CLARIFICATIONS

Commitment to Accuracy and Transparency

Fairfielders for Good Government is committed to providing accurate and clarifying information on issues concerning government and governance in Fairfield. We are not here to judge the intentions of any town official, RTM member, or employee. We are focused on information that is shared through audio, video, or in writing through official Town sources. We do not engage in monitoring social media posts. 

If there is an issue you would like clarification on, feel free to contact us and we will do our best to provide that for you.

In an attempt to reduce misunderstanding and correct misinformation stated in public documents or meetings, below is some clarifying information on the current operations of the Parking Authority. Please check back for more as more items are requested.

Lease Payments to the Town

There has been confusion around the Parking Authority's lease payments to the Town for the Downtown Fairfield lot. The revenue for Parking Authority lease payments can be found in '14 RENT - Account 01090 49102' in the Town budget. Payment progress is tracked in the Board of Finance quarterly reports. 

To clear up any misinformation, the Parking Authority has made lease payments to the Town every fiscal year it was required to do so.

The Fiscal Year 2024 payment was delayed due to negotiations between the Town and the Parking Authority. The reason for the delay is noted as 'in negotiations' in the FY24 quarterly reports. The item was discussed by the administration and the Board of Finance at FY24 quarterly meetings but members of the Parking Authority Board nor the Director were asked to attend. Information on the Q3 and Q4 quarterly reports and meetings can be found at the following links:

• May 21, 2024 FY24-Q3 Meeting of the Board of Finance:

  • Backup - lease revenue variance is on page 73 

  • Minutes  - video link is in the minutes

• September 17, 2024 FY24-Q4 Meeting of the Board of Finance

  • Backup - lease revenue variance is on page 92

  • Minutes - video link is in the minutes

On September 16, 2024, at a meeting of the Parking Authority Director, one Parking Authority Commissioner, the First Selectman, and the Interim CFO,  the Commission attempted to make a partial payment of $250,000 on the lease, agreeing to pay the balance once the total lease amount had been negotiated. That meeting was not a public meeting. However, a report on that meeting was given by the Director and the Commissioner to the Parking Authority Board at a Parking Authority Special Meeting on September 18, 2024 that was a public meeting. The minutes of that special meeting can be found here and the recording here.

It was reported by the Commissioner and corroborated by the Director at the special meeting that the First Selectman and Interim CFO declined to accept the offer of a partial payment and that the administration would contact the Parking Authority to set up a meeting to negotiate the total amount. A lease payment in the amount of $333,000 was made by the Parking Authority to the Town in December 2024 and the revenue booked to Fiscal Year 2024.

The Fiscal Year 2023 payment was timely. The Fiscal Year 2025 payment was made in early April.

Parking Authority Audit Reports

There has been confusion regarding the Parking Authority's practice of conducting annual audits.

The Parking Authority conducts audits annually. Its audits are currently conducted by the same firm the Town of Fairfield hires to conduct its audits - PKF O'Connor Davies. Annual audits were performed by Dworken, Hillman, LaMorte & Sterczala, P.C. prior to that firm's merger with PKF O'Connor Davies. 

As a public agency, the Parking Authority is subject to Freedom of Information laws (FOIA). The audit reports are public and available to anyone who requests a copy.

Five years worth of audit reports were provided to the RTM upon the RTM's request and are now available here.

Parking Authority as a Public Agency

There has been confusion regarding the Parking Authority's and its Board of Commissioners' status as a public agency.

The Parking Authority was created in 1968 through an ordinance adopted by the Representative Town Meeting. The Town Code states:

§ 102-1Creation of Authority; purpose.
A Parking Authority is hereby created in accordance with the provisions of Section 7-203 of the Connecticut General Statutes for the purpose of creating and establishing off-street parking facilities. Such Authority shall consist of five members appointed by the First Selectman and shall have all the powers and duties conferred upon parking authorities by the provisions of the Connecticut General Statutes.

The statutes governing Parking Authorities can be found in Chapter 100 of the Connecticut General Statutes. Per statute, the Board of Commissioners are appointed by the First Selectman.

The Parking Authority Board of Commissioners is required to follow the same requirements as other public agencies for filing agendas and minutes with the Town Clerk per the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).  Their agendas and minutes can be found here. A public response from the Parking Authority Director on her process for posting agendas and minutes can be viewed here. 

Frequency of Trash Cleanup

There has been confusion regarding the frequency of trash cleanup at the downtown Fairfield train station. According to the Parking Authority, trash is cleaned up weekdays, not just on Monday mornings as has been publicly stated.