The Ad Hoc Fairfield Hills Management Committee held a regular meeting on Tuesday, February 15, 2005 in the meeting room at Town Hall South, 3 Main Street, Newtown, CT. Chairman John Reed called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
PRESENT: John Reed, Robert Geckle, Amy Dent, Moira Rodgers, William Lavery, Donald Studley, ABSENT: Richard Sturdevant, Andrew Willie
ALSO PRESENT: First Selectman Herbert Rosenthal, State Senator John McKinney, State Representative Julia Wasserman, Maria DeMarco (DeMarco, Murphy & Miles), Jan Andras (clerk), two members of public, one member of press
Acceptance of Minutes: Upon motion by Mr. Lavery, the minutes of 1/18/05 were unanimously accepted as corrected.
Facilities Manager’s Report: Ms. DeMarco reported that all employees have been moved from Canaan House into the Kendro building. The former engineers cottage has been completed and security and facilities management offices have been moved to this new security building.
Officers: Chairman Reed reported that by the end of the fall, we should have heat in Newtown Hall in order to prevent further deterioration. Ms. DeMarco is currently getting estimates. A timeline was received from environmental consultant, Russell Bartley, outlining the projected schedule for remediation. This schedule shows work beginning the end of June. The RFP/RFQ for a project management firm is being advertised and mailed out this week.
Chairman Reed feels that there could be interest from small business owners in town for space in Newtown and Woodbury Halls. The Chamber of Commerce will be arranging tours for interested businesspeople.
Vice Chairman Geckle reported that the security subcommittee is still looking into security measures for the water bunkers.
Committees: The subcommittee is making a recommendation for enabling legislature so that the town can create a municipal development authority by ordinance. Senator McKinney and State Representative Wasserman will be asked to propose this to the General Assembly.
Public Participation: Ms. Ruby Johnson, 16 Chestnut Hill Road, feels that people are in favor of using Newtown Hall for small businesses. Regarding budget for landscaping, she feels we should keep volunteers in mind, such as the garden clubs.
Old Business: Mr. Lavery moved to recommend to the Board of Selectmen that the Town request our State Senator and State Representative to propose “An Act Authorizing Creation Of an Authority to Oversee Municipal Development” to the State Legislature. Motion seconded and unanimously carried. (copy attached).
Having no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:30 pm.
John Reed, Chairman
Attachment
An Act Authorizing Creation of an Authority to Oversee Municipal Development
Proposed by Representative Wasserman and Senator McKinney
January 2005
A city, town or borough, by ordinance approved by majority vote of its legislative body, may establish an authority to plan and oversee development or redevelopment of a specified area or parcel of land within said city, town or borough. Such ordinane shall prescribe 1) the boundaries of the area or parcel of land over which the authority shall have jurisdcition; 2) the method of appointment and terms of office of members of the authority; 3) the powers and duties of the authority which may include the creation and implementaiton of a development plan, hiring employees, building, maintaining operating improvements to the land and leasing any part of the land and improvements thereon, provided that no such plan may be adopted by an authority unless there has been opportunity for public comment on such plan at a
properly-noticed public hearing in said city, town or borough; 4) a schedule for reporting progress on the development and implementation of a development plan to the legislative body and other appropriate municipal officials or agencies; and 5) any other provisions deemed necessary by the legislative body.
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