 

I encourage you to read the section that follows. It includes a great deal of detail about the Parking Authority's bylaws, authority, and operations, but the detail is important to understand the many benefits of the change made by the RTM.

I understand that making structural changes in any organization, especially in municipal government, can generate questions.  However, what is most important is good and efficient government and getting the most from taxpayers' and residents’ hard-earned dollars. The Administration I am leading has spent much of the last year and a quarter cleaning up inefficient or outdated practices left over from the past. We meet resistance from vested interests at every turn, but we persist and make progress.  

As always, I value your feedback and thoughts about our Town. You can email me here or call my office at 203-256-3030.

Bill Gerber

First Selectman

Important Background about the Parking Authority

Transparency and Oversight:

Parking Authority Budgets. Section 5 (a) of the Parking Authority Bylaws requires the Authority to “prepare and submit to the Board for review and approval at its March Meeting, or as soon thereafter as possible but no later than May, a proposed annual budget, prepared in cooperation with the Authority’s Office Manager & Board Liaison (‘OMBL’)”. The Parking Authority has not done this. 

•  There is no evidence a Parking Authority budget has been presented to the Board in March, April, May, June, or at any time, and no discussion of a budget in the Parking Authority minutes. A Parking Authority budget for 2024 is not posted. No budget has been prepared for 2025 as of April 10, 2025.

You can find Parking Authority meeting minutes here.

You can find the Parking Authority Bylaws here.

Parking Authority Expenditures. Section 5 (b) of the Parking Authority Bylaws requires the Authority to ‘prepare and submit to the Board, in cooperation with the OMBL, at each regular monthly Board meeting written reports of the revenues and expenditures of the Authority.  

• There is no evidence that Parking Authority expenditures have been presented at monthly Board meetings.  

You can find Parking Authority meeting minutes here.

You can find the Parking Authority Bylaws here.

Parking Authority Leases. The Parking Authority Governance Manual states that “Tenant Leases will be reviewed yearly. Leases scheduled to be renewed will be presented to the Authority at least 4 months in advance of the renewal date. Leases will be updated and reviewed by the Town Attorney prior to renewal. 

• The Parking Authority has not sought any legal review of its leases from the Town Attorney. 

You can find the Parking Authority Governance Manual here.

Parking Authority Financial Statements

·        The last (and only) Parking Authority Financial Statements available on the Parking Authority website are for the Years Ended June 30, 2017, and 2016. 

You can find Parking Authority financial statements and other documents here.

Parking Authority Contracts and Leases

• Most of the contracts and leases of the Parking Authority are discussed by the

Board in Executive Session. Requests for Proposals (RFP), bids and awards are not posted online, in contrast to the Town. You can find Town RFPs, bids and awards here.

Who oversees the Parking Authority? The Parking Authority Board comprises five volunteers appointed by the First Selectman. The Board typically meet about 12 times per year, typically for only 30 to 50 minutes (meetings rarely last over an hour). As you can see from minutes, a typical meeting involves a report on parking statistics for the month (the number of day parking passes, the number of permits sold, etc.). From time to time, the Board will discuss improvements, like installing plexiglass on the stairs. 

You can see the meeting start and adjournment times in the minutes here.

Parking Authority Employees and Duties. The Parking Authority Board appoints one full-time employee as the Authority’s Office Manager & Board Liaison (‘OMBL’). The OMBL has hired one full-time staff members and one part-time staff member, for a total Parking Authority employee count of 2.5. I have stated several times that we hope these 2.5 staff members remain on as Town employees with the dissolution of the Parking Authority.  

The Parking Authority oversees only two sites- the Fairfield Center and Southport Train Station buildings and parking lots. Fairfield-Black Rock is not managed by the Fairfield Parking Authority. The 2.5 Authority employees issue parking permits, maintain waiting lists (if any), manage relationships with lessees, employees of the State Department of Transportation and the Parking Authority Board, and maintain the sites. 

Parking Authority Employees have several informal relationships for services received from the Town of Fairfield, including with DPW, Engineering, the Fairfield Police Department, and others. The Parking Authority pays a flat fee to the Town for services, including office space and support at Town Hall.  

The Town of Fairfield will be more efficient and effective, providing better service at a better cost & price than the Parking Authority has the resources to do. The transformation of the Parking Authority into the Parking Department will benefit the Town, its residents, its employees, and lessees. 

Fairfield’s Parking Authority has focused on basic maintenance of its two lots (functions that can be performed more effectively by DPW). It has not focused on expanding parking options or making any material improvements to the facilities. 

You can find the Parking Authority Bylaws here.

You can find the Parking Authority Governance Manual here.

QUICK HITS: 9 Things You Need to Know



THINGS YOU NEED-TO-KNOW!



Property Taxes Became Due On April 1: Pay Timely by May 1

• 4th quarter Real Estate taxes and second half Sewer Use taxes became due on April 1, 2025. 

• The last day to pay timely is Thursday, May 1, 2025. Per state statute, interest accrues at 1.5% per month from the original due date of April 1, 2025.

•  On May 2, 2025, the initial rate of interest is 3% to cover both April and May. 

• Any original tax bill can be paid at any M&T bank branch location between April 1, 2025 and May 1, 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. 

The First Selectman's Office Is Seeking to Identify Living

WWII Veterans to Honor on May 19th in Hartford

• The First Selectman's Office wants to identify all World War II veterans living in Fairfield who have served any time from December 7, 1941, to December 31, 1946. Please contact us by email here or call the office at 203-256-2960.

• Veterans will be honored during an upcoming ceremony commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII. The War ended in September 1945.  

• The ceremony will take place on Monday, May 19, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. with Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz at the Governor William A. O’Neill State Armory, 360 Broad Street, Hartford, CT 06105.

• The Lt. Governor is asking members of the public to share the names, branch of service, ages, and town of residence for any living World War II veterans in Connecticut by completing the form found here.  

Property Revaluation Update: What's Happening Now

• Field inspection of home sales occurring since October 1, 2024, began April 9, 2025. Tom Damseaux is in the field. Verify Tom and his vehicle here.

• Sales verification mailers are being sent to all properties that transfer ownership.

• Data mailers will be sent very soon. We are waiting on our new street level images.



• Data Collection and Entry Guidelines are being finalized.

• Income and Expense forms for commercial properties were mailed on April 7, 2025

.

• Current data and recent sales data are being reviewed.

Find everything you need to know about property revaluation here.

Apply for the Youth Conservation Award

Are you a young conservationist?

• The Fairfield Conservation Commission offers a Town-based Youth Conservation Award that honors young residents who are dedicated to safeguarding animal species, restoring ecosystems and protecting our planet's biodiversity.

• Criteria for entering: 21 years of age or younger; resident of Fairfield; activity within Fairfield not part of another organization.

Information can be found here.

Nomination form can be found here.

Charter Revision Commission to Hold 2^nd Public Hearing

Date: Thursday, May 1, 2025

Time: 7:00 pm

Where: Fairfield Regional Fire School, 205 Richard White Way (formerly One Rod Hwy)

*The entrance to the Fire School is located off Reef Road across from Veterans Park.

• Members of the public are encouraged to attend the meeting in person or via Zoom to give input on the Town Charter.

• The agenda with Zoom instructions will be posted a few days before the Public Hearing here. 

• Comments can be sent to Contact the Commission. 

• Tips from Sustainable Fairfield: Why We Love the Red Maple

• Red maple flowers are some of the first flowers of spring. Your eyes are not deceiving you - there really is a lovely red halo around many trees at their crown right now.

• For pollinators, trees are the meadows of the sky and offer a bounty of early spring flowers, like the red maple featured here, and the leaves which offer food for caterpillars and shelter throughout the winter. 

• Thus, our request that you “leave the leaves” for another few weeks until the pollinators living there get warm enough to “wake up”. 

•  Fun fact: this “waking up” process is called eclosing - your vocabulary word of the spring season!

HARD HAT AREA: COMPLETE STREETS

and ENGINEERING NEWS



Questions about your neighborhood project?

The Engineering Department's website lists detailed information on all street projects.

You can find more details for each project here.

Fairfield Beach Road Pump Station: Drilling for Soil Borings

• Drilling for soil borings will take place at the Fairfield Beach Road Pump Station at 1610 Fairfield Beach Road for four days: 4/16, 4/17, 4/19, and 4/21.

• Drilling will be conducted by General Boring, with Tighe and Bond staff on site to observe and document the borings.

• There will be a one-lane road closure on Fairfield Beach Road on those four days to allow driller access to the Pump Station via the front gate of the property.

Kings Highway Phase 3 and Post Road Jug Handle

Public Information Meeting:

Date: Wednesday, April 30

Time: 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Where: Fairfield Ludlowe High School Auditorium

Want to receive emails about this project? Sign up for your District emails here.

Rooster River Flood Mitigation Surveying to Begin mid-April

• Beginning on or around April 14, the Town of Fairfield and our project consultant will begin gathering survey information along the Rooster River corridor, mainly within the flood control structure that may be adjacent to your property.

• Surveyors will be performing cross sections of the dike/river in both Fairfield and Bridgeport.

• The information is intended for the Rooster River Flooding Mitigation Project and potential sediment removal.

• Please allow the surveyors access to your property if applicable.

Questions and concerns: Contact William Hurley or Megha Jain at 203-256-3015, or by email: whurley@fairfieldct.org or mjain@fairfieldct.org.

Stratfield Rt. 59 from Church Hill Road Intersection to Collingwood

Public Information Meeting:

Date: Thursday, April 24

Time: 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Where: Fairfield Ludlowe High School Auditorium

Want to receive emails about this project? Sign up for your District emails here.

Questions or concerns can be directed to:

Senior Civil Engineer Megha Jain

Email: mjain@fairfieldct.org

Phone: 203-256-3025

Villa Avenue Traffic Calming

• Recently, we installed medians along Villa Avenue as part of our broader traffic calming initiative. These improvements were aimed at reducing speeding, improving pedestrian safety, and enhancing the overall quality of life for residents.

• Since installation, we’ve received practical feedback from the community and our emergency response teams.

• These may lead to adjustments or modifications to the median design.

• We appreciate your patience and engagement. This project is not complete, pending striping, signage and other adjustments. Your input is always welcome. We’ll provide updates as we move forward.

TOWN CEREMONIES

Commendation for Distinguished Service in the Fairfield Fill Pile Case

The Town of Fairfield Board of Police Commissioners proudly recognized the exceptional contributions of the following individuals for their instrumental roles in the investigation and prosecution of the “Fairfield Fill Pile” case:

• Fred Hine, Retired Fairfield Police Detective Sergeant, Lead Investigator
• John Bucherati, Retired Deputy Chief, Supervisor and Investigator
• Tamberlin Chapman, Senior Assistant State’s Attorney for the State of Connecticut
• Matthew Schroeder, Inspector
• David Posadas, Inspector

• Background: In 2019, Fairfield faced a significant environmental and public health crisis due to the illegal dumping of contaminated materials at various sites, including public parks and playgrounds. This situation not only posed serious health risks, but also led to substantial financial burdens and a loss of public trust within our community.

• The collective efforts of this team led to the successful prosecution and conviction of those responsible, including significant sentences and restitution orders. Their work has been instrumental in restoring public confidence and initiating the healing process for our community.

• The Town of Fairfield Board of Police Commissioners extends its deepest gratitude to each of these individuals for their exceptional service. Their actions exemplify the highest standards of public service, and their legacy will continue to inspire all those who serve the Fairfield Community.

JUST A FEW MORE THINGS...

Inaugural Artistic Visions Challenge Art Show

The Fairfield Arts Commission held their inaugural Artistic Visions Challenge Art Show and Artist Reception on April 3 at the Main Library.

• The Challenge was a town-wide juried art competition for young people ages 11-18.

Participating artists: Michelle Amaechi; Amani Colson; Cameron Cuccaro; McKenna Dignon; Eva Gallias; Bri Guerra; Owen Hoyt; Lucia Jayaseelan; Daniella Jimenez Peri; Grace Katz; Ryan Kurjiaka; Isabella Mayson; Amelia Neubauer; Margaux Rasch; Amelie Triol; Aleen Sahloul; Phoebe Zombar.

Congratulations to the winners and all who entered!

MAKE THE CONNECTION

Osborn Hill Elementary School Class Makes

Cents of It All

• Following a visit from sixteen students from Ms. Rahn's class at Osborn Hill Elementary School to Town Hall, Bill Gerber and Tax Collector Dave Kluczwski received thank you notes from the students.

• Several mentioned that their visit to the Tax Collector's office was a highlight of their day at Town Hall, and that they enjoyed meeting "Mr. K."

• We're glad they enjoyed their visit and learning about how taxes support their school. There may be a few future CPAs in that class!

DON'T MISS THESE EVENTS



Town of Fairfield Interfaith

Holocaust Commemoration, April 23, 7:30 p.m.

Date: Wednesday, April 23

Time: 7:30 p.m.

Where: First Church Congregational

148 Beach Road, Fairfield

Ceremony:

• Candlelight procession
• Reading of names of Nazi concentration camps
• Music from Fairfield County Children's Choir and Fairfield Ludlowe High School Chamber Orchestra
• First Selectman Bill Gerber
• Town of Fairfield Police Department

Keynote Speaker:

• Eugene Ginter will share his personal story of survival including his liberation from Auschwitz days before his sixth birthday.
• Born in Krakow, Poland in 1939, Mr. Ginter was forced into a ghetto with his family at the start of WWII.

Learn more here.

EARTH DAY ACTIVITIES

Earth Day at Southport Park, April 27

12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

• Community Clean up

• Crafts

• Free Ice Cream



• Hosted by the Sasquanaug Association

FPS Green Teams' Spring Resale, April 26, 12:00 - 3:00 p.m.

Coffee with Bill Gerber, Penfield Pavilion, Saturday, May 3, 10:00 a.m.

• Have something you'd like to discuss with First Selectman Bill Gerber?

• The focus is on issues related to RTM District 9, but anyone from Town is welcome to attend.



• Come with questions, concerns, ideas, or anything you'd like to discuss with Bill.

We'll have coffee ready! Tell your neighbors.

Spring Bird Walk & Tree Tour, Saturday, May 10, 8:00 a.m.

• Enjoy a guided bird walk on the historic grounds of the Oak Lawn Cemetery

• Tour conducted by Tina Green, past president of the CT Ornithological Association and Charlie Stebbins, Co-chair of the Grounds and Arboretum Committee



• RSVP to Michele.oaklawn@gmail.com or call 203-259-0458

EYES ON FAIRFIELD



Great Blue Heron at Ash Creek in Penfield Mills Open Space

Photo by Peter Hood

• You can find information about the Penfield Mills Open Space here.

• The black cherry trees along the upland edge of the open space area, which includes Ash Creek, are perfect roosting spots for herons. 

• Great blue herons are common in Connecticut and are spotted in the state all year, but especially from April to November. 



• You can find more information about great blue herons here, including an audio file of their call.

Eyes on Fairfield is 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.

SIGN UP FOR YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD EMAILS

We've created ten different email lists for the ten RTM districts so that you can receive Town Updates from time to time that are specific to your area of Town. If you don't know what district you're in--not to worry--see the link below that will take you to a search by street to identify it for you. Then click on the district link below that, give us your email, and you'll be sure to hear the news specific to your area of Town.

Find your district here.

District One: Sign Up Here

District Two: Sign Up Here

District Three: Sign Up Here

District Four: Sign Up Here

District Five: Sign Up Here

District Six: Sign Up Here

District Seven: Sign Up Here

District Eight: Sign Up Here

District Nine: Sign Up Here

District Ten: Sign Up Here ri 1District 2District 3District 4District 5District 6District 7District 8District 9District 10

BOARD AND COMMISSION OPENINGS

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.

Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee:

Seeking one resident from any political party except Democrat to serve a term from 11/21- 11/25.

Learn more about this board here.

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.

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.

Board of Selectman Meetings



The regular Board of Selectmen meeting scheduled for Wednesday, April 9 at 4:00 p.m. is cancelled. There will be a special BOS meeting on Friday, April 11 at 2:00 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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