The First Selectman's View from Town Hall
Where Do We Go From Here?
After the BOF meeting Wednesday evening, the budget increase stands at 13.21%. None of the elected officials on the BOS, BOE or BOF support a tax increase of 13% - and that is why the BOS and BOE held a joint meeting last Tuesday evening to discuss a path forward. The Boards presented strategies to significantly reduce the budget increase without drastic cuts to either the town or school operating budgets. Those strategies include applying bond premiums to spread out the impact of the debt service from the new schools, using current year revenue surpluses to bolster the medical reserve fund and making reasonable reductions to the operating budgets.
Over 300 people attended the BOF meeting last Wednesday evening, with many speaking in support of the operating budgets. However, the BOF disregarded the voice of the taxpayers, and without any collaboration with the BOS and BOE, hinted that they would reduce the BOE budget by $2.5 million and the BOS budget by $500,000. These cuts would change the quality of education and town services in New Fairfield for years to come. The recording of the March 28 Joint meeting and the March 29 BOF meeting can be viewed on the Town website, posted under “News.”
The chart below describes how cuts to the BOE budget would impact the education of our children:
Town services would also suffer under the BOF plan. Most statutory functions in the Town government (Town Clerk, Tax Collector, Assessor, Health, Building, Zoning, Fire Marshal) are staffed by only 1 – 3 people who earn on average $57,000/year. These Departments account for approximately 10% of the municipal operating budget, or about 2% of the entire budget.
The largest Town departments include Police, Public Works, Dispatch, Finance and the Library, which in total account for 60% of the municipal budget, or 12% of the total budget. Cuts to any of these departments will have a significant impact on the services provided by the Town.
For example, the Police Department includes just enough officers and CT State Troopers to protect our Town and schools 24/7. The Department employs 5 Patrol Officers, 3 School Resource Officers, 6 Troopers and 1 Resident Sergeant. Some have suggested that we could reduce overtime costs in the department, however overtime is necessary to maintain patrol minimums during vacation time and sick time, to provide SRO coverage in CELA and to support special events in Town. To reduce costs in Public Safety, the BOS would have to reconsider regionalizing the Dispatch Center for an annual savings of about $250,000. The move would be against the recommendation of public safety personnel and public sentiment.
Reducing Public Works staffing means reducing hours spent on maintenance of infrastructure – fields, buildings, roads and drainage, and the reduction of services such as Drop Off Center hours, roadside mowing and plowing. The Board would also be forced to reduce funding for road paving and repair, which would result in further deterioration of road surfaces and underlying drainage. The Board would also be driven to reduce funding and staff to provide programs in the library and senior center. The Finance Department is shared with the BOE and is required to maintain staffing levels that ensure separation of duties.
Recovery from cuts of the magnitude suggested by the BOF would take years, if not decades. We have been down this road before, and four years ago were faced with the results of underfunding maintenance and repair of critical infrastructure – crumbling school buildings and the high cost of replacing them. We have also borne the cost of rebuilding roads that were paved with inferior materials to “save money.” Our schools have invested in our students academic success, including employing coaching and intervention strategies which lead New Fairfield to recover from the pandemic more quickly than most districts, nearing pre-pandemic achievement levels. Our students are achieving substantially more growth in both English/Language Arts and Math than most districts. Clearly, now is not the time to slash staffing and programs in our schools.
Please watch the recordings of the BOS/BOE Joint meeting and the March 29 BOF meeting found on the Town website, www.newfairfield.org and plan to attend the next BOF meeting on Wednesday, April 12 via ZOOM. You can send your comments to the BOF at BOF@newfairfield.org.
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NEXT BOF MEETING TO DISCUSS THE BUDGET-APRIL 12 VIA ZOOM (link will be on NewFairfield.org)
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THANK YOU, KERRIE!
Kerrie Greening, New Fairfield’s Tax Collector, is retiring after more than 37 years of service to the Town of New Fairfield!
Kerrie worked in the Tax Department after school when she was in High School. She left to attend college and in September 1986, she began working as an Assistant Tax Collector. She has been a Certified Municipal Collector since 1989, a certification she renews every 5 years, for which she must take continuing education classes. In November 1993 Kerrie was elected as Tax Collector. The Tax Department is the only office in Town that she has worked in during her career in New Fairfield.
Kerrie has worked with every Finance Director the Town has had-prior to their being a Finance Director in Town there was a Treasurer and Part-time Bookkeeper. She has worked with many Selectmen, and every Town Hall department head has changed at least once during her tenure. She has served on the Elderly Tax Deferral Subcommittee and the first Fireman Tax Abatement Subcommittee.
Residents always look forward to seeing and chatting with Kerrie each year when they come to Town Hall to pay their taxes. They have developed a bond with her, sharing all of the updates and events that have occurred in their lives since their previous visit to Town Hall. She has been a constant in the Tax Department where they know they will see a friendly face and receive a ready and accurate answer to any questions they may have.
Kerrie has lived in New Fairfield since she was born, leaving for a short time to attend college, etc… -basically, her whole life. She will miss her hometown of New Fairfield, the people and the beauty of the Northeast. She has seen many changes in the Town during her time as a resident.
Kerrie is looking forward to moving to North Carolina upon her retirement and warmer winters and moving closer to her family.
We thank Kerrie for all of her years of service to the Town and residents of New Fairfield. Most importantly, we thank her for her friendship, her warm smile that greets us every day, her sense of loyalty and integrity.
We will miss her dearly and wish her all of the best in the adventures that await her!
THANK YOU, NANCY!
Nancy Poellot, Delinquent Collection Assistant in the Tax Department, will be retiring on May 1st!
Nancy has been working in the Tax Department in her position since 1996-27 years! She was at home raising her children for 13 years prior to her employment with the Town of New Fairfield. Not only has she seen changes in areas such as Technology while working, but there have been changes in her life and milestones she has celebrated during the 27 years.
Nancy has lived in New Fairfield for 44 years and bought her first house here in the same year she was married. She will miss the familiarity of New Fairfield and the feeling of being where you belong. She will bring with her the memories of the laughter with Kerrie and Renee and the kindness of the residents. She is excited and ready for the change to come!
We will miss her laugh, enthusiasm and compassion.
We wish you all the best, Nancy!
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EARTH DAY CELEBRATION
April 22nd (Rain Date April 23rd)
Please join us for the New Fairfield Earth Day Celebration! As a community, we plan to collect garbage in our neighborhoods in the morning. Bags can be picked up in front of Town Hall from 9:00-10:00 a.m., along with coffee and donuts. You can bring your filled bags back to the garbage truck in front of Town Hall by 12:00 p.m.
The Celebration begins at 12:00 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. There will be food trucks, music, food discounts to local businesses, presentations, crafts, vendors, information, and games. We hope to provide awareness about the Earth and our environment.
The Schedule of Events can be found below:
PLEASE JOIN US TO MAKE NEW FAIRFIELD A CLEANER AND HEALTHIER COMMUNITY FOR OURSELVES AND OUR CHILDREN!
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Water Testing Day
April 22nd from 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Across from Veterans Park on Old Route 37
The Water Pollution Control Authority (WPCA) will be holding their Water Testing Day on Earth Day.
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Soil Testing Day
April 22nd from 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Across from Veterans Park on Old Route 37
The Candlewood Watershed Initiative will be holding their Soil Testing Day on Earth Day, also sponsored by the Candlewood Lake Authority, Candlewood Voices, Friends of Ball Pond and the CT Agricultural Station.
New Fairfield Resident Housing Needs Survey
Last year the Board of Selectmen created the Housing Opportunities Committee to look at the need for a wider variety of housing in New Fairfield. We are working on a plan to address the housing needs of current and future residents and workers in New Fairfield as required by State statute. This Housing Plan will lay out strategies that the town can take over the next five years to address these housing needs while still protecting the qualities we love about our town.
We need your input! In one of our first initiatives, we are seeking the input of our residents on housing needs through a short survey of your opinion of housing needs. Additionally, there will be multiple opportunities for input from residents during development of the housing plan, including at least two community wide forums we plan to host in 2023.
The Committee meets via Zoom on the first Tuesday of each month, typically at 7:30 P.M. Access details are available in the meeting’s agenda which is posted to the Town’s website (www.newfairfield.org) prior to each meeting. If you have questions or comments to share with the Steering Committee, please do so by attending a Zoom meeting or sending an email to housing@newfairfield.org
Thank you in advance for taking this survey to give us your feedback!
~New Fairfield Housing Opportunities Committee~
To take the survey, go to:
or click below:
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New Fairfield Veterans Association
The Veterans will be having a meeting on Wednesday, April 5th at 7:00 p.m. at the Senior Center. Veterans and friends are always welcome. Refreshments will be served. Check them out on Facebook.
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An Update from the Veterans Association
The Bataan Memorial Death March Campaign
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Housatonic Resources Recovery Authority
Household Hazardous Waste & Electronic Waste Drop-off Event
Saturday, April 15, 2023
9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Danbury Public Works, 53 Newtown Road, Danbury
For more information, click below:
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A Reminder About the Parks & Recreation CPR Training Course-You Should Attend
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New Fairfield Lions Club Easter Egg Hunt
Saturday, April 8th at 10 a.m.-New Fairfield High School Playground
Remember to bring your own basket!
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Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Prescription Drug Take Back Day
April 22nd, 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
New Fairfield Police Department
302 Ball Pond Road, New Fairfield
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GROOVIN' IN NEW FAIRFIELD
Enjoy a Saturday night out-April 29th at the Senior Center-Doors open at 6:45.
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HOMETOWN HERO BANNERS
Please send your request for the banner in by April 28th to be displayed for Memorial Day
New Fairfield is so very proud of all of the men and women who serve or have served in the military. We are currently taking orders for Military Hometown Hero Banners to honor and recognize hometown Veterans and active duty members of the United States Armed Forces. If you are interested in purchasing a Hero Banner to be displayed in the center of Town annually from Memorial Day through Veterans Day, please submit an application before April 28th. After that date, requests will be accepted on a year-round basis and banners will be printed when the required minimum quantity is reached.
Banners will display the official military photo of the service person, as well as their name and branch of the United States Armed Forces. We are asking sponsors to contribute $40 toward the cost of each banner. To qualify for the Military Banner Program, the honoree must be a Veteran or currently serving as an active duty member of the United States Armed Forces, and he or she must currently reside in New Fairfield or have an immediate family member residing in New Fairfield (parent, spouse, sibling, son or daughter).
You can complete the form and pay online for a banner, and then email or send in your picture-you can find the form on newfairfield.org, under the Selectmen's Office heading or click below:
You can also print the form or request a form from the Selelctman's office and send it in or bring it to Town Hall. Digital photos, if available, provide the highest quality banner. You may email your photo to: jgreen@newfairfield.org. Please mail your completed form and $40 check made payable to "Town of New Fairfield" to: Town of New Fairfield, Selectman's Office, 4 Brush Hill Road, New Fairfield, CT 06812
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NATIONAL ADOPT A SHELTER PET DAY April 30
National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day on April 30th raises awareness for thousands of pets that are waiting for and desperately needing adoption from the shelters. Animal shelters require year-round assistance and adoption is a part of the process. New Fairfield/Sherman Animal Welfare depends upon its fundraisers, donations and volunteers to care for and help all of the wonderful animals and make sure they find their forever homes.
Shred-It Fundraiser Event
New Fairfield/Sherman Animal Welfare will be having a Shred-It Fundraiser on Saturday, April 15th from 9:00-11:30 a.m. in the Senior Center Parking Lot.
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Flower Power Fundraiser
You can purchase beautiful bulbs and seeds from Flower Power Fundraising. 50% of your purchase goes to the shelter. All orders will be shipped directly to the buyer.
Your purchase not only helps the animals at the shelter, you also will receive wonderful bulbs and seeds to add beauty to your garden.
You can order at http://NFSAW.fpfundraising.com or click below:
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Pet Food & Supply Pantry
The New Fairfield/Sherman Animal Welfare Society now has a Pet Food & Supply Pantry-please read what they have to say about it below:
In 2022 we were able to provide food and supplies for 10 animals in our community. Our hope for 2023 is to extend our reach in the community by launching our pet food and supply pantry to help pet parents in crisis. If you or someone you know is struggling to feed or provide care for their pet please contact us or stop by the shelter to discuss ways we can help! All items have been donated to the shelter from our community. NFSAW is proud to support our community, and the people helping each other in it. The pantry is located at the shelter and is open daily from 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.!
If you are able to donate to the Pet Pantry to help animals in need or if you have an animal in need of food or supplies and it is a hardship for you to provide them- the pantry is open 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. daily.
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SAVE THE DATE-SIP & STROLL
Saturday, May 20th
4:00-8:00 p.m.
Visit local businesses while enjoying a glass of wine, visiting with friends and neighbors and strolling downtown New Fairfield!
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A Reminder from the Assessor's Office:
Filing for Tax Relief must be done by May 15, 2023. Contact the Assessor's Office for more information at: assessor@newfairfield.org or call them at 203-312-5625.
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Parks & Recreation Department
HELP WANTED
The Parks & Recreation Department still has job openings for Waterfront Directors and Lifeguards.
To learn more about these job opportunities, visit the Human Resources page at NewFairfield.org or click below:
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Spring is Here and Bears are Emerging from Hibernation!
The best advice if you see a bear in your neighborhood is to leave it alone. If the bear is on your property, scare it away. Remove attractants to avoid any problems before they occur.
DEEP (Connecticut's Department of Energy and Environmental Protection) has issued "The State of the Bears-A Briefing on Bears in Connecticut" which you can read here:
You can read more information on "Living with Black Bears in Connecticut" and what you can do to avoid any conflicts from DEEP here:
To report a bear sighting, send an email to: deep.wildlife@ct.gov.
If a bear damages your property or you have specific questions about bears: Contact the DEEP Wildlife Division at 860-424-3011.
If a bear is in a densely populated area, contact the DEEP Wildlife Division (860-424-3011, Monday-Friday, 8:30 A.M.-4:30 P.M.) or DEEP Dispatch (860-424-3333, 24 hours) to report the sighting and obtain advice.
In the rare instance when a bear appears to be aggressive toward people, or other immediate public safety concerns involving a bear: Contact DEEP’s Environmental Conservation Police via DEEP’s 24-hour emergency dispatch line at 860-424-3333.
Make preparations now to remove any items that may attract bears to your property and know what to do in the event you encounter a bear.
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Library Newsletter
The Library has its own newsletter and you can subscribe to it here:
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Senior Center
Take a look at the Senior Center's beautiful new website where you can find out about programs, events and all that the New Fairfield Senior Center offers, as well as their newsletter:
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Events Calendar
Town events can be found on our Events Calendar. If you have a Not-for-Profit fundraising event to be held in town-please send us the information and flyer to be included on the Events Calendar.
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Meetings Calendar
The calendar for the Town of New Fairfield board and commission meetings can be found at:
Please join us at our meetings to find out what is going on in New Fairfield in further depth. The calendar will let you know if the meeting is in person or will provide the Zoom link, if it is remote. We look forward to you attending the meetings and welcome your participation.
The Daffodils Have Bloomed in New Fairfield
I Wandered Lonely as A Cloud
By William Wordsworth
Enjoy the beauty of Spring in New Fairfield!
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Thank you for reading the New Fairfield Newsletter.
If you are a New Fairfield not-for-profit organization and would like to include an event in the newsletter, please contact us at: jgreen@newfairfield.org.
Town of New Fairfield, 4 Brush Hill Road, New Fairfield, CT 06812
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