At their December meeting, New Fairfield’s Board of Selectmen (BOS) voted to request their fiscal year 2021-2022 surplus from the Town’s Board of Finance. They proposed using the funds to pay for: Police Department technology, Communications Center equipment, the Planning Commission’s plan of conservation and development, well testing that is mandated by the State, fiber to connect the Police Department to the firehouse, a housing opportunities survey and focus groups to determine community needs and concerns for affordable housing, a roadside tractor, radio equipment for Town staff, funding the Fire Department’s apparatus reserve account, and additional shelves for the Town Hall vault.

BOS members agreed to “opt out” of the Zoning Enabling Act, which involves accessory apartments and associated parking. First Selectman Ms. Pat Del Monaco explained that this has nothing to do with the need for affordable housing plans for the State. Furthermore, she said, “modifying parking without proper consideration of its implications in a predominantly rural town with narrow roads without proper studies and time for consideration will result in potential safety hazards.” The State bill’s language is “not too terribly different from our language,” Selectman Ms. Khris Hall said, “but by opting out of it, we retain flexibility in the future, too.”

A brief discussion was had about the Town’s Communication Center staffing. While that department had been fully staffed, that is not currently the case. To compensate, until a full-time vacancy is filled, there were transfers requested to cover overtime an d additional part-time staff. Hall reminded fellow board members that a six-month check-in on the Communications Center is slated for January.

The BOS enthusiastically voted unanimously to appoint Ms. Linda Fox as New Fairfield’s Town Historian and thanked her for her service. In a letter to Town officials, Fox explained her desire to fill the post and “protect the Town’s history.” She reminded the BOS that not only is she “a lifelong resident of New Fairfield” but a relative of hers “was one of the founding fathers of this Town. This gives me a longtime interest in the history of the town and makes me knowledgeable of what resources the Town has.”

BOS members are considering convening the Town’s Traffic Authority to discuss speed limits on some roads. Del Monaco said that speeds “probably need to be reexamined given some of the incidents that have happened recently.”

There was a bit of back-and-forth during Public Comment between resident and Zoning Commission member Mr. Steve Hanrahan and Del Monaco. Both took issue with what the other had written regarding the proposed bus lot in recent letters in the Town Tribune. 

The next regular New Fairfield Board of Selectmen meet ing is scheduled for Thursday, January 12, 7:30 p.m.

By Sarah Opdahl