The Penfield mess is disgusting; it never had to develop into this. The taxpayers have built it now TWICE! Yes, storm Sandy damaged it— that we know. And EVERYBODY knows the Town looks to the state and Federal Government to help rebuild. FEMA said”yes”, we’ll help. They offered a $4.2 million grant; FEMA approved the build design and scope. Then the Town, on its own, changed the foundation design and scope.

Now,  everybody on the beach knows the Town doesn’t let you change anything without their permission.But the town changed the design, knowing that FEMA did not approve, and built the building, to “just get it done”, putting into jeopardy the $4.0 million grant and the FEMA sponsored Flood Insurance Rating for all the affected homeowners. 

FEMA notified the town many times that we were in violation; FEMA denied the promised grant money, and now, six years later, the consequences if the town ignoring FEMA  and their refs are haunting Fairfield. 

last week FEMA explained to the Town Hall meeting that they notified the town ; that they denied the Town’s two(2)  Appeals, and that I the Flood Insurance Rating System is now being downgraded because if the Violation; and the Town may well face suspension from future FEMA programs.

The Town asked for “more time— we have to prepare a budget.” “No”, said FEMA, there is no more time— you’ve had six years to come up with an acceptable  plan to fix this— and you’ve done nothing (haven’t they ‘prepared a budget’ every year since tge violation?)”

FEMA likely did not know that the taxpayers and homeowners of Fairfield were being kept in the dark about this whole mess. In 2017, when the Penfield Building Committee raised concerns about the changes and the impact to the FEMA agreement, nothing was said to the taxpayers. When the Town filed the first appeal to FEMA, which was denied— nothing was told to the homeowners; when FEMA denied the SECOND appeal in 2019x again, nothing was said to the residents. When The former Selectman took off and was replaced by the new administration— again, NOTHING was said to the homeowners, taxpayers, residents that the Town was in violation and had to fix the foundation issues if Flood Insurance was in trouble. Maybe they thought they could cover everything up with the “fill pile issue”; maybe they thought the homeowners don’t care about Flood Insurance; maybe they thought the could cover it up with the next big storm—who knows? 

But, the homeowners and Insurance rate payers, and taxpayers deserve to understand these issues, and are entitled to clearly see viable options, correctly priced out, and deserve to have input in whatever decision the Town  takes. To be given Two bad choices, and told “take it or leave it— option one or option two-we just need to get this done,” is not responsive. When FEMA sees that the stake holders have not been informed of the Town’s shenigzn’s for six years, they may be receptive to allowing a fair time for townspeople involvement.

Please sign the petition and send to all friends/ relatives/ business owners in Fairfield. Thank you,

Hugh Dolan