First Selectman Fred Camillo stopped by the Retired Men’s Association last week to discuss his vision for Greenwich over the next decade.
Camillo, a Greenwich native and former State Representative for the 151st District, spoke about Greenwich’s rich history, and how it’s been a destination for thousands of people.
“It has a storied past. When you look at how to move Greenwich forward, how do you marry that vision of the past with a bright bold future?” he said.
Camillo pointed to Greenwich’s proximity to the city, the waterfront and shoreline, backcountry, and the town’s strong civil spirit. “How do we make these things even better?”
He first discussed the waterfront, and how to maximize perhaps the town’s most valuable asset. Last week, he said he put in a request for a proposal that would redesign Roger Sherman Baldwin Park.
“It doesn’t really flow that well, and it’s really an economic driver. It needs a bit of a redo. That should be the centerpiece of downtown, but it’s not. It could be a lot better,” Camillo remarked.
Part of the redevelopment of the waterfront would involve demolishing a building near the park that’s used for Parks & Rec operations.
Camillo also wants to connect Greenwich Avenue to the waterfront.
“Greenwich Avenue is such a beautiful place and venue, but we could do better there, too, and we could connect it to the waterfront. You want to drive people to and from both places.”
A Town Properties Committee has been paneled which will look at Roger Sherman Baldwin Park, but also the Board of Education building off the Avenue. Camillo noted that Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Toni Jones, is open to moving locations.
“Whatever you think of where we should put government offices, they shouldn’t be on Greenwich Avenue. It’s nobody’s fault, it’s been there for decades. If we don’t start taking on these things now, when are we going to do it?” Camillo said.
Camillo touched on the controversial Pay As You Throw (PAYT) initiative. Under the plan, residents would use town issued garbage bags at either $1.25 or $2 depending on the size. Officials have said it would cut down on waste and encourage recycling, while guarding against the increased cost of recycling.
However, a day after Camillo’s talk at the RMA when the Board of Selectmen was scheduled to vote on the PAYT ordinance, Camillo pulled the item off the agenda in order get more people on board with the plan.
The Greenwich Plaza proposal was also a topic that Camillo spoke about. Plans for a redevelopment of the plaza and the Greenwich train station are on hold, as the deal surrounding the plaza is complicated due to the involvement of air rights.
Camillo created a committee of six people to further understand how deals involving air rights work.
“My job as I see it is to do everything I can to redo the train station, but to protect the taxpayers,” Camillo said.
The issue of removing police officers from Greenwich Avenue came up in Camillo’s talk. Camillo, who has a plan to remove officers from the Avenue, said the town loses police recruits when they find out they have to direct traffic.
“Police are directing traffic from 9 a.m., to 5 p.m., but they’re not there before 9, and there after 5. On Sundays they’re not there at all, and Sundays have the most vehicular traffic on the Avenue,” Camillo said, noting that he discovered Sundays have the least amount of accidents.
The First Selectman’s Safety Committee will look at pedestrian safety. Camillo said he’d like to see cops return to walking a downtown beat, which would improve public safety.
Camillo commented that Greenwich needs to keep what has worked, but that it’s time to retool and look forward to the future in order to maximize town assets and meet challenges that come down from the state, even if there are some headaches along the way.
“I said I would treat my first term like it was my last, and at the end of that term if the voters think I did I good job, then and only then would I think about a second term,” he said. “If you go to sleep at night knowing that you’re doing what you think is best in your heart for the town, then I’m ok with that.”
The full video of Camillo’s appearance at the RMA is available at greenwichrama.org.
