Board of Finance (Special Meeting) - 10/13/2026

Fairfield Board of Finance special meeting, October 13, 2026, focused on first-year capital projects in the town’s 10-year plan. The board unanimously amended and approved a bond resolution for flood-prevention and Lake Moheaggan work, reducing the lake project by $600,000 to $900,000 and the combined authorization from $8,530,699 to approximately $7,930,699. In a separate resolution, members voted 5–4 to remove $1.55 million for three complete-streets projects—South Benson Road, Mill Plain Road, and four demonstration locations—from the proposed bonding; the remaining $2,556,100 resolution was then approved. Members discussed using speed-camera revenue for safety projects if funds are available. Other town capital items included a $500,000 study/design request for a fire-department maintenance shop, $157,000 for Hook and Ladder playground work, and replacement of Smith Richardson driving-range netting; the netting proposal had a $523,000 bid compared with a second bid of $1.2 million. The board also considered $4,625,466 for Old Town Hall and Sullivan Independence Hall improvements and unanimously approved a $4,986,000 police-department renovation, with the low construction bid identified as $2,782,125 from APR. A $6,268,000 adaptive recreation center and Miracle Fields proposal included a $2.5 million grant, leaving roughly $3.1 million expected to be bonded.

Education-related capital actions included a $739,878 Jennings Elementary security vestibule, $783,593 for Stratfield Elementary’s building-management controls, and $4,994,488 for Jennings Elementary planning, evaluation, and design; the latter was presented as funding through construction documents to support bidding and a firmer project estimate. The board approved $2,945,346 for Fairfield Ludlowe High School turf and related improvements by an 8–1 vote. For Fairfield Warde High School air-quality improvements, members reduced the proposed authorization from about $54 million to $47.5 million, reflecting a revised construction estimate and lowering contingency from 30% to 25%; the amended resolution passed 6–3. A separate Warde artificial-turf resolution added $375,000 for drainage and retaining-wall work, bringing the total to $2,675,000, using unused Holland Hill bond proceeds rather than new bonding; it passed 8–1. Members emphasized that several estimates remain subject to bids, design development, state reimbursement review, or further site evaluation.