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Fairfield Selectmen Approve New $6.2 Million Penfield Project

FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- Two weeks after the Board of Selectmen unanimously approved more than $4 million in bonding to rebuild and restore Penfield Pavilion on Fairfield Beach Road - which the Board of Finance refused to act on - the selectmen have once again approved more than $4 million for a variation of the project.

Fairfield's Chief Financial Officer Bob Mayor explains the drop in risk with the new Penfield project that was approved by the Board of Selectmen on Wednesday Nov. 19.

Fairfield's Chief Financial Officer Bob Mayor explains the drop in risk with the new Penfield project that was approved by the Board of Selectmen on Wednesday Nov. 19.

Photo Credit: Salvatore Trifilio
Penfield Building Committee Chair Jim Bradley presents the new project to the Board of Selectmen.

Penfield Building Committee Chair Jim Bradley presents the new project to the Board of Selectmen.

Photo Credit: Salvatore Trifilio

On Wednesday, Nov. 19, Fairfield’s Board of Selectmen unanimously approved a $6.4 million plan for the pavilion, this one without removing the east wing and its lockers.

“During the first two weeks of November the town has received better information regarding requirements for FEMA reimbursement,” Penfield Building Committee Chair Jim Bradley said.

Fairfield’s Chief Financial Officer Bob Mayor clarified Bradley’s comments by adding that there is no new information from FEMA. However, the town's financial analysis on FEMA requirements for reimbursement is more complete and accurate, he said, giving both the Penfield Building Committee and the Department of Parks and Recreation more confidence in the new project.

The project previously approved for bonding by the Board of Selectmen was at risk of being considered an alternative project, Mayor said, because of the reduction in the overall footprint of the facility. Therefore, it could result in less funding from FEMA.

Since the newly approved project would have the exact same footprint as the current facility, there is significantly less risk that FEMA will consider it an alternative project, although Mayor said the determination still remains “a crap-shoot.”

The Penfield Pavilion was severely damaged twice in the last three years by Tropical Storm Irene and Superstorm Sandy. It has remained closed since 2012.

The decision was once again met with public contention, however, only one resident chose to speak against it during the Wednesday meeting.

Keeping the lockers would also create a lower financial risk for the town because it would offer the highest revenue stream out of all other options, according to Mayor.

“This is all about what the revenue stream is,” First Selectman Michael Tetreau said. “To do nothing is the most expensive option because it doesn’t pay anything toward the $4 million debt from the last rebuild.”

According to documents distributed by Mayor, the overall net cost to the town for this project would be $943,927. While the net cost for the previous project comes in at more than $300,000 less than the one approved Wednesday, if that previous project were considered an alternative project after approval the overall net cost would be more than $1.2 million.

The Board of Selectmen approved resolution will now be sent to the Board of Finance and, if approved, the Representative Town Meeting.

 

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