Fairfield Selectpersons Table Raises For First Selectperson Position

FAIRFIELD, CT — A proposed compensation package for the position of First Selectperson in Fairfield was tabled by the Board of Selectpersons on Monday, after questions arose over what happened to a health insurance cost-sharing plan that was not enacted four years ago.

On July 1, the salary for the position of First Selectperson in Fairfield was $148,721, and over the next four years, the proposal called for the position to receive salary increases of:

• 2.5 percent on July 1, 2024
• 2.5 percent on July 1, 2025
• 2.25 percent on July 1, 2026
• 2.25 percent on July 1, 2027

The compensation for the two Selectperson positions, currently at $12,000 annually, would not change under the proposal.

Every four years, the compensation package for the members of the Board of Selectpersons is reviewed by the bipartisan Compensation Recommendation Committee, which proposes the salaries.

This year, the committee Chair was Board of Finance member John Mitola (D), who was joined by fellow BOF member James Walsh (R), and Representative Town Meeting members Ed Bateson (R) and Sharon Pistilli (D).

"We looked at compensation for the surrounding communities, and agreed to these modest increases to stay competitive," Mitola told the board during Monday's meeting, concerning the First Selectperson's raises. "With inflation, we thought these increases were justified."

The proposal calls for a health insurance cost-sharing plan, in which the position will contribute 18 percent to health insurance, which is more than what unionized town employees contribute.

But four years ago, a proposal was made that cost sharing would be 20 percent and increase by 1 percentage point over the four years to 24 percent, according to Mitola. However, it was never enacted.

"That's very disconcerting," said Selectman Tom Flynn, a sentiment echoed by Selectperson Nancy Lefkowitz. Neither objected to the proposed raises, but toth want answers as to what happened.

"It's a systemic problem, and part of the financial control issues that need to be looked at," Lefkowitz said as to why the higher cost-sharing plan was not implemented.

"We owe it to the community to find out," Lefkowitz added. "It's not a small matter."

The past proposal was made during the administration of former First Selectman Mike Tetreau. But as pointed out by current First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick, finding the answer might prove to be difficult. Kupchick was not voted into office until the fall of 2019, after the compensation package was approved; she said that she did not know about the cost-sharing plan that was not enacted.

During her tenure, Kupchick's salary has only increased 2.5 percent over the four years, according to Mitola.

Fairfield's former Human Resource Director and town Chief Financial Officer, Emmet Hibson and Robert Mayer, respectively, are facing criminal charges under the fill pile scandal, and are no longer with the town. Both were with the town four years ago when the cost-sharing plan was not implemented.

The current compensation proposal is slated to be discussed at the Board of Selectperson's next meeting on Sept. 11, once the HR Department explores why the cost-sharing plan was not enacted four years ago.