By Sarah Opdahl

In a special meeting on Wednesday, July 17, New Fairfield’s Board of Finance (BOF) voted to approve Mr. Patrick Hearty’s nomination to become a full member. Appointed to the BOF two months ago as an alternate, Hearty was eager to step into the vacancy that was created with the resignation of Mr. Doug Jendras and then Mr. Gary Reetz. Four candidates stepped forward to fill the position, including Hearty, alternate member Mr. Greg Williams, Mr. Rick Regan, who has previously run for the BOF, and newcomer Ms. Jessica Sanchez.

BOF member Ms. Cheryl Reedy advocated to prioritize alternate members, either Williams, who has served as a BOF alternate since 2019, or Hearty. Reedy pointed out, “The people who have sat for the meetings and participated in the meetings as alternates, who want to be a full member, are deserving of our first consideration.” She also praised the candidacy of both Regan and Sanchez and encouraged them to send their materials to the Board of Selectmen for consideration to fill the alternate position that was created by Hearty’s move.

Hearty was unable to join this meeting, but Williams, Regan, and Sanchez all spoke. Beyond his experience as a long-serving alternate on the BOF, Williams said, “I view service to your community as a given… my child is growing up here, I want to set a good example.” He explained, “my vision for New Fairfield is a simple one. I like New Fairfield more or less how it is today. I do not want to see New Fairfield change very much.” He does “have some bones to pick with capital, historically, and in what I think is negligence at times and deferred maintenance at other times.”

Regan declined to pitch for his candidacy in deference to the notion that priority should be placed on alternates, rather than on new members to the BOF. When asked, he did point out some BOF challenges and opportunities such as the bus lot situation, which will require financial input. He posited that there could be advantages to changing the school start time(s) to, among other benefits, contribute to operational efficiencies. Regan mentioned the new finance director, the upcoming revaluation year, and the new way to assess motor vehicles as upcoming areas of interest.

Sanchez, who submitted her materials for consideration for the first time, detailed her extensive experience in finance, and said of the BOF, “I think it is very important for us to be fiscally conservative and yet make sure that we are ensuring the quality of education for our children, and supporting all of the social services for the town.” Sanchez has a young child in New Fairfield Public Schools.

The Board of Finance held a regular meeting on Wednesday, July 24.

The next regular Board of Finance meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, August 28, 7:30 p.m.