Fairfield Welcomes New Tax Collector

First Selectman Mike Tetreau announced that Cinda B. Buchter will serve as the Town’s new Tax Collector. Ms. Buchter, who began her new role yesterday, Monday, May 7, replaces Stanley Gorzelany, who had retired after 19 years of service. First Selectman Mike Tetreau said, “I am very pleased to welcome Cinda Buchter to the Fairfield community.  Ms. Buchter brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to this critical role that will help serve the needs of the Tax Office and the Town.”

For the past eight years, Ms. Buchter served as Tax Collector for the City of Derby.  Prior to that, she served as Assistant Tax Collector for Derby; a former Municipal Software Development, Support and Training Team Leader; Tax Collector for the Town of Bethany; and Director of Parks and Recreation for the Town of Bethany.   

Ms. Buchter is a Certified Connecticut Municipal Collector; Co-President of the New Haven County Tax Collectors’ Association; Vice-President of the Connecticut Tax Collectors’ Association; and previously served as Second Vice-President and Education Chair of the Connecticut Tax Collectors’ Association’s Education Committee.   

Ms. Buchter said, “It is with great pleasure that I become the new Tax Collector for the Town of Fairfield.  I look forward to working with the taxpayers, the tax office staff, the Administration and all the departments in Town Hall to help provide the best possible service to the taxpayers and to all residents of Fairfield.”

Board of Selectmen Meeting Set for May 2

The regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen will be held at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 2, in the first floor conference room of Independence Hall.

Key highlights will include:

-  Recognition of Fairfield Warde High School Headmaster Jim Coyne, as the Connecticut PTSA’s 2012 High School Principal of the Year.

-  Resignation of Marco A. Valera (R) from the the Town Plan and Zoning Commission

-  Appointment of Martha Brooks (D) to Ethics Commission

-  Appointment of James Takami (R) to Police and Fire Retirement Board

-  Discussion of the agreement between the State of Connecticut and the Town of Fairfield for the Development of Contract Plans, Specifications and Estimates in Conjunction with the Rehabilitation of the Valley Road Bridge (Bridge No. 04956) over Horse Tavern Brook Utilizing Federal Funds from the Highway Bridge

-  Consideration of a request from the Director of Public Works for an appropriation of $210,000 from the Water Pollution Control Authority (WPCA) Reserve Fund to provide the Town’s local share for an Energy Reduction Project at the Treatment Plant. Furthermore the First Selectman is authorized to execute any necessary agreements with the United Illuminating Co. to obtain grants and interest free loans related to this project.

-  Request for approval of the applications received under the Neighborhood Assistance Act (NAA) Program, and for the Director of Community & Economic Development to be designated as the municipal liaison of the Town of Fairfield for this program.

-  Request for approval of the Program Year 38 (October 1, 2012 – September 30, 2013) Community Development Block Grant in an amount to be finalized by HUD, and to authorize the First Selectman to execute any and all necessary documents that facilitate the Town’s participation in the CDBG Program.

-  Dissolution of the Penfield Reef Lighthouse Preservation Committee and resolution that a new committee acquire and preserve the Penfield Reef Lighthouse, operating under the Penfield Reef Lighthouse Preservation Committee Charge approved by the Board of Selectmen on July 6, 2011.

RTM Budget Vote Meeting to be Held Mon. May 7 @ Fairfield Warde H.S.

The First Selectman's Office has announced that the Annual RTM Budget Vote Meeting will be held Monday, May 7, at 8pm, in the Big Gym at Fairfield Warde High School, 755 Melville Ave., Fairfield.

The Meeting's main agenda items include the following:

1: To consider and act upon proposed appropriations in the amount of $273,382,694 for the Fiscal Year of July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2013, as recommended by the Board of Finance and amended by the RTM on April 30, 2012, for any lawful purpose and to adopt the following resolution:

“RESOLVED, that the budget for the Fiscal Year of July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2013, as recommended by the Board of Finance in its “2012-2013 Town of Fairfield Budget Report and Recommendations,” submitted to this meeting, a copy of which report and recommendations is annexed hereto and made a part of this resolution, is hereby adopted; that the salaries of the Town Officials are approved as set forth herein; and that the sum of $273,382,694 for said budget be, and hereby is appropriated.”

The total proposed budget as approved by the Board of Finance, as amended by the Representative Town Meeting on April 30, 2012, is as follows:

(Referred to All Standing Committees)

2. To consider and act upon the self-supporting funds in the amount of $5,036,356 for the Water Pollution Control Authority for the Fiscal Year of July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2013.

 (Referred to All Standing Committees)

3.  To consider and act upon a motion to suspend Rule 32 of The Rules to Regulate the Proceedings of the Representative Town Meeting of the Town of Fairfield in order that the forthcoming Redistricting Ordinance not be required to:  1) be initially referred to the Committee on Legislation and Administration and 2) be formally listed on the Warning for two Meetings and discussed by appropriate committees prior to each Meeting.  The purpose of such action is to allow for the proposed Ordinance to be considered by standing committees on May 14 and 16 and brought to the full RTM for a vote on May 21.

4.  To consider and act upon any other matters presented to said meeting and which may be properly acted upon under the rules of the Representative Town Meeting.

Special Meeting of Board of Selectman Set for Tues. April 24, 4:30pm

A special meeting of the Board of Selectmen will be held at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 24, 2012, in the first floor conference room of Independence Hall. The Agenda is as follows:

1)         CALL TO ORDER

2)         PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

3)         RESIGNATIONS (for information only)

a.      Affordable Housing Committee
Mark A. Foreman, (R), 4570 Black Rock Turnpike, term 11/09–11/13
(Resignation Date:  4/1/2012)

b.      Police and Fire Retirement Board (and Joint Retirement Investment Board)
Joseph B. Rigoglioso, (D) 163 Inwood Road, term 11/10-11/13
(Resignation Date:  4/18/2012)

4)         FIRST SELECTMAN APPOINTMENTS (for information only)
Conservation Commission
Elizabeth H. Jones, (D), 90 Shetland Road, term (11/10-11/15)
(To replace Stanton Lesser who resigned – Appointment Date: 4/10/2012)

5)         LAND ACQUISITION COMMISSION
To hear, consider and act upon the following resolution:

RESOLVED, that the Town of Fairfield acquire the property at 2012 Cross Highway (1.19 acres) from the State of Connecticut at the cost of $1000.

6)         RIVERFIELD SCHOOL BUILDING COMMITTEE
To hear, consider and act upon the following resolution requested by the Riverfield School Building Committee:

RESOLVED, that the Bond Appropriation entitled, "A Resolution Appropriating $250,000 for the Costs Associated with the Improvement and Renovation of Riverfield Elementary School and Authorizing the Issuance of Bonds to Finance Such Appropriation" consisting of three pages, be, and hereby is, approved.

7)         OSBORN HILL BUILDING COMMITTEE CHARGE
To approve a building committee charge for the Osborn Hill Windows

8)         TAX COLLECTOR
Refunds

9)         TOWN ATTORNEY
Private Executive Session - Pending Litigation

10)      ADJOURN