The Board of Selectmen held a Public Hearing on Monday, November 19, 2007 in the meeting room at the C. H. Booth Library, Main Street, Newtown, CT. First Selectman Rosenthal called the hearing to order at 7:00 p.m.
PRESENT: First Selectman Herbert Rosenthal, Selectman William Brimmer, Selectman Joseph Bojnowski, Finance Director Ben Spragg, Fairfield Hills Authority Chairman Robert Geckle, Fairfield Hills Authority members Amy Dent and Moira Rodgers, Legislative Council Chairman William Rodgers, 6 members of public, 1 member of press
First Selectman Rosenthal read the Legal Notice of the Public Hearing stating that the hearing was to hear public comment on a lease of the Newtown Hall Building at Fairfield Hills to Hawley Construction. He then read the Letter of Intent (attached to original minutes) and opened the floor to public comment..
Ms. Ruby Johnson, 16 Chestnut Hill Road, asked about the $2.5 million grant application for infrastructure at Fairfield Hills. First Selectman Rosenthal answered that we have not yet received an approval for that grant but there is an on-going grant for electrical and gas, not water and sewer. Ms. Johnson feels that the lease is promising infrastructure to the buildings that we may not have funding to provide. She stated that the estimate for environmental issues in that building was $101,000 and that was seven years ago. The letter of intent states that the tenant is responsible for $200,000 for environmental issues and anything over and above is absorbed by the town.
Mr. John Hughes, Grand Place, asked why the lease is for such a long period and has the Fairfield Hills Authority had outside consulting assistance with these leases? First Selectman Rosenthal stated that the town attorney is preparing the leases and his firm has a lot of experience with commercial leases. Hawley needed a lengthy lease in order to be able to secure financing for the amount of work that needs to be done on the building. Mr. Hughes asked why the upfront fees seem low? FHA Chairman Robert Geckle stated that the value of the building cannot be considered as anything more than a shell with lead paint and asbestos. The developer has done due diligence to determine what is required for a medical facility to be in that building and it will cost in excess of $200 per square
foot for renovations. That would be $2.5 to $3 million for the 11,500 square feet of usable space. Regarding the $200,000 allowance for remediation of lead and asbestos, Mr. Geckle stated that our environmental consultant has updated the estimate for lead and asbestos remediation in this building to $125,000 to $175,000. The figures in the lease were not picked in a vacuum.
Mr. Bruce Walczak, Glover Avenue, asked about the Fairfield Hills Tax Abatement Plan. First Selectman Rosenthal stated that the Fairfield Hills Authority did draft a Tax Incentive Plan similar to the one that is already in place for business in all parts of the town but a separate plan has not gone through the approval process for Fairfield Hills. The Tax Incentive Plan written by the EDC applies to any property in town. Mr. Walczak asked if the EDC has been consulted about any of these leases. Mr. Rosenthal replied that they have not because we have a Fairfield Hills Authority for this purpose.
Mr. Joseph Borst, Beechwood Drive, asked about the last paragraph of the Letter of Intent which states “acceptable to the Town”. FHA member Amy Dent replied that any uses must comply with the Master Plan. We cannot tell someone that they cannot sublet as long as they comply with the Master Plan.
Hearing no further comments, the meeting was adjourned at 7:35 p.m.
Jan Andras, Clerk
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