Michael Tetreau – DoingItLocal

Ribbon Cut On New Regional Fire School

#Fairfield CT–Yesterday the ribbon was cut at the Captain Joseph S. Elias Fire Training Center and Fairfield Regional Fire School located at 205 Richard White Way (formely One Rod Highway), in Fairfield. The facility was named after Fire Captain Joseph S. Elias who founded formal training for firefighters in the area. Prior to that firefighter training was limited to on the job training. Assistant Fire Chief Scott Bisson who headed the former facility and now this one is a fourth generation firefighter. He told of a story of battling a mill fire in his fourth “veteran” year as a firefighter. The fire chief he was battling the fire with told him and the other men he didn’t like to looks of the wall they were near and had them fall back. Within minutes the building collapsed onto the area the firefighters were standing. It was then Bisson said he knew he had to be done for training, “I knew that I needed to know more about burning buildings in order to keep the people I would eventually lead safely”.

The new school has numerous classrooms with the latest audio/visual aids. The previous burn house ( located behind the building the ribbon cutting took place. that is used to train the firefighters in fighting a fire in a structure left very little to the imagination. Every fighter knew they would open the door and there is where the fire would be. In the he new burn house the fire can be in a number of different locations. There are also different type of doors like the basement Bilco style even a two car garage. There are thermostats in the ceilings so instructors know the conditions they putting the trainees into.

The facility was funded by the state. None of the state representatives were available due to them being in session.

Fairfield Budget Proposal / Update

Fairfield News: From the desk of First Selectman Michael Tetreau–I have been receiving many letters on this year’s budget proposal. I am attempting to read all the emails (close to 800 at last count). Since I will not be able to answer them all individually, I will do my best to respond to all concerns in a series of updates to the Fairfield budget update.

Here is the first:

Since our last budget a lot has changed. We managed over $3 million in cuts to municipal aid from the State including a midyear cut of $570,000. We were able to make adjustments in the budget to minimize the impact on services and our citizens.

This year the Governor is proposing $5 million in municipal aid cuts along with an additional $9 million in shared expense for the State Teachers’ Pension fund. The State is also transferring another $1 million in Special Education housing costs previously paid directly by the state. As most are aware, with the GE property purchase by Sacred Heart University, we are losing another $1 million in tax revenue. When you add all this up, we have a $16 million negative impact on our $308 million dollar budget.

The Governor’s proposal is now in the hands of the State Assembly. It is the State Assembly that crafts the final budget. In another one of the absurd state budget practices, they will not let the towns know their final budget till after we have all set our mill rates.

I have prepared my budget recommendation including the Governor’s adjustments. We have a guideline, in place since my time on the Board of Finance, to use the best available information. The word from the State Assembly is that the Governor’s budget will not pass. However, no one is ready to say just what will pass. Only that it will be different. It is clear that the State does not have enough revenue to meet all its expenses. We can expect significant cuts to our state aid and state programs.

The budget I prepared shows the impact of the State Aid cuts. It gives a clear picture of the impact on our town. It makes it clear for everyone the impact of the State’s fiscal woes on our town. Once the State Assembly makes up their minds it will be too late. We all need to know what we are fighting for now.

I am committed to fighting this unfair tax burden being transferred to Fairfield. I am working with our State Delegation. I am meeting with State Assembly leaders. I am joining with other Mayors and First Selectmen. I am working with the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities (CCM). We are all demanding a better solution from the State.

Every resident can help by contacting our State Delegation and State Assembly leadership. Let them know we need a better solution for Fairfield and Connecticut.

Thank you for listening.

Editorial–Is Fairfield Anti-Union?

Editorial–As Fairfield’s Random Act of Kindness program declared by First Selectman Tetreau winds down, I hope our act of kindness is to give the Fairfield Police a half way decent contract. The police in Fairfield have served in TWO hurricanes a blizzard, and were one of the first on scene in Newtown to give support without a contract.
I have to ask why is Fairfield anti union? They strung the firefighters out on their contract for a long time, heck even the nurses union. Fairfield has a proven track record of being anti-union, from the First Selectman Tetreau to a lot of members on the RTM. Forget a pay raise, did you know that the Fairfield Police haven’t had a cost of living increase since 2009? Give them a half way decent health care plan, we count on their well being to protect us. Contact First Selectman Tetreau at FirstSelectmanFFld@town.fairfield.ct.us or call him at 203-256-3030. You can find your RTM members here

The press jumped all over Republican Governor in Michigan for being anti-union. Is this another media double standard because Fairfield is Democratic?