Fairfield Selectpersons Approve Board Appointments, Contracts And Set FY2027 Budget Timeline

Key Points

• The Fairfield Board of Selectpersons unanimously approved multiple appointments and reappointments to town boards and commissions during their meeting on 7 January 2026.
• Key appointments included Thomas K. Philips to the Affordable Housing Committee for a four-year term ending November 2029, replacing Janice Bouloubasis.
• Urban E. Leimkuhler Jr. was reappointed to the Affordable Housing Committee.
• Jeffrey A. Galdenzi was appointed to the Dwight School Building Committee through project completion, replacing Joseph P. Diiorio who resigned; this requires Representative Town Meeting (RTM) approval.
• Jason Li’s appointment to the Dwight School Building Committee was noted as informational only.
• Trisha P. Pytko was appointed to the Fire Commission for a term ending November 2030, replacing Dorothea E. Brennan who completed two full terms.
• Clayton D. Risher was appointed to the Police and Fire Retirement Board for a term ending November 2028, replacing Bruce Ryan.
• Laura B. Lawlor was appointed to the Shellfish Commission for a term ending November 2030, replacing John C. Short Jr.
• First Selectperson Christine Vitale acknowledged the resignation of Mary S. Beyer from the Solid Waste and Recycling Commission and thanked Beyer and Brennan for their service.
• The board approved a fourth modification to a right-of-repurchase agreement with Rooster River Plaza LLC for Unit No. 1 at 501 Kings Highway East, pending RTM authorization.
• Angelus Papageorge, director of operations for Fairfield Public Schools, stated the modification extends the town’s ownership interest for another four years, noting other options were reviewed but none proved better, with minimal cost increase.
• A $54,550 contract was awarded to National Water Main Cleaning Co. of Canton, Massachusetts, for CCTV inspection services at a river pump station.
• Purchasing Director Adam Tulin confirmed the firm was the lowest bidder after scope review; Senior Civil Engineer Megha Jain described the project involving two parallel lines (one active, one inactive) expected to take two to three weeks.
• A three-year extension through 31 December 2028 was approved with PMA Management Corp. of Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, for workers’ compensation third-party claims administration at $105,945 annually.
• Tulin explained the extension avoids service lapse amid risk management turnover; Risk Manager Joey Barbera noted pricing required a three-year term with 90-day termination notice.
• Tax Collector David Kluczwski was authorised to file a claim in the Discover Card Merchant Class Action Settlement, as recommended by Town Attorney Phil Pires, qualifying the town as an end merchant.
• $47,161.76 in tax refunds were approved as recommended by Kluczwski.
• Meeting minutes from 10, 17, and 22 December 2025 were approved, with one abstention on the latter.
• First Selectperson Christine Vitale outlined the FY2027 budget timeline, to be posted on the Finance Department webpage in early February 2026.
• Vitale plans to present a proposed budget in late February, with public hearings 23-25 February, board vote on 2 March.
• Board of Finance hearings start 5 March, public comment 28 March at Fairfield Warde High School, vote 4 April; RTM hearings 6-8 April, vote 4 May; mill rate set 7 May.
• Vitale urged residents to review property revaluation on the assessor’s webpage and schedule informal hearings.
• A Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service proclamation was read on 14 January at Fairfield Library.
• Selectperson Brenda Kupchick raised concerns over lack of special election information on the Registrars of Voters website.
• Vitale noted registrars are elected officials outside board jurisdiction but staff would share info via other channels.
• The board entered executive session for pending litigation in Donald Garamella / Estate of Catherine Ann Taylor v. Fairfield, then approved an undisclosed agreement unanimously.

Fairfield, CT (Fairfield Citizen) 7 January 2026 – The Fairfield Board of Selectpersons unanimously approved a comprehensive slate of appointments to town boards and commissions, key contracts, and administrative measures at its meeting on 7 January, while establishing the timeline for the fiscal year 2027 budget process amid various community updates.

What Appointments and Reappointments Were Made?

The board addressed multiple vacancies with no recorded opposition. As detailed in the meeting recap from the Fairfield Citizen, Thomas K. Philips was appointed to the Affordable Housing Committee for a four-year term ending in November 2029, replacing Janice Bouloubasis who did not seek reappointment. Urban E. Leimkuhler Jr. received reappointment to another term on the same committee.

Jeffrey A. Galdenzi was appointed to the Dwight School Building Committee to serve through project completion, succeeding Joseph P. Diiorio who had resigned; this appointment awaits Representative Town Meeting (RTM) approval. The recap notes Jason Li’s appointment to the committee as informational only, per the committee’s charge.

Trisha P. Pytko was appointed to the Fire Commission for a term ending November 2030, replacing Dorothea E. Brennan who completed two full terms. Clayton D. Risher joined the Police and Fire Retirement Board for a term ending November 2028, replacing Bruce Ryan. Laura B. Lawlor was appointed to the Shellfish Commission for a term ending November 2030, succeeding John C. Short Jr. whose term was expiring.

First Selectperson Christine Vitale acknowledged the resignation of Mary S. Beyer from the Solid Waste and Recycling Commission, expressing thanks to both Beyer and Brennan for their service, as reported in the Fairfield Citizen coverage.

Why Was the School Operations Agreement Modified?

The board approved a fourth modification to the right-of-repurchase agreement with Rooster River Plaza LLC for Unit No. 1 at 501 Kings Highway East, pending RTM authorisation. Angelus Papageorge, director of operations for Fairfield Public Schools, explained that the modification extends the town’s ownership interest in part of the building for another four years.

Papageorge stated,

“Other options were reviewed, but none proved better, and the cost increase was minimal,”

according to the meeting recap from the Fairfield Citizen. This move ensures continuity in school operations tied to the property.

Which Contracts and Purchasing Actions Were Authorised?

Significant procurement decisions included authorising the Purchasing Authority to award a $54,550 contract to National Water Main Cleaning Co. of Canton, Massachusetts, for CCTV inspection services at a river pump station. Purchasing Director Adam Tulin confirmed, “The firm was the lowest bidder following a scope review.”

Senior Civil Engineer Megha Jain described the in-house project as involving “two parallel lines — one active, one inactive — and is expected to take two to three weeks,” per the Fairfield Citizen report.

Additionally, a three-year extension through 31 December 2028 was approved with PMA Management Corp. of Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, for workers’ compensation third-party claims administration, costing $105,945 annually. Tulin noted the extension was “necessary to avoid a lapse in service amid turnover in the town’s risk management role.” Risk Manager Joey Barbera added that “the pricing required a three-year term, with a 90-day notice provision if the town later chooses to terminate.”

How Were Tax Matters Handled?

Tax Collector David Kluczwski received authorisation to file a claim on behalf of the town in the Discover Card Merchant Class Action Settlement. Kluczwski said Town Attorney Phil Pires recommended filing because “the town qualifies as an end merchant in the nationwide settlement,” as covered by the Fairfield Citizen.

The board also approved $47,161.76 in tax refunds as recommended by Kluczwski. Meeting minutes from 10, 17, and 22 December 2025 were approved, with one abstention on the latter set.

What Is the FY2027 Budget Timeline?

First Selectperson Christine Vitale outlined the fiscal year 2027 budget process, stating a timeline will be posted on the Finance Department webpage in early February 2026. She plans to present a proposed budget to the board in late February, followed by three public budget hearings from 23 to 25 February and a Board of Selectpersons vote on 2 March.

The Board of Finance schedule includes hearings starting 5 March, a public comment session on 28 March at Fairfield Warde High School, a vote on 1 April, RTM hearings 6–8 April, an RTM vote on 4 May, and mill rate setting on 7 May, according to Vitale’s remarks in the Fairfield Citizen recap.

Vitale encouraged residents to review property revaluation information on the assessor’s webpage and schedule informal hearings with questions. She also announced a Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service proclamation reading held on 14 January at the Fairfield Library.

What Community Updates and Other Business Arose?

Selectperson Brenda Kupchick raised concerns about a lack of special election information on the Registrars of Voters website. Vitale responded that the registrars are elected officials outside the board’s jurisdiction but town staff would attempt to share information through other town channels, such as the information technology voting page.

The board entered executive session to discuss pending litigation in Donald Garamella / Estate of Catherine Ann Taylor v. Fairfield. Upon returning to open session, they unanimously approved an agreement related to the matter, with terms not disclosed, as per the Fairfield Citizen account.

This meeting underscores the board’s proactive approach to governance, filling key positions, securing essential services, and preparing for the upcoming budget cycle in Fairfield, Connecticut.