Concerns Voiced Over Ongoing Penfield Pavilion Situation In Fairfield

FAIRFIELD, CT — Roughly 1,800 Fairfield homeowners who are in the National Flood Insurance Program could lose a 10 percent discount on their premiums due to the ongoing saga over contaminated fill under the Penfield Pavilion at Fairfield's Penfield Beach.

Town officials hope to avoid that scenario by getting an extension from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. But unless the town government can act before the end of March, FEMA will begin notifying insurance companies in the flood program that Fairfield's community rating could be downgraded.

If the town's rating is downgraded, homeowners will lose the discount.

Representatives from FEMA joined town officials Thursday evening at a Town Hall Meeting at Fairfield Ludlowe High School about the pavilion's situation, which drew a crowd of more than 100 residents.

The fill under the pavilion contains toxic polychlorinated biphenyls, which needs to be removed, and after that, the town essentially has two options moving forward, repair the pavilion or tear it down and replace it with nothing or something smaller.

Years ago, FEMA issued a Notice of Violation against the town due to incorrect construction, but now the agency wants to see progress toward a resolution of the problems with the pavilion.

In the first option, removing the contaminated fill, repairing the pavilion and meeting FEMA requirements to remove the Notice of Violation would cost the town about $11.5 million, according to officials.

If the town decides to tear down the pavilion and either not replace the building or replace it with something smaller, the estimated cost is about $8.5 million. In either scenario, the contaminated fill has to be removed at a cost of $4 million to $5 million.

"To me, it makes the most sense to remove the fill under the building and repair the grade beams," said First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick.

Attendees Thursday voiced their frustrations over the situation, with some pointing a finger at the past administration for the mess, and others wanting to know the cost per taxpayer of each scenario.

Seven people, most of whom are former town officials, were arrested in part due to the pavilion situation. One of the defendants, former public works director Joe Michelangelo, has pleaded guilty in the case, and will testify against the others.