Town of Fairfield News
12/12/2020 - 12.12 TOWN UPDATE
Good Afternoon Fairfielders,
I would like to wish a very Happy Hanukkah to our residents who are celebrating this week. May your lights shine bright and that you safely enjoy celebrating this festive and joyous holiday. |
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COVID-19 Data
We are continuing to see widespread community transmission of COVID-19 in Fairfield and the State, and the peak is expected to be at the end of December/beginning of January. We are now seeing an impact on case rates from Thanksgiving gatherings. I urge residents to continue to limit interactions to those within your immediate household.
As you have likely read, the vaccines for COVID-19 have been approved and distribution is underway. Healthcare workers, long-term care facilities and medical first-responders will start to see supply in the next few weeks.
It has been widely reported that the CDC has changed quarantine guidance and we have received a lot of questions from residents about why we haven't changed our policies. The State Department of Public health is waiting on final word from the Governor's office before putting out new recommendations. Our Health Department will follow the guidance they set forth and we will share that with you when it is available.
The Town of Fairfield currently has 2,556 cases, and 161 of Fairfield residents have sadly lost their lives. Charts and data on Fairfield cases, including age, gender, nursing home statistics, testing results, different trends, and university statistics, can be found at www.fairfieldct.org/covid19data. When looking at the data page, please be sure to read the notes around each chart as they explain some of the changes in the data. The Health Department updates this page daily.
The Health Department also updates the COVID-19 School Data page, which details the school-related metrics and is updated each week as the State releases the data. The Fairfield Board of Education has a dashboard on their homepage at https://www.fairfieldschools.org.
Both Fairfield and Sacred Heart Universities published dashboards with their daily testing information, which can be found here:
Fairfield University's Dashboard
Sacred Heart University's Dashboard |
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COMMUNITY NEWS
Animal Control: As you may be aware, we had an incident involving a part-time Animal Control Officer (ACO) that mistook a lost dog for a wild coyote. This was devastating for the family who lost their dog and for our community. Many residents have written and called me to express their sadness and concern about how this tragic mistake happened while also asking what the town is doing to prevent this in the future.
I met with the Police Department the very next day to review what transpired, and have continued to meet with law enforcement to update our town's policies regarding wildlife calls. I have also been in contact with animal welfare groups and several ACOs from other towns, that I worked with when I served as co-chair of the Animal Welfare Caucus in the state legislature. We are currently drafting new policies and practices, and I look forward to sharing them with the community as soon as they are completed. In the interim, since the incident happened, I've asked the Chief of Police to ensure that a senior police officer respond to all calls regarding wildlife when an ACO is dispatched. The Police Department has also secured and scheduled additional training for our ACOs.
I reached out to the family and shared my sincere and heartfelt apologies as did our Police Department. I vowed to the family who lost their dog that I will do everything in my power to ensure this never happens again.
Giant Steps: The Town is seeking to purchase the property of the former Giant Steps School in order to move the Walter Fitzgerald Alternative High School, which needs to be relocated. The property purchase price is $4.9 million for almost 12 acres of land in Southport and presents many opportunities for the Town, in addition to the school. You can read more from a recent Fairfield Citizen article on the property.
The Board of Selectman will vote on this purchase December 14th, the Board of Finance will vote on the 16th and the Representative Town Meeting will vote on the 21th. Check the town website for meeting agendas which contain information on how to watch the meetings and/or provide public comment. I believe this will be a positive acquisition for our Town, similar to when John Sullivan purchased the property many years ago where the Burr Street School is now located.
Town Government: In my November 6 newsletter, I discussed the Voluntary Early Retirement Incentive Program (VERIP) I have put forth for approval by the Representative Town Meeting. I explained how VERIP will enable us to:
- Reorganize departments to create efficiencies and eliminate waste
- Modernize town government
- Improve services to residents
- Make government smaller, more efficient and smarter through technological advancements and managerial improvements
- Change the culture within government to improve our resident’s customer service experience
This type of program is commonly utilized in towns and cities with employee union contracts as a way to open up positions, and allow for reorganization. VERIP is the only path that will allow me to efficiently achieve meaningful change to the way town services are delivered. We presented an amended version of the VERIP after getting feedback from many elected officials in town, which enabled us to lower the overall costs for the program.
If the RTM passes the VERIP plan, my administration will report to our residents and to our elected boards, on the progress of this program, including the budgetary savings. After working in Town Hall for the past year as First Selectwoman, I’ve gained valuable insight on what is needed. I’m excited to offer the RTM the ability to vote on a package that meets the needs of my administration, employees, and taxpayers.
The RTM will vote on this package at their Monday evening meeting. I hope the RTM will vote in favor of helping me reorganize and modernize our town government, which is long overdue. |
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GRAND REOPENING
Last Friday I joined my friends Greg and Harry French to cut the ribbon on their newly renovated jewelry store. Harry C. Reid has served the people of Fairfield with integrity and top level customer service for over a century. The New Henry C. Reid is spectacular while maintaining the families long legacy of a proud family-run business. I hope residents will pop in to see the space and shop local this holiday season. |
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GRAND OPENING
Today I joined Bridget and Jason Lesizza to cut the ribbon for their brand  new business, the Reef Shack, which has opened in the old 7/11 building on Reef Road. It is so encouraging to welcome a new business to town, especially during this challenging year. I hope you will welcome this new addition to our community with your patronage. I can say from experience, the food is fantastic! Read this week's CT Post article on the new eatery here. Thank you to the Fairfield Chamber for organizing the ribbon cutting to celebrate this occasion. |
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I will continue to communicate directly to you, our taxpayers and residents, every week, with the work I’m doing, the state of our town, and the initiatives I am working on your behalf. As always, I will continue to listen and learn and lead on issues that our community values.
Please scroll below for more information and resources for residents. I hope you have a wonderful weekend.
Brenda L. Kupchick
Fairfield First Selectwoman |
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The WorkPlace provides 20+ targeted programs and employment services designed to help people overcome barriers to employment. We strive to  ensure that employers can find the workforce talent they need to operate and compete in a global marketplace.
The WorkPlace also oversees operations of 4 American Job Centers in the region which provide skills assessments, career counseling, job search assistance and occupational training. Business customers can benefit from customized recruitment services, easy access to a large pool of pre-screened job applicants and other resources.
The WorkPlace collaborates with community partners to close the skills gap, expand opportunities, and develop customer-centered approaches that are responsive to the job market. All services are provided at no cost to jobseekers and employers. |
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FAIRFIELD SOCIAL SERVICES HOLIDAY GIVING PROGRAM
On behalf of the families that receive the support from the Holiday Giving Program, the Town of Fairfield and Department of Human and Social Services would like to thank the community for keeping all our residents in mind for the upcoming holiday season. Can we count on your support again this year? Rather than collecting wrapped gifts and toys, this year we are requesting gift cards for local supermarkets, toy stores - anywhere families may shop for their loved ones for the holidays. If you are interested in donating or receiving holiday help, please contact Fairfield Social Services by calling 203-256-3170 or by email at socialservices@fairfieldct.org.
Donations are gratefully accepted during business hours 9 AM to 4:30 PM at the Bigelow Center for Senior Activities, 100 Mona Terrace, Fairfield CT 06824. Learn more by watching the short video below.
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HAPPY HOLIDAYS
Have your kids write a letter to Santa and drop it in any one of Santa's Mailboxes throughout Town, and it will be delivered to the North Pole, Polar Express style! Santa's Mailbox will be available through December 18th. Please make sure a RETURN ADDRESS is included so Santa can respond! ???? Click here for a map.
Watch the story about this 50 year tradition here. |
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HOLIDAY SHOPPING
 While this year's Shop & Stroll was very different without our school choirs singing carols and the bustle of Fairfielders crossing off their lists, there’s still opportunities for our community to support our local Mom & Pops to ensure they can survive this challenging year.
One easy way is to purchase e-gift cards for family and friends through our Chamber's “Love Local” program. It’s super easy, and a lovely gift that allows family and friends to use at a long list of Fairfield businesses. I hope you’ll join me in supporting our businesses while giving fun and safe gifts for the holidays. Find out more here. And the Town also has a Virtual Holiday Gift Guide for Fairfield you can view here. |
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GET INVOLVED! TOWN BOARD AND COMMISSION VACANCIES
Interested in giving back to our community? Want to have a voice in shaping Fairfield? The Town relies on the hard work of citizen volunteers who are appointed to provide guidance and governance on various Boards and Commissions. The list of vacancies for Boards and Commissions are on the Town Website. Be sure to check back often as the list is updated as positions become available. https://fairfieldct.org/vacancies
You can also visit our Boards and Commissions page to learn more about roles and responsibilities: https://fairfieldct.org/boards
To learn about the application process click here: https://fairfieldct.org/appointmentprocess |
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| EMERGENCY ALERTS | WHEN IT MATTERS MOST
Get alerted about emergencies and other important community news from the Town of Fairfield, CT, by signing up for the Fairfield Alert system. This system enables us to quickly provide you with critical information in a variety of situations, such as severe weather, unexpected road closures, missing persons, evacuations of buildings or neighborhoods and other emergency situations.
You will receive time-sensitive messages wherever you specify, such as your home, mobile or business phones, email address, text messages and more. You pick where, you pick how!
If you were previously registered with us on the CodeRed system, you must sign-up again by following the instructions below, in order to continue receiving Emergency and Community alerts from the Town of Fairfield.
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| NEW INTERNET PROVIDER
GoNetspeed has announced their intention to expand to Fairfield in the first half of 2021. This is welcome news for residents who have struggled with internet interruptions. You can read more information here.
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FAIRFIELD REVALUATION
For the past few weeks, I have included information in this weekly newsletter about the revaluation taking place in Town. The Connecticut General Statutes requires each town to do a revaluation every five years. This revaluation analyzes all sales in Fairfield between October 1, 2019 and October 1, 2020 and will correspond to the tax bills that will be due beginning in July of 2021.
Revaluation notices are in the mail and you should expect to receive them next week. The notices will indicate the prior assessed valuation from the 2015 revaluation and the new proposed assessed value from the 2020 revaluation. The value provided to you will be the total assessed value, which is equal to 70% of the market value. Please do not use the current Mill Rate to estimate your taxes as the Mill Rate may change based on the final overall Grand List and the town budget.
Should you have questions concerning your revaluation, the letter will provide instructions on how to schedule an informal hearing with the revaluation company, Municipal Valuations. The valuation information found on our website, https://gis.vgsi.com/fairfieldct/ is scheduled to be updated December 7, 2020.
To listen to the presentation from Assessor Ross Murray and Mike Fazio of Municipal Valuations from the October 5th Board of Selectman meeting, click here.
To listen to the presentation from the December 7 Board of Selectman meeting, click here.
You can check https://www.fairfieldct.org/taxassessor for updates.
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FAIRFIELD SUSTAINABILITY PLAN 2020
The Fairfield Sustainability Task Force was formed to encourage community action in  support of putting Fairfield on the path to using clean, renewable energy sources.
The plan - which can be viewed here at the Sustainable Fairfield site – is a newly updated version of a sustainability “roadmap” for the Town first created by the Sustainable Fairfield Task Force (SFTF) in 2018. It lays out a sweeping array of activities, both ongoing and planned, designed to strengthen the environmental sustainability and quality of the Fairfield community, covering such important issues as air and water quality, energy efficiency, renewable energy, recycling, transportation and many others.
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FEELING IN CRISIS?
When you're feeling overwhelmed, know that there are free options to help you talk through your crisis--and to send help when necessary. Fairfield Social Services is here to help. Call 203-256-3170 for more information.
Being a parent or caregiver during COVID can be extremely stressful. It is perfectly normal to be experiencing varying emotions and feel overwhelmed. No matter what you're feeling, we're here to listen. Parents and caregivers can call the toll-free Talk It Out line to discuss their feelings in a judgement-free environment. Call: 1-833-258-5011 or Visit: www.talkitoutct.com
Resources for Mental Health:
If you or a loved one is struggling:
- CT Information Hotline 211 or go to www.211ct.org for mobile crisis support for individuals and/or children.
- The Hub CT is Southwest Connecticut’s Regional Behavioral Health Action Organization. Check their website for useful resources for mental health, prevention and wellness. https://www.thehubct.org/
- Mental Health Crisis Text Line - Text “SHARE” to 741741
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-TALK (8255)
- Kids in Crisis also has a 24-hour hotline for assistance 203-661-1911.
- NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Health):If you need to talk to someone, text NAMI to 741741 or call the NAMI Helpline at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264).
- Alcoholics Anonymous - Please contact your site to see if meetings are continuing in your neighborhood.
- Bridgeport Hospital’s REACH Program is an intensive outpatient program (IOP) for children, adolescents, adults and seniors. REACH is accessible to anyone, and covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and most commercial insurance programs. Please click this link to learn more about the extensive range of treatment options available |
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HOLIDAY EXPRESS TRAIN SHOW
Fairfield Museum Holiday Express Train Show is open weekdays from  10am-1pm and weekends from 10am-4pm now through Jan. 3, 2021.
Advance ticket purchase is required! We still have spots open through Dec. 6. Tickets for the week of Dec. 7-13 will be released for sale on Dec. 6. Go to https://www.fairfieldhistory.org/train-show/ for more info and to purchase tickets/reserve your space today.
Sign up for our e-newsletter at https://www.fairfieldhistory.org/ to learn about future ticket releases and other events. |
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| FAIRFIELD PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT |
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What’s your story? What’s your reason?
DO YOUR PART...Wear a mask!
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| Download the video here so you can upload it to social media to continue to remind our residents that part of our civic responsibility to each other is to wear a mask. |
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APPLY FOR ENERGY ASSISTANCE 
The Connecticut Energy Assistance Program is for families in need of energy assistance, Fairfield Social Services coordinates with Alliance For Community Empowerment to help to obtain necessary energy services for Fairfield residents in need. To make an appointment to see if you’re eligible, or if you have questions, please call Social Services 203-256-3170. |
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FAIRFIELD BICYCLE & PEDESTRIAN COMMITTEE: 
The Town of Fairfield Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee has been working to encourage walking and biking for transportation, recreation, exercise and quality of life.
Working with multiple town departments we have established bicycle routes, installed bicycle repair stations, worked to improve pedestrian infrastructure, and authored the Town of Fairfield Complete Streets Policy (approved by the Board of Selectman in 2018).
With more and more of our citizens using our roads, we would like to provide you with some important safety reminders for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers. View the document here. |
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TOWN GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS
Sullivan Independence Hall and Old Town Hall are open to the public by appointment only for the safety of employees and residents. Please visit this summary page for an overview and follow links to specific departments for more information. |
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Help is available to Fairfield small businesses that are struggling due to the pandemic. The Fairfield COVID-19 Small Business Assistance Program was established to provide limited, one time direct financial assistance to eligible Fairfield small businesses that have no more than five full-time employees and that have been adversely affected by the public health emergency. Applications are still being accepted by the Office of Community & Economic Development. To learn more or to apply, please visit the website: www.fairfieldct.org/covidsbr.
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The Fairfield COVID-19 Relief Fund was established to provide limited, one-time assistance to Fairfield residents who have been adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Use of the funds must be directly related to the effects of the virus. Donate to the fund or apply for relief by clicking below.
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BIGELOW CENTER
Transportation services are running on a limited basis for medical appointments and grocery shopping. Reservations for rides are first-come, first-served for shopping and medical appointments and must be made no less than one week in advance. Please call the senior center for more information: 203-256-3166.
The buses may only transport four riders per trip. For those who do not live in Senior and Disabled Housing, Fairfield Senior Transportation will provide rides Tuesdays or Thursdays each week. Masks must be worn to board the buses. Rides are now available to medical appointments for Fairfield’s seniors and people with disabilities on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between the hours of 9:30 – 3:00 PM.
If you or anyone you know are homebound and unable to shop, the Mobile Food Pantry is available every other week and lunches are available for those who are homebound. Please call Social Services for more information: 203-256-3170. |
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COVID-19 TESTING
Testing capacity has increased in our area. To view locations where to get tested, please visit fairfieldct.org/covid19testing.
Contact Tracing
One of the key tools we have to contain the spread of COVID-19 is Contact Tracing. For this initiative to be successful, the Health Department needs the cooperation of residents who test positive for COVID-19. Both Universities were trained and assisted by our Health Department to manage their own contact tracing for their respective campuses.
The primary purpose of contact tracing is to identify and notify direct contacts of confirmed cases as quickly as possible and to ensure those exposed are self-quarantining. The information provided in the interviews with confirmed cases helps reduce the potential spread of the virus in our community.
Any Fairfield resident who tests positive for COVID-19 and has not received a phone call from the Fairfield Health Department or the Connecticut COVID Tracing system within 24 hours of receiving their result is urged to contact the Fairfield Health Department at 203-256-3022. Calls received after hours or on weekends, will be returned by the next business day. |
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OPERATION HOPE FOOD PANTRY
Operation Hope wants to make sure residents of Fairfield are aware that the food pantry remains open and is ready to help by providing food and other basic needs to community residents, as they have for nearly 35 years.
Hours of Operation: Monday, Wednesday, Friday from 10:00-12:00; Thursday from 4:00 -6:00. Visit operationhopect.org. |
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FAIRFIELD PUBLIC LIBRARY
 The Fairfield Public Main Library is open for quick browsing and checkout Monday-Saturday afternoons 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm and Tuesday and Thursday evenings 5:00pm – 7:00pm. Learn more about Library Express service.
Please visit fairfieldpubliclibrary.org for full details regarding Curbside Pickup at the Main Library and Woods Branch Library. Fairfield Public Library continues to offer 24/7 access to their digital collection of books, music, magazines, movies and databases. Visit the Library Event Calendar to find a wide and varied assortment of Virtual Programs.
Need a library card? Follow this link fairfieldpubliclibrary.org/my-fpl/library-cards/ and get started today! Sign up for the library newsletter here. |
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PEQUOT LIBRARY: WE'RE HERE, WE CARE 
Pequot Library offers curbside pickup and limited browsing hours from 3-6pm on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays; and from 2-4pm on Saturdays. During browsing hours visit us to check out a book or view our exhibition Crossing the Border: The Challenging Truths of Human Migration.
Outside of browsing hours, enjoy digital programs like story times, author talks, book clubs, and more! Get details on our website and social media: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. Sign up for Pequot Library's Digital Digest eNewsletter or contact our Chief Librarian for personalized book recommendations. |
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Important COVID-19 Links:
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Contact Information:
For general questions you can call 211
Hartford HealthCare’s COVID-19 Clinical Command Center hotline, staffed by healthcare professionals, is now available to the community. To reach the 24-hour hotline, call 860.972.8100 or (toll-free) 833.621.0600.
YNHH has a call center number it’s 1-833-ASK YNHH that’s open from 7am - 7pm.
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