Bill Perugini Running For Fairfield RTM District 9

FAIRFIELD, CT — It's election season in Fairfield, and Patch is here to help you get to know the candidates running for local office in 2021 before voters head to the polls Nov. 2.

Questionnaire responses appear as submitted by candidates.

Republican Bill Perugini, 55, is running for Fairfield RTM District 9 Representative and Fairfield Constable.

Occupation: Area Vice President Of Sales

Experience: RTM District 9 Representative since 2013 (3 terms) and Constable since 2019

Family in government: No

The single biggest issue in town is ______, and I plan to do this about it:

It is my sentiment that there is not a single most pressing issue facing our town but rather a constellation of challenges pertaining to related and unrelated quality of life and public health and safety concerns.

Apart from the devastating consequences of the Public Works Yard Aggregate Fill Pile corruption ring and the resulting public health and safety compromises felt by so many in Fairfield, the breaches of public trust in elected officials and town government have had a lasting and calamitous and impact on our community in a multitude of ways. Like so many other precious things in life, trust is earned and the restoration of public trust at all levels of government must remain a priority for all in public office. I pride myself on my passionate commitment to our community and all of the organizations and individuals I have the privilege of serving and supporting. To help restore the trust in all elected offices, I will lead by example and in continuing to be immediately accessible to all constituents, fully forthcoming and transparent, prompt in my service and with a highly detailed and results driven orientation accountable for tangible outcomes.

While we are still contending with the public health and safety complications illuminated by the
prior administration’s mismanagement of the Public Works Yard Aggregate Fill Pile, there are a host of other public health and safety issues in District 9 and throughout our town that warrant our continued attention such as vehicular speeding, driver disregard for traffic signals and pedestrian safety on our streets. As I have done so since being first elected to office in 2013, I will continue working closely with the leadership of the Police Department, Fire Department, Department of Public Works and Fairfield Community Emergency Response Team, of which I have been an active member since 2013, to ensure that all who travel on our roads by auto, bike, scooter or foot remain safe and protected.

Apart from the many public safety challenges to be addressed on our roadways, perhaps the most critical threat to public health and safety presents from the sky, sea and waterways. Our vulnerability to catastrophic flooding in so many parts of our town are of great concern to me as the “Beach Area” or District 9 includes the floodplain which is the nucleus of Fairfield as it is home to our Police Department Headquarters, Fire Department Headquarters, Emergency Command Center, Town Hall, Public Works Yard, Wastewater Treatment Plant, Sherman School, the Historic District and several houses of worship.

As an incumbent RTM District 9 Representative, I helped spearhead the charge of bringing awareness to the vulnerability of the town’s nucleus within the floodplain and District 9 and helped secure ARPA funding for an important Wave Action study that will assist the town in securing coveted Federal Grant funding to protect our coastline once it becomes available. And, as Vice President of the Fairfield Beach Residents Association Board of Directors, I will continue my work to educate our membership and the entire Beach Area on the impending risks to our community as a consequence of global warming, rising sea levels and extreme weather and will relentlessly advocate for Flood and Erosion Control interventions to mitigate the impact.

Further, as a newly elected member of the Pine Creek Area Association Board of Directors, I plan leverage my leadership roles in each of these neighborhood associations in concert with my position as an RTM Representative and leader of the Public Health and Safety Committee. I intend to harness the collective power of each of these organizations through active collaboration with the leaders of the adjacent neighborhood associations in the floodplain such as the Fair Acres Association, Jennings Beach Area Association, and Old Dam Road Association and Old Post Road Association as we endeavor to identify solutions to solutions to the challenges of coastal flooding and erosion.

Critical differences between me and my opponents:

I feel my intense passion for public service, unparalleled commitment to the Fairfield community and highly effective leadership style are some of the many critical differences that distinguish me from the other candidates seeking the offices of RTM Representative and Constable.

Firstly, I derive great satisfaction helping my neighbors and constituents and have a long history of dedicated service in the fields of patient advocacy, public health, public safety, law enforcement, municipal government and the U.S. Coast Guard. I love serving the public.

Secondly, I feel my strong commitment to the Fairfield community sets me apart from most others. Apart from my prior 3 terms representing District 9 on the RTM and leading the Public Health and Safety Committee as Chairman and Vice Chairman, my community commitment is evidenced by my tireless work as Vice President of the Fairfield Beach Residents Association Board of Directors, involvement with the Fairfield Beach Peninsula Association, appointment to the Pine Creek Area Association, Fairfield Community Emergency Response Team, Fairfield Health and Fitness Council, U.S. Coast Guard Aux as Flotilla Staff Officer of Public Affairs and Justice of the Peace. Beyond the Fairfield community, I have committed time and energy to the NYPD in my volunteer service as a Reserve Officer in a Special Task Force unit, federal law enforcement as a Graduate of the FBI Citizen's Academy and Alumni Association Member, the State of Connecticut Department of Public Health, as well as the Arthritis Foundation and the American Red Cross as a member of the Board of Directors and activity as Chairman as numerous initiatives and events.

Lastly, my servant based and results driven leadership style is highly effective in accomplishing the work that needs to be done. I lead by example through service to my constituents and my team while focused on specific outcomes. I build consensus by understanding before being understood and I always listen and learn before I endeavor to influence and lead. Given the historic erosion in public trust and town wide compromises in public health and safety, I feel our town is in dire need of leaders who are committed to our community, are servant based, and results driven and who will prioritize public health and safety. That is precisely who I am and what I do and the reason I feel uniquely qualified to be re-elected as an RTM Representative in District 9 and as Constable.

Other issues:

In District 9, the “Beach Area, ” there are a host of other issues involved with quality of life and public health and safety that are critical and warrant attention. In some areas, chronic nuisance flooding needs to be immediately addressed and a strategic plan implemented to protect the Fairfield Beach Road peninsula and our entire coastline from storms like Hurricane Irene and Super Storm Sandy in our recent past. Certainly, we were spared from the devastation of Hurricane Henri but it will take only one storm to remind us of how vulnerable we are.
As noted prior, in many other areas residential safety is impacted by reckless vehicular and pedestrian traffic. Their are routine and flagrant violations of the posted speed limit and traffic signs and signals on Reef Road, the Post Road, Old Post Road, Fairfield Beach Road, Beach Road, South Benson Road and in many other parts of town.

Other quality of life issues relate to excessive amplified sound from events being hosted at various town facilities and private residences. Further, university student rentals and parties involving hundreds of guests have plagued many families residing in adjacent home. And, due to the impact of the COVID 19 pandemic on office closures and the trend toward remote work from home, other challenges have arisen that warrant a review and revision of the Town’s Noise Ordinance.

Finally, ensuring the academic excellence of our schools as well as safe and healthy conditions for our children to learn, socialize and play are critical for all in District 9 and throughout Fairfield. We must not lose sight of their critical social and emotional development during this challenging time in their lives. Moreover, it is essential that we equip our schools with air conditioning, and particularly for those children with respiratory challenges and their playgrounds need to be free of toxic environmental contaminants.