Town of Fairfield News
7/2/2020 - 7.2 TOWN UPDATE
| Happy 4th of July, Fairfield!
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
For 244 years, Americans have celebrated the birth of our nation on July 4th. The Declaration of Independence is a document I think every American should take the time to read at least once a year to remember the foundation of our country. You can view the text here.
While I join our community in the disappointment of having to cancel the Fireworks due to the pandemic, I do hope you will enjoy the holiday weekend with your family and friends and take a moment to be grateful that we live in the greatest country on earth.
Yesterday I asked the Town's Police, Fire, Public Works and Parks & Recreation Departments to join me in decorating Sherman Green in honor of Independence Day. The Tree of Hope will also be lit up with Red, White & Blue lights and our first outdoor summer concert will take place on Sunday evening from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. I want to remind residents of the guidelines to maintain 15 feet of distance between yourself and other groups and to please wear a face covering when you are not seated for the concert. |
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AAA RATING/BOND SALE UPDATE:
I attended the Town's annual bond and note sale as a member of the bond committee, on Tuesday, June 30th. The proceeds of the issues are to provide much needed funding to various ongoing capital projects in town for schools, general purpose and sewer improvements. Larger projects included in this financing include the Mill Hill School expansion, Ludlowe High School renovations, along with the Smith Richardson clubhouse and various other Town capital needs.
Long term bonds in the amount of $23,085,000 and short term notes in the amount $17,400,000 were sold in the competitive capital markets. The bonds received a total of seven bids on the Bonds with Raymond James submitting the winning bid, providing the lowest cost to the taxpayers, of an interest rate of 1.82%. The notes were purchased at a winning rate of 0.38% by TD Securities. The notes received a total of five bids.
Because interest rates are at all-time lows, these results rank among the best the Town has ever had, thus helping to reduce interest costs in future years. Matt Spoerndle, the Town's Financial Advisor, was very pleased with the positive outcome for our Town. “It was a perfect combination of an ultra-low rate environment and an issuer with the best possible credit rating that led to these historic results,” he said.
COVID-19 UPDATE:
As of yesterday, Connecticut had only 100 hospitalizations and only in Fairfield County the number is down to 31. The positive test rate remains below 1 percent throughout the state.
All residents should continue to wear face coverings in public per the CDC guidelines and Governor's executive order, which has also been scientifically proven to dramatically reduce the spread of the virus.
The Town of Fairfield has 653 residents who have tested positive for COVID-19 and a total of 141 of our residents have sadly lost their lives. Of the 653 residents who have tested positive in Fairfield, 311 have reported that they have fully recovered.
Charts and data on Fairfield cases including age, gender, nursing home statistics, testing samples, and different trend lines can be found at fairfieldct.org/covid19data.
SCHOOLS:
Next week, the Emergency Management Team's Planning Committee will meet with the School Superintendent and administrators to begin the process of planning for the Governor's Back to School Plans. You can read more about the Governor's plan here. |
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| RESIDENT CORNER:
I take pride in our community's active engagement through the thoughtful emails I receive every day with feedback and questions. Here are some of the top issues I have been contacted about recently and what I am doing to address them.
Beaches: The 4th of July weekend is usually one of the busiest weekends at the beach. I implore residents to wear face coverings when walking on the beach, at the concession stand or in the restrooms. Please keep 15' distance between your family and other groups.
After receiving many emails and calls regarding people using the Bob's store shopping center on South Pine Creek Road for beach parking, I reached out to the property manager. He graciously agreed to allow for signage and for law enforcement to monitor the parking lot and ticket anyone using the lot for beach parking.
Libraries: The libraries will remain closed for in-person services through the month of July. We are diligently working to improve the number of residents served through curbside pick up and on plans for the future to allow for access to computers and other resources.
Skate Park: The skate park continues to present challenges for the Town. Effective July 6th, the skate park will open for Fairfield residents only. All participants will sign a waiver available at the Parks & Recreation Office and a sticker will be provided for entry into the park. For more information, click here.
Summer Concerts: Concerts on Sherman Green will resume on July 5th with strict adherence to distancing. We look forward to providing this continued tradition to our residents. More information here.
Fairfield is lucky to have many beautiful parks, open spaces, and beaches available for the enjoyment of our residents. Please help the Town to keep our public spaces clean by properly disposing of your trash. We have received a tremendous amount of complaints about people leaving trash in all of these spaces. Together we can keep Fairfield beautiful and clean! For more information on Parks & Recreation visit the website.
I hope you will scroll through the announcements and resources below that may be helpful to you. Again, I want to wish you and your families a safe and happy holiday weekend.
Sincerely,
Brenda L. Kupchick
Fairfield First Selectwoman
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 The Fairfield Rotary Club will be collecting funds to benefit Veterans this July 4th. The Club will set up collection stations at various Town of Fairfield Beaches from 10 am to 4 pm on July 4th, 2020. The monies collected will be given to Homes for the Brave, a non-profit in Bridgeport, CT that supports homeless veterans. |
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FIREWORKS 
All fireworks are illegal in the State of Connecticut, with the exception of sparklers and fountains.
Use or possession of fireworks is a violation of Connecticut General Statutes §29-357. State or local police may issue a misdemeanor summons. A misdemeanor summons is a mandatory appearance in court, a fine of up to $1000, and/or up to 1 year imprisonment.
Residents may report the illegal use of fireworks within the Town of Fairfield by calling (203) 254-4800.
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FUN & PATRIOTIC WEEKEND ACTIVITY
The Fairfield Museum offers kids and adults alike a wonderful place to celebrate our nation's independence and our town's amazing history. Show your patriotism and love of community and come on by to experience the Museum's award-winning exhibits. We're open everyday from 10am - 4pm. Admission is free, donations are welcome.
To learn more about our reopening guidelines and safety protocols, visit fairfieldhistory.org/re-opening/ or call (203) 259-1598.
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NEW EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM
The Town of Fairfield will no longer be utilizing the current alert system known as CodeRed to issue emergency and community alerts to residents and business owners. We are switching to a new system.
In order to continue receiving Emergency and Community alerts from the Town of Fairfield, you must sign up again. Visit www.fairfieldct.org/alerts |
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RACIAL EQUALITY & JUSTICE TASK FORCE
Several weeks ago, I held a virtual community conversation in response to the protests held in our community and throughout our country. At the virtual meeting, I announced that I would present for the Board of Selectman's review, to establish a Racial Equality & Justice Task Force. While we work to formulate the details of the task force, I encourage any resident interested in serving to please complete the interest form located here. |
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SOUTHPORT ROAD IMPROVEMENT UPDATE
For those who are interested, the state held a Road Diet webinar on changes to Route 1 in Southport. You can watch the presentation here. |
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The Fairfield COVID-19 Small Business Assistance Program was established to provide limited, one-time direct financial assistance to eligible Fairfield small businesses that employ five or fewer employees and that have been adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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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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JOIN THE KIWANIS CLUB IN HONORING OUR FRONT LINE WORKERS
A 100' wide heart ground display of flowered pinwheels beginning July 1 through July 8 at Jennings Park. Sponsor a pinwheel flower for a front line worker with a $10 donation. The proceeds will benefit the Fairfield COVID-19 Relief Fund. More information here. |
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HEAT KILLS: If You Love 'Em, Don't Leave 'Em
It takes just a few minutes for the temperature inside a vehicle to skyrocket, sometimes causing entirely preventable tragedies. I worked hard to launch this program in 2015 with the Fairfield Police Department, which has been replicated throughout the state, in an effort to remind residents of the dangers of leaving their kids or pets in a car during warm weather. I thank all the stores who have posted these signs in their parking lots.
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PARKING:
Heading to the beach or Lake Mohegan? Check the parking lot capacity before you go: |
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FARMER'S MARKETS:
The downtown farmers market will return to Sherman Green on June 28, and will continue on Sundays, from 10AM-2PM throughout the summer months and into the fall season. In keeping with CDC and State of CT guidelines, face masks and social distancing protocols are required. For more information and a list of vendors, please visit www.fairfieldfarmersmarket.org. For those unable to make Sundays, the Greenfield Hill Farmers Market, located at 65 Hillside Road, is another great local option which is open on Saturdays from 10AM to 2PM, through the fall.
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LOCAL TAXES
Pay your taxes at the outdoor window. See how here.
Tax Deferment: Deferment-eligible 4th Quarter real estate taxes, and 2nd installment sewer use bills were due April 1 and payable through July 1. Failure to pay by July 1 makes the installment delinquent and subject to interest charges of 1 1/2% per month from April 1, 2020. For more details or for anyone with questions, please click here to visit the Tax Collector’s website or call 203-256-3100.
Senior & Disabled Tax Relief both the State and Town Programs: The Governor issued Executive Order 7S which includes a provision to eliminate the refiling requirement for those applicants due to refile this year. If you were due to refile this year, you were notified by mail in February. As a result of this Executive Order, you are no longer required to come into our office to refile. In addition we mailed a postcard to those that do not need to reapply on April 16,2020, as confirmation.
If you are seeking benefits for the first time you will need to apply. Please contact the office at 203-256-3110 and we will work with you on submitting the required documentation. |
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UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS
If you become unemployed due to coronavirus (COVID-19), you should file for unemployment benefits. Click here for more information. For frequently asked questions about coronavirus (COVID-19) for workers and employers click here. |
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ASSISTANCE FOR RENTERS, HOMEOWNERS & RESIDENTIAL LANDLORDS
Governor Lamont announced today a comprehensive plan to put more than $33 million in state and federal resources to work providing emergency assistance to renters, homeowners, and residential landlords impacted by the COVID-19 public health emergency. Elements of this plan include:
• $10 million rental assistance program for Connecticut residents impacted by COVID-19, administered through the Department of Housing, which will provide payments to landlords on behalf of approved tenant applicants, with a priority on lower-income households who have been denied unemployment insurance;
• $5 million for eviction prevention to help renters who were in the process of eviction before the declaration of the COVID-19 public health emergency;
• $10 million to provide mortgage relief to homeowners who have suffered impacts from COVID-19 and whose mortgages are not federally insured, administered by the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA);
• $4 million in rapid rehousing funds to help people pay costs like security deposits and initial rent to exit homelessness to housing, administered by the Department of Housing;
• $2.5 million rental assistance program for those who are ineligible for emergency assistance through the federal CARES Act, including those who are undocumented, administered by the Department of Housing;
• $1.8 million in funding for reentry and rehousing assistance for people exiting incarceration, administered by the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness;
• Extending the residential eviction moratorium to August 25, bringing Connecticut’s measures in line with federal measures (the CARES Act prevents evictions from most properties until late summer); and
• Extending the opportunity to apply a portion of any security deposit worth more than one month’s rent toward rental payments.
For more information on the resources, please see the following websites:
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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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| Many residents are installing pools, decks and patios. Please be aware that many items require a permit for your own safety to ensure proper installation. Learn more about the COVID permitting procedures here. |
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SOCIAL SERVICES
Social Services continues to assist by telephone town residents who are experiencing difficulty providing the basic needs for themselves and their families, especially during these unprecedented times. Please call with any questions or concerns: 203-256-3170 or visit at fairfieldct.org/humanservices. |
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BIGELOW CENTER
Transportation services have resumed 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 number of riders per trip is limited to four. For those who do not live in Senior and Disabled Housing, Fairfield Senior Transportation will provide rides on fixed routes based on neighborhoods either Tuesdays or Thursdays each week. Masks must be worn to board the buses. GBT buses will continue to provide weekly trips to the Supermarket for residents of Senior and Disabled Housing. Rides are now available to medical appointments for Fairfield’s seniors and people with disabilities on Wednesdays and Fridays between the hours of 9:30 – 3:00 PM (do not schedule any appointments after 1:30 PM).
Meals for those who are unable to cook or get to the market, and Senior Grocery bags, provided by the Southwestern Connecticut Agency on Aging, will continue to be delivered by Senior Center staff and CERT volunteers.
Bigelow Center and Social Services staff is available by phone during normal business hours to answer your questions. The Senior Center phone number is 203-256-3166, or email BigelowCenter@FairfieldCT.org. |
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FAIRFIELD SENIOR ADVOCATES
Fairfield Senior Advocates are having weekly ZOOM Meetings with the senior community and guest speakers. Recently they had Probate Judge – Kate Maxham and First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick as guests. More information at: fairfieldsenioradvocates.com. |
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COVID-19 TESTING
CVS has expanded their drive-thru testing to include 12 new sites in CT. These new sites will utilize self-swab tests and will be available to individuals meeting Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria, in addition to age guidelines. Learn more here.
At this time, testing priority is given to those who are high risk. For more information on testing sites and protocols click here or visit www.fairfieldct.org/covid19. |
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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. The pantry is currently operating as a drive-up service at 636 Old Post Road offering prepacked bags of groceries appropriate for various-sized households.
Hours of Operation: Monday, Wednesday, Friday from 10:00-12:00; Thursday from 4:00 -6:00. Visit operationhopect.org. |
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SAFETY TIPS FOR FAIRFIELD ROADWAYS:
The Fairfield Bicycle & Pedestrian Committee reminds residents that with local gyms and parks closed, more people than ever have been outside biking, walking, running and enjoying our neighborhood streets and sidewalks.
Pedestrians:
- Walk against traffic
- Use the sidewalks
- If there are no sidewalks, walk single file when in groups
Bicyclists:
- Ride with traffic in the street (not on sidewalks)
- Announce Yourself When Approaching Pedestrians Not Facing You
- Observe All Street Signs
- Ride Single File When in Groups
- And, WEAR A HELMET! |
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FAIRFIELD PUBLIC LIBRARY: OPEN ONLINE & CURB SIDE PICK-UP
Please visit fairfieldpubliclibrary.org for full details regarding this service. In the interest of everyone’s safety and health, library buildings will remain closed while providing this contact-free service.
Fairfield Public Library continues to offer 24/7 access to their digital collection of books, music, magazines and movies plus a wide and varied assortment of virtual programs. Learn more here: fplct.librarymarket.com/.
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's doors may be temporarily closed, but our librarians and staff are still here for you! 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.
On Monday, June 22, Pequot will be curbside pickup. Please contact us for more information. |
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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.
For additional information and prevention tips, refer to the Health Department website at: www.fairfieldct.org/health or the Fairfield homepage under news at www.fairfieldct.org.
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PREVIOUS COVID-19 UPDATES:
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