By Sarah Opdahl

At their Thursday, March 14 regular meeting, New Fairfield’s Board of Selectmen (BOS) were happy to hear the highlights of the Affordable Housing Plan drafted and presented by the Housing Opportunities Committee. The BOS tabled a vote on the Plan, as they would like to make some changes to the language. While most of the document refers to ideas and plans as suggestions, there are a few spots where the copy could be read as more firm. These are the likely candidates for change.

Housing Opportunities Chair Ms. Anita Brown gave a brief history of the group’s activities and information on the current housing situation in New Fairfield. She and other Committee members touched on the striking need for affordable housing options in Town, for the multitude of residents who are too stretched with rising house payments and for young people wanting to live in Town or older residents looking to downsize. A survey conducted by the group showed that residents believe New Fairfield needs more affordable housing options. Brown showed examples of affordable housing options created in similar towns without central sewer systems. The photos attempt to clear misconceptions that all affordable housing is unattractive and feels out of place. The Committee’s goal is to ideally support at least twenty affordable units becoming available in the next five years.

The Plan recommends  a large number of suggestions for next steps from creating a housing non-profit and better utilizing the New Fairfield Housing Trust to rewriting Zoning regulations to better suit affordable housing and working on public awareness for first-time homebuyers regarding affordable housing options.

Town Treasurer Ms. Terry Friedman walked the BOS through poss ible plans to enhance the Length of Service Awards Program (LOSAP) for the Town Fire Department volunteers. Following up on a request from Fire Chief Mr. Bruce Taylor, the BOS was eager to entertain plans, though they were not ready to be voted on. Friedman explained that a small group looked at options and agreed that the first priority is to increase the payout per month per year of service from $13 to $25, which is paid out to volunteers after twenty years of service. The second is to raise the maximum number of years volunteers can qualify for the award from twenty years to forty. Finally, there is a hope to give awards to any volunteers who have served beyond twenty years, when their original award was realized. She presented a potential graduated plan, in which the Town increases its giving to the program incrementally with benefits, in turn, going live incrementally. Another plan would be to fund the full first year of enhanced benefits in the current proposed budget and going forward, which will likely be tough to add, given the tight spot of the current budget. Friedman explained that surplus interest income revenue could be helpful in planning for the funding. The BOS members all expressed support for the plan to enhance the benefits. First Selectman Ms. Melissa Lindsey said, “I think we all agree that our volunteer firemen are invaluable and we want to do anything and everything we can to help support them,” in addition, she said, “obviously if this helps with getting more volunteers then it is a bonus for us, right?”

The next regular Board of Selectmen meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 28, 7:30 p.m.