Old Town Hall (Directions) 611 Old Post Road Fairfield, CT 06824 Sullivan Independence Hall 725 Old Post Road Fairfield, CT 06824 203-256-3000 Find additional contact info here
1/7/2022 - 1.7.22 TOWN UPDATE Dear Fairfielders, We kicked off 2022 with a test kit distribution this past Sunday. I want to recognize the Town's CERT Volunteers, law enforcement and the Health Department for working with me and the Emergency Management team to pull this together on short notice, and over a holiday weekend. I especially want to recognize the Town's Emergency Management Director, Fire Chief Denis McCarthy, for his continued leadership and efforts in organizing the test kit distributions. I know some of our residents were disappointed Fairfield only received a limited amount of tests from the State to give out. We distributed 600 test kits per hour to over 1800 households. Additionally, the schools received 1,500 test kits for distribution at all schools via the nurses' offices. I know many of our residents are frustrated with trying to find test kits or schedule appointments to test at the ten testing sites in town. The State of Connecticut is facing the same challenge of a lack of tests as states across the country. I’m hoping the federal government will continue to work to break through the barriers of supply chain problems to open up the flow for more tests. TEST KIT & MASK DISTRIBUTION Fairfield is receiving another small allotment of tests from the state. We are holding an additional distribution at Fairchild Wheeler Golf Course - 4942 Park Avenue, Fairfield, this Sunday, January 9, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, or until supplies last. No walk-ups will be permitted. - Due to limited supply, test kits are intended for residents who are symptomatic or that have a known exposure to someone who tested positive. We ask that our residents who don’t fit this category allow those that do, to line up for the tests. - Proof of residency via your valid 2021 Fairfield beach or dump sticker, OR a driver's license . - 2 kits (4 tests per kit) & 4 masks per car for a total of 1,500 cars. THE ONLY ACCESS WILL BE JEFFERSON STREET TO PARK AVENUE. Park Avenue will be closed at Jefferson Street for southbound traffic that is not using the COVID site. Please see the map for guidance. There will be NO access using the Easton Turnpike entrance. I want to thank CERT again for stepping up to volunteer this Sunday. CERT has been critical throughout the pandemic in assisting the Town in various ways, whether handing out food for the pantry, staffing the call center to register residents for vaccines, assisting the Senior Center, and most recently, 39 volunteers showed up for the test kit distribution. I would be remiss if I didn't recognize the passing of long time CERT Member Walter Donne. Walter was one of the first graduates of the Fairfield CERT program in 2007. Throughout his tenure with Fairfield CERT, Walter was a frequent volunteer, was traffic trained, became a Shelter Manager, became a CERT Trainer and was master of the intersection at Sasco Hill Rd and Oldfield Rd for the Fairfield Half Marathon every year. He will be greatly missed and the Town is grateful for his service. TOWN GOVERNMENT 2021 IN REVIEW In case you missed it, on December 30th I sent out a year in review to residents to share the good work our employees who work for the Town of Fairfield in service to our residents. You can read it here. CAPITAL PLAN WORKSHOP My administration put together a comprehensive list and needs assessment of all identified capital projects in Town worthy of consideration and will present the list to the Board of Finance on January 12 at 7:00 PM. The presentation will include projects from the Town, the school district, and the Water Pollution Control Authority. In prior years, this list was cut down before being presented to the boards, but for the last two years, I felt it was important to list all projects so stakeholders could have a full view of what’s on our radar. During the meeting on the 12th, we will discuss the priorities of our community. We certainly can't afford to do it all but it is important for our elected officials and the community to see a comprehensive list. This meeting will be shown live on Fair TV and posted afterward at fairfieldct.org/meetingrecordings. The agenda will be posted here. CHARTER REVISION COMMISSION Thursday, January 13th at 7:00 PM the Charter Revision Commission will hold its next meeting during which the first portion will be dedicated to public comment on the adopted work plan. You can view the document here. Check the Town website for the Webex information which will be posted next week. GOULD MANOR PARK As I have shared with you in the past, Gould Manor Park has been undergoing soil remediation and renovation. This past June, Town boards approved $945,000 for Gould Manor, which allowed the Town to renovate the ballfields, playgrounds, resurface the tennis court, install a new pickleball court and basketball court, and install our Town's first outdoor fitness park. The park was closed initially due to remediation related to the fill pile. During the construction of the field, and once a shovel went in the ground, we discovered additional contaminants of a historic nature, and a subbase of clay, which didn't allow for proper drainage that needed to be removed. We also needed to make adjustments to the irrigation system. This caused unforeseen overruns on the project. Once the site started to take shape, we realized we should have included funding in the original request for new fencing around the park and upgrades to the restrooms, which were both in very poor condition. We requested an additional $450,000 appropriation from town bodies to cover the costs associated with the soil under the field, bathroom renovations and a new perimeter fence. I want to very clearly address the elected officials who are claiming my administration wasn't transparent or didn't follow purchasing policies. All purchasing policies were followed. The RTM meeting on January 3 was very contentious. There's a difference between asking for relevant information to make informed decisions, and outright partisanship. We can debate issues without impugning the character of others and without interrupting each other. I have been involved in local government for many years, and I have never seen this level of animosity. After a long debate, the item was ultimately approved by the RTM. You can watch the 3-hour meeting here and view the votes here. I look forward to watching our little leaguers playing ball on the new field and our community enjoying the renovated park with new amenities. RTM & ELECTED OFFICIALS Your elected officials cast votes that directly impact you and your neighborhood. I encourage you to check in on Fairfield's democratic process to ensure they are representing you with their votes. Currently, there are 10 RTM districts, each with 4 members, for a total of 40 RTM members. Residents can look up which RTM district they live in or who their representatives are here: Look Up Your RTM District (the 5th column gives your RTM district number) Look Up Your RTM Member & Contact Information. I will continue to communicate and share what I am working on for our community and provide details and information through this newsletter and on the Town website. FILL PILE REMEDIATION In my continued efforts to provide greater transparency, while eliminating redundant meetings, I invited all elected officials to a joint presentation to hear an overview and update on the ongoing remediation in town as a result of the Fill Pile. It will take place virtually on Tuesday, January 18th at 6:00 PM for the update. We will share a recording of the meeting afterward for anyone unable to sign on. The Town’s environmental attorney will join us for the presentation and answer questions. We have many newly elected officials this year and many new residents, so I thought it would be helpful to provide some context with a little history, where we are, and where we are headed. While subject site testing continues and remediation is still progressing, the entire issue remains complicated and fluid. I encourage the public to tune in live at 6PM on the 18th on FairTV, and details will be posted on the town homepage. COVID RECOVERY FUND Thanks to funding provided through the American Rescue Plan Act, the COVID Recovery Fund is now live. This fund will provide limited, one-time assistance to Fairfield residents who continue to be adversely impacted by the pandemic. I proposed ARPA funding be used for this purpose after seeing the COVID Relief Fund set up during the pandemic be such a needed resource and knowing there is still a great need for assistance. For information on who is eligible and how to apply, visit fairfieldct.org/covidrecoveryfund. FAREWELL TO DEPUTY CHIEF JOHN BUCHERATI Yesterday, I had the honor and pleasure to join the Fairfield Police Department, Fire Department and ECC members in a sendoff ceremony for Deputy Chief John Bucherati. Deputy Chief Bucherati started his career with the Fairfield Police Department in 1990 in the Patrol Division. He moved his way through the Department as a Detective with the Youth Bureau, a Sergeant in the Patrol Division, then a Lieutenant of the Emergency Services Unit. In 2014 he was transferred to the Support Service Division, in 2020 he became Captain and then finally as Deputy Chief in 2021. DC Bucherati serviced this community with honor and distinction and he is leaving behind a lasting legacy. I will personally miss working with John as I know the department will. I hope our residents will join me in wishing John Bucherati much success in his new role as Police Chief in his hometown of Seymour. FAIRFIELD COUNTY REGIONAL DISPATCH CENTER TO OPEN It is with pride we are finally able to announce the Fairfield County Regional Dispatch Center will open later this month. I want to thank Deputy Chief John Bucherati for guiding this project through supply chain issues and working with the State’s communications vendors to complete their installation. This joint venture with the Town of Westport is the first of its kind in the realm of municipal partnerships in Connecticut. This is a prime example of Fairfield's dedication to serving its community and providing the most efficient services possible to residents, businesses, and visitors. The Fairfield County Regional Dispatch Center is located on the campus of Sacred Heart University (SHU) as part of another wonderful partnership in our community. I want to thank Dr. John Petillo, President of SHU, for working with the Town and generously contributing the space for this innovative new center. COMMUNITY NEWS ONE BOOK, ONE TOWN Yesterday, I was given the distinct pleasure of announcing the 2022 One Book One Town - The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune. I want to thank the library staff for their good work and Sacred Heart University for hosting the ceremony this year. The One Book One Town initiative was inspired by a program created by librarian and author Nancy Pearl of the Seattle Public Library’s Washington Center for the Book. She wondered what would happen if everyone in the city read the same book at the same time. In 2008, Fairfield began its own community reading initiative called One Book One Town and every year since then, a group of librarians, teachers and community volunteers gather to select a book and create a slate of unique and interesting programs for our Town. This year’s One Book One Town, The House in the Cerulean Sea, by TJ Klune, was selected because of its themes of love, acceptance and kindness. The One Book One Town Committee called it “an enchanting read”, “heartwarming and charming” and “pure happiness”. The main event, a visit from the author, will be held on Tuesday, March 1, 2022 at 7:00 pm at the Sacred Heart Community Theatre on the Post Road. Registration for this event will begin on Tuesday, February 1st at 9:00 am. Thank you to the partners of this wonderful program: Fairfield Public Library, Pequot Library, Friends of the Fairfield Public Library, Fairfield University, Fairfield University Bookstore, Sacred Heart University, SHU Community Theatre and the Fairfield Museum and History Center. VIRTUAL EVENT “Composting: It’s Good for Your Garden, Good for Connecticut, Good for the Planet” will be the message from Dan Martens, UConn Master Composter, in his presentation to Greenfield Hill Garden Club and guests on Tuesday, January 18 at 11 a.m. at Connecticut Audubon’s Center at Fairfield, 2325 Burr Street, Fairfield. The club invites community members to come learn the basics about home composting and community food scrap collection, including the how-tos and environmental benefits. Mr. Martens is a member of the home-composting program of the local Sustainable Fairfield Task Force and is North American VP for Novamont, a global leader in research and production of compostable biopolymers, headquartered in Novara, Italy. He is associated with the Food Scrap Collection programs of San Francisco, Seattle, New York City, and Toronto, and serves on the board of the Canadian Compost Council and as a mentor for the US Composting Council Mentoring Program. Guests are welcome and are asked to pre-register by noon January 17 by email to: Greenfieldhillgardenclub@gmail.com. There is no charge for the event. FAIRFIELD PACKAGE STORES PARTNER WITH FAIRFIELD CARES Fairfield’s package stores are once again collaborating with the Fairfield CARES Community Coalition to prevent and reduce underage drinking in the community. During the latter half of December and throughout January, liquor stores will be distributing “consumer cards” that describe the risks of underage drinking and remind adults of CT’s social host laws. To help parents have a conversation with their children about delaying alcohol use, the package stores are making available at their registers’ sleeves of Fairfield CARES’ “liquor locks”, and stickers that can be put around the opening of a bottle. You can read more about the program here. TOWN PLANNER Many residents receive a Town Planner (2022 calendar) in the mail around this time of year. To clarify some confusion, the Town Planner is NOT published by the Town of Fairfield, but rather by a national company named Town Planner. According to the owner/publisher of the Town Planner for our area, each year, 10,000 calendars are mailed to Fairfield homes. The Town Planner company tries to select the mail routes where their sponsors have their largest customer base. For those wishing to pick up a calendar, there is a limited supply available at the following locations: Old Town Hall (611 Old Post Road); Chamber of Commerce (200 Mill Plain Road); Isabelle et Vincent (1903 Post Road) and the Morfe-Behan Agency: Allstate Insurance (173 Post Road). The owner/publisher also informed my office that school dates in the calendar for the second half of the year are not correct and a correction notice is being worked on. The following link provides the corrected dates, CORRECTION School dates in Town Planner Calendar. For more information, please click here, www.townplanner.com/fairfield/ct. On Monday, January 17, Town offices are closed in honor of the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday. I hope you join me in taking time to reflect on the important work and legacy of Dr. King, Jr. I hope you have a lovely weekend. Brenda L. Kupchick Fairfield First Selectwoman COVID-19 UPDATE Important steps recommended by health professionals include: Get vaccinated if you are not or get a booster if you are eligible Check yourself for COVID-like symptoms each day and stay home and get tested if you have any If you are in isolation or quarantine stay away from others and limit your activity to only what is essential Wear a mask when indoors in public, especially if you are unvaccinated Limit activity involving groups especially where others vaccination status is unknown Wash your hands frequently For vaccination, there are numerous sites available in Fairfield and nearby as well as daily walk-in clinics in many towns. There are 10 COVID testing sites in Fairfield under contract to offer no-cost testing to CT residents. Fairfield's Positivity Rate: 16% State of CT Town Rating: Red Fairfield County Hospitalizations: 516 Vaccine First Dose: 81.3% The current requirement is for all unvaccinated to wear masks indoors and the Town supports the CDC recommendation that all individuals wear masks indoors due to the “High” transmission classification of Fairfield County. UNIVERSITIES Some of you have asked about reopening plans from the Universities. Both Sacred Heart University and Fairfield University will require a negative test to come on campus and will test all students the first week back. FAIRFIELD COVID RESOURCE PAGE VACCINE CLINICS Pediatric Pfizer Clinic for ages 5-11 Tuesday, January 11, 2022 | 3:30pm - 5:30pm Public Health Nursing Office Behind Senior Center Clinic for 1st, 2nd and Booster Vaccination for those 12 and older Friday, January 14, 2022 | 10:00am - 5:00pm Senior Center Gym Pfizer Boosters for 12+ Moderna Boosters for 18+ 1st and 2nd doses as well JANUARY UPDATES SNOWFLAKE DANCE Join our Parks & Recreation team at their Snowflake Dance at Penfield Pavilion on Saturday, January 29th! We invite girls & boys along with their father, mother, grandparent, aunt, uncle, older sibling, or ANY special person in their life for a fun night out! DJ, dancing, strolling magician, professional photographer, light refreshments & more! Tickets available NOW here. SAVE THE NIGHT, CONNECTICUT! As traffic fatalities continue to rise, the Connecticut Department of Transportation Office of Highway Safety is announcing a $10 discount code for Uber, to encourage people who consume alcohol or other impairing substances to use ride-hailing instead of putting themselves and others on the road at risk by getting behind the wheel. The discount code, SAVETHENIGHTCT, will be available beginning November 23, 2021 through January 14, 2022 between the hours of 5 PM and 4 AM. FRAUD ALERT | NEW TOOL TO HELP HOMEOWNERS With the launch of the Town of Fairfield’s Fraud Alert, property owners can now sign up to be notified of new transactions regarding their property. With Fraud Alert you can sign up to receive alerts whenever a document such as a mortgage is recorded under your name. Documents can be viewed online at: https://www.searchiqs.com/CTFAI/Login.aspx Please remember that there may be other property owners in town that have the same name. Town Clerk Betsy Browne shared that this new tool provided by IQS is an easy way for homeowners to have peace of mind, especially with the increase in scams recently. You can sign up now at : https://www.searchiqs.com/fraudalert/?CC+CTFAI TOWN SERVICES SOCIAL SERVICES The hardest part to getting help is reaching out. We are here to help. Please call us at 203-256-3170 Monday through Friday between 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM for more information or to schedule an appointment. For more additional information and resources, social services offers a comprehensive newsletter with various programs addressing career development, service members, and housing here. FAIRFIELD PUBLIC LIBRARIES The Fairfield Public Main Library building is open Monday, Wednesday & Friday 9am - 5pm and Tuesday & Thursday 9am – 7pm. Woods Branch Library is open Monday & Wednesday 9am - 7pm and Tuesday, Thursday & Friday 9am – 5pm. Both Main and Woods are open Saturdays and Sundays from 1pm – 5pm. Beginning January 24th, we will be expanding hours: both Main Library and Woods Branch will be open until 8pm, Monday-Thursday. Also, both locations will be closed on Monday, January 17, for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Meeting rooms at both libraries will reopen for rental beginning in February 2022. Online reservations will be accepted beginning Tuesday, January 18 via the Library’s website. The Library has announced this year’s One Book One Town selection! The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune will be our shared community read, culminating in a visit by the author on March 1st. Copies of the book can be purchased at the Fairfield University Bookstore or borrowed from either Library. Free tax assistance will once again be offered at Main Library on Tuesdays from January 25-April 12, 2022. IRS-certified counselors will meet with residents between 9:30am-4:00pm on a first-come, first-served basis; no appointment is necessary. This service is intended for low- and middle-income households and those over age 60, although all individuals will be assisted. Adults, teens and children are encouraged to participate in the Library’s Winter Reading Challenge, going on now. Explore new genres, discover new authors, and be entered to win prizes while you enjoy reading. Check the Library’s website for information on how to get started. Fairfield Public Library respectfully asks that all patrons over two years of age wear a mask while inside the buildings, as per the CDC’s current recommendation that residents of Fairfield County wear masks in all public, indoor spaces. The Library continues to offer a mix of in-person and virtual programming at both locations for children, teens and adults. Please view our online calendar of events on our website (www.fairfieldpubliclibrary.org) to see the offerings and reserve your spot! Fairfield Public Library offers 24/7 access to its digital collection of books, music, magazines, movies and databases. Information services are available in person, by phone (203- 256-3160), by email at eref@fplct.org, and via text messaging (text askfplct to 833-232-4100). Pequot Library: We're Here, We Care – We are open for browsing! Visit Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., and Sunday Noon - 4 p.m. Drop in during browsing hours to check out items from our circulating selection, see our latest exhibit in the Perkin Gallery, or view treasures from our Special Collections. Now on view: Magic, Mayhem, & Maturity: The Growth of Youth Fantasy Literature Drawing on materials from the Children’s Historical Collection and the modern circulating collection, this exhibition examines the emergence and evolution of youth fantasy literature. Oftentimes, stories from this genre use magic as a metaphor for the turbulent transition from childhood to adulthood. Spanning fairy tales to 19th century works like Alice in Wonderland and The Wizard of Oz to more modern stories like Harry Potter, Children of Blood and Bone and The Gilded Ones, this exhibition further explores how these stories have evolved to tackle this transition in a more frank manner and, significantly, to embrace all voices. Coming up in December: 12/8 - Meet the Author: Alexander Lobrano (In-Person) 12/10 - Holiday Caroling Party on the Great Lawn 12/18 - GCTYO Chamber Music Concert For more programming, visit www.pequotlibrary.org/calendar. 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. COMMUNITY RESOURCES OPERATION HOPE Struggling to make ends meet? Reminder: Operation Hope’s Food Pantry is here to serve all Fairfield residents. We are open at 636 Old Post Road Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10:00 to 12:00 and Thursday from 4:00 to 6:00. Please let them help you with groceries and other basic necessities! PREVIOUS UPDATES: 2021 Year in Review December 17 December 3 November 19 November 5 October 22 October 15 October 8 Archives Did someone forward you this email? Sign up to receive my update directly here. Archives
VACCINE CLINICS Pediatric Pfizer Clinic for ages 5-11 Tuesday, January 11, 2022 | 3:30pm - 5:30pm Public Health Nursing Office Behind Senior Center
Clinic for 1st, 2nd and Booster Vaccination for those 12 and older Friday, January 14, 2022 | 10:00am - 5:00pm Senior Center Gym Pfizer Boosters for 12+ Moderna Boosters for 18+ 1st and 2nd doses as well