Gerber: Fairfield must improve sewers, traffic
FAIRFIELD — First Selectman Bill Gerber remains laser-focused on the long-term vision for Fairfield he touted on his way to a narrow general election win in November.
Gerber, a newly elected Democrat, delivered his first “State of the Town” address to the Representative Town Meeting on Monday night, offering a glimpse of his agenda for the coming years, steering the administration of Fairfield’s town government.
His focus on long-term strategic planning emerged as the night’s dominant theme, as he stressed the need for it across what he sees as Fairfield’s most critical areas of investment — housing, sewers, schools, traffic and flood resiliency.
“Yes, things are good here, but our increasing popularity brings challenges,” Gerber said. “Looking ahead over the next decade, where do we want to be? My vision is that we want to be a community where people want to and can afford to live, work and retire.”
Gerber started laying out his plans by discussing affordable housing.
In a major update about the town’s ongoing struggle to balance affordable units with neighborhood space, Gerber said he expects Fairfield to qualify for a four-year moratorium from state statute 830g.
Under 8-30g, towns that meet the threshold of 10 percent affordable housing inventory are exempt from a law in which developers can challenge a town’s decision to reject the construction of an affordable housing development.
“That’s good news, but four years will go by very quickly,” Gerber said. “During that period, we must use every tool we have in our toolkit to work towards our next moratorium with housing that is affordable and attractive for all ages, including seniors, and also doesn’t negatively impact the feel of our neighborhoods.”
Gerber said another of Fairfield’s pressing issues is its sewers, which he described as an outdated system that hadn’t been built for the current level of development — and resulting “flow” — that could soon intensify near the Fairfield Metro station and along Post Road.
He said the town will start considering investing “tens of millions of dollars” into the Water Pollution Control Authority for the next decade.
“A few important things were developed around World War II — penicillin, radar and the town’s sewer system,” Gerber said. “Fairfield has avoided appropriate investment in this area for decades. Now, our sewage system has become a limiting factor to growing our grand list.”
He pledged "large investments" in flood resiliency efforts — weeks after preliminary flood study results showed flood potential worsening with the imminent reconstruction of Penfield Pavilion — and urged the town to start planning around a long-term traffic safety plan so Fairfield can become a “Complete Streets” town in the next two decades.
“Complete Streets” refers to a traffic safety policy that considers all users, including pedestrians and cyclists. The policy was a major initiative that Gerber pushed through the RTM last year with legislation altering Fairfield’s system of traffic planning and policy making.
After detailing hoped for investments, Gerber painted a challenging financial picture with the town’s budget.
He said town officials expect steeper borrowing costs without any more funding support from the American Rescue Plan Act. Gerber also pointed to a smaller grand list — the net value of all taxable property in Fairfield — which means less tax revenue.
He said in past years the town was able to avoid larger mill rate increases due to its grand list growth.
“These are some of the challenges we face, and we are looking for ways to offset as much of these headwinds as possible,” he said. “However, we know we can’t compromise the level of services Fairfielders are used to and deserve.”
Gerber also unveiled a pair of initiatives to make new strides in diversity, equity and inclusion in Fairfield. He said he will make a formal proclamation declaring racism a public health crisis during the Board of Selectmen meeting next month and plans to form a body that would tackle issues of race in Fairfield and devise solutions.
At the upcoming meeting, he will also formally acknowledge the Racial Equity and Justice Task Force’s blueprint, which he said “has never been adequately acknowledged” since its completion 18 months ago.
Gerber also took aim at the town charter, which stoked political tensions between elected leaders and ultimately failed with a townwide referendum in 2022. He said Fairfield should reopen the revision process and suggested dividing town issues into separate questions, which he said could have made the difference in passing it.
Among other key points in Gerber’s address, he rehashed issues he supported throughout his campaign and early leadership, including tighter control and efficiency in town hall, more responsible school spending and a continued fight against a controversial project United Illuminating has proposed to build monopoles as tall as 195 feet through Fairfield.