At the Thursday, May 8 New Fairfield Board of Selectmen (BOS) meeting, the BOS discussed a large amount of legal fees that are driving numerous budget transfers. “I’m concerned,” Selectman Ms. Pat Del Monaco said, “Why are we moving so much money into legal?” To which First Selectman Ms. Melissa Lindsey said, “because it is over budget,” which she went on to explain is due to “multiple personnel issues, contract issues, [and] union contract negotiations.” Following several meetings in which funds were transferred into the legal line items, Del Monaco pressed, “It just seems like a lot of money,” a statement with which Lindsey agreed.

On the same topic, Selectman Mr. Tom Perkins pointed out that a “fair amount” of money is being spent on legal fees for Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. He noted that some FOIA requests seemed to him to be “frivolous” and urged residents to maybe send an email to boards or commissions before they file a FOIA request, as their questions or need for clarification could sometimes be answered in a simpler way. “Everybody, of course, is entitled to a FOIA request, there’s no argument with me on that, and this costs you money. So I would say, please, when you’re going to file a FOIA, please take a second look at everything, the second thought on everything you’ve got, and see if it’s really, really necessary, it’s not frivolous.”

BOS members approved updating  the investment policy, which was recommended in the recently completed audit. Town Treasurer Ms. Terry Friedman explained, she agreed with the auditors that the policy needed clarification that the pension and OPEB plan investments are not intended to be under the umbrella of this policy, as that is not spelled out. Friedman went on, “the policy, when it was written, in my opinion, was meant to just apply to operating cash and to the management, let’s say, of the rainy day fund. It was never intended, in my opinion, to apply to pension or OPEB assets.”  She went on to say “those all have their own individual…investment policy statements that go with that.”

Lindsey welcomed the town’s new Director of Finance, Adam Lawrence. “We are very excited to have you and welcome you aboard,” she said. She was also “excited to announce…that we will be having a new registered sanitarian, Jennifer Eielson, so we also welcome her.”

“I would like to address some rumors going around,” about the $2.1 million Congressionally Directed Spending Grant, Lidsey said. The grant is intended to help New Fairfield to modernize the emergency communications infrastructure. Lindsey stressed, “we are in good standing with the grant,” following the fear that was expressed at the previous meeting regarding being late in reporting.

BOS members reappointed Ms. Kathleen DiTullio to the Inland Wetlands Commission. Lindsey said, “I would like to extend my gratitude to Kathleen for being willing and able to serve on multiple boards and commissions in town.” Del Monaco agreed, saying she wanted “to thank Kathleen for her many years of service to Wetlands. She’s a capable and valuable member on that commission.”

The gift of a memorial bench was approved for installation  at the town boat dock in honor of Michael C. Mallon. Michael’s  parents are donating the six-foot cedar bench. Del Monaco commented that the bench is very “meaningful,” saying, “Probably most people don’t know, but Michael Mallon Junior was of great assistance during the macroburst. He helped us with equipment so that we could communicate internally when all the cell towers were down, when we didn’t have the same radio communication we normally have.”

The next regular Board of Selectmen meeting is scheduled for Thursday, May 22, 7:30 p.m.