By Sarah Opdahl

At the Thursday, August 22 New Fairfield Board of Selectmen (BOS) meeting, members navigated the beginnings of discussion on how best to use budget surplus funds. With over $1 million in surplus expected to come to the Town, there is a push and pull going on between appropriating $950,000 for the school track and turf replacement and how much surplus to allocate to the medical fund, an area that often causes hand-wringing, especially following periods of steep rises in claims, as has recently occurred. The BOS opted to table a vote on the appropriation of funds until after the next Board of Finance (BOF) Medical Subcommittee meeting, which is scheduled for early September. They signaled that a special meeting of the BOS may be called following the medical subcommittee meeting.

For many, including the bulk of residents at the in-person meeting, the issue is cut and dry. There will be a surplus that is more than adequate to cover the large expense of replacing the Rebel Stadium track and field, which, when appropriated, will secure a spot with contractors for replacement next summer, spare the spaces from becoming unusable as early as next year, and alleviate the need to place the large-dollared project in next year’s budget. However, concerns regarding the medical fund continue to be voiced by board members.

With various parties raising hands regarding potential best use of the surplus funds, the issue is  a sticky one for Town officials. Town Treasurer Ms. Terry Friedman and new Finance Director Mr. Vladimir Kan both made points regarding various issues at play in town finances. Friedman is concerned with the outlay that is  required on school construction funds until the State sends final reimbursements on the projects and potential town emergency expenditures, while Kan explained that he is following trend data in suggesting just over $300,000 be earmarked for the medical fund.

Among the heavily engaged public, frustration and fears abound regarding the potential handling of the surplus funds by the BOF, several members of which initially backed using surplus funds for track and field replacement through a “good faith effort” but some of whom are now seen to be possibly backpedaling. Acknowledging this, and following a highly contentious past budget season,  First Selectman Ms. Melissa Lindsey offered the following statement, “I want to replace this track and field. My kids play on it. I coach sports on it. I personally want to say yes, but I also have to make sure that I am not leaving the Town in jeopardy.” Lindsey cautioned others on referencing the track and field as unsafe for students, following language that skirted the edges of referring to the spaces as compromising the safety of students. It was reiterated that the track and field are currently safe for students to use.

In other news, with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds needing to be encumbered by later this year, Lindsey said that details are  coming soon on suggested ways to use the remaining funds. One area of ARPA funds that is coming to a close is the small business grants of $5,000 each, which was overseen by the Town’s Economic Development Commission (Commission). With the final approval going to the New Fairfield Animal Welfare Society, the Commission recommended that the remaining funds marked for this program be allocated to an alternate ARPA funded program. BOS members agreed to ask the Commission to make one final push for any remaining businesses in the next month.

The next regular Board of Selectmen meeting is scheduled for Thursday, September 12, 7:30 p.m.