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Tetreau Calls For Townwide Strategic Plan During Yearly Address

FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- Fairfield First Selectman Michael Tetreau used Tuesday night’s State of the Town address to propose an unprecedented community project: developing the 375-year-old town’s “first-ever townwide strategic plan.”

First Selectman Michael Tetreau uses his annual State of the Town address to propose a townwide strategic plan on Tuesday night.

First Selectman Michael Tetreau uses his annual State of the Town address to propose a townwide strategic plan on Tuesday night.

 Photo Credit: Salvatore Trifilio
First Selectman Michael Tetreau gives his annual State of the Town address to Fairfield's Representative Town Meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 3.

First Selectman Michael Tetreau gives his annual State of the Town address to Fairfield's Representative Town Meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 3.

 Photo Credit: Salvatore Trifilio
A reserved Representative Town Meeting - which held its applause for almost the entirety of First Selectman Michael Tetreau's State of the Town address - gives Tetreau a standing ovation.

A reserved Representative Town Meeting - which held its applause for almost the entirety of First Selectman Michael Tetreau's State of the Town address - gives Tetreau a standing ovation.

 Photo Credit: Salvatore Trifilio
by Salvatore Trifilio

Tetreau delivered his speech in front of a packed Board of Education conference room, which continued to fill throughout his address.

First he recapped what the first selectman called a successful 375th anniversary year for the town not only for economic development and energy conservation, but also for the parks, seniors, and schools. Tetreau then used his closing remarks to quickly pivot the attention from the past to the future.

“We have a strong foundation comprised of our community spirit, our volunteerism and our commitment to work together to meet the challenges ahead,” Tetreau said at the meeting of the Representative Town Meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 3. “Despite how well we have done and how much we have accomplished, there are significant challenges facing us.”

While Tetreau outlined the year behind -- highlighted by many anniversary events that “work together to promote Fairfield,” millions of dollars in energy conservation and continued town development including the new tennis and recreation center -- he said “Fairfield needs to keep moving forward."

“Perhaps the biggest challenge facing us is answering the difficult questions: What services do we want to offer the community? How do we maintain and improve our proposition that Fairfield is the best value in the state? How do we see our town in 10 or 20 years?” Tetreau asked.

According to Tetreau, funding for the proposed townwide strategic plan will be included “for this project in the upcoming budget.”

His speech was interrupted once while recapping the year for Fairfield schools - where 63 percent of budgetary spending went last year. However, Tetreau strayed from his speech to add minor comments, one major comment interjecting his thoughts on Penfield Pavilion, whose rehabilitation and reconstruction project is still waiting RTM approval.

At no point during the 45-minute speech did Tetreau speak on the final year of his three-year term or whether he plans to run again in 2015. Instead, he remained focused on his duty as a public servant.

“As first selectman, it is my vision to serve all the people of our town, from the students who need a safe environment for an excellent education, to the seniors on fixed incomes who wish to stay here, to the taxpayers who want quality service and reasonable taxes,” Tetreau said. “I am committed to maintaining Fairfield as the best value in our state."

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