Fairfield Selectman Donating Salary To Coronavirus Relief Efforts

FAIRFIELD, CT — A Fairfield selectman has decided to donate his town salary to help families and businesses survive and recover from the new coronavirus outbreak.

Selectman Tom Flynn makes about $12,000 annually — or just over $800 per month after tax —for the part-time elected position, he said. He has pledged half his town salary to Fairfield-based nonprofit Operation Hope and half to a fund for businesses that have had to close or limit operations as part of a state order intended to slow the spread of the virus, also called COVID-19.

“I just felt that it was appropriate that I lead by example as a selectman and contribute,” Flynn said.

Flynn was inspired by others in the community, he said, including Fairfield residents Alexis Harrison, Helene Daly and Heather Dubrosky, who have held a drive every Sunday for the past month, collecting food and gift cards for Operation Hope.

In addition to its food pantry, Operation Hope also provides Fairfielders with other food and housing services.

The remainder of Flynn’s salary is being donated to a fund started by Parag Patel, the owner of Turnpike Spirit Shop. As a state-determined essential business, Patel’s shop can stay open, while many restaurants, gyms and salons are required to remain completely or partially closed until May 20. Patel keeps a bucket at his checkout counter, where customers can round up their purchase total or donate however much they want to help support Fairfield businesses affected by the virus closure order.

As of Saturday, eight COVID-19 patients in Fairfield had died and the town had 173 confirmed cases. Across Connecticut, 11,510 residents had been confirmed to have the virus as of Saturday and 494 had died, according to state data.

Flynn said he will also donate separately to the town’s Fairfield COVID-19 Relief Fund, which was established after he committed to the other causes. The relief fund was created to assist residents affected by the outbreak.