By Fred Camillo
With apologies to the Chairman of the Board, and to the Windy City, Greenwich CT is my kind of town.
While we may not have a team called the Cubs, or a Wrigley building ( and Field ), we have just about everything else a town could wish for. Whether talking about our beautiful beaches, parks, and islands, a top of the line public golf course, a hospital, top rated first responders, an airport literally yards from the Town line, and proximity to New York City, Greenwich really does offer something for everyone, and then some! However, the thing that sticks out to me as our number one asset is our civic pride. Greenwich is second to none in citizen participation in a state that values citizen input and collaboration with businesses and organizations.
Our volunteers save us time and money, focus attention on specific issues, bring transparency to local government, highlight the skill sets of our residents, and bring the passion and excitement that comes with ideas and solution-based approaches to problems and issues.
Our private citizens and businesses as well as non-profits stand as willing partners in this endeavor that we call local government in Greenwich.
In December of 2019, our administration was faced with a lot of openings on the various boards, committees, and commissions. We were told that it would be hard to find people for all of the spots available. What we found out was that we had a lot of residents raising their hands to help out and after four and a half years and hundreds of interviews, we have steadily built a bench where we have positions filled and qualified and eager people waiting in the wings to be called upon to serve when future openings occur.
The most significant of all these volunteer efforts occurred early in the first term. The issue dated back to the last year of my predecessor’s term as First Selectman when the Ashforth Company approached the Town about swapping the Town’s air rights associated with Greenwich Plaza in exchange for certain improvements on the north and south side of the railroad tracks.
When the negotiations were presented during a meeting in Town Hall, a number of people expressed reservations about the value the Town’s consultant had placed on these air rights. As a result, since it was an election year, the negotiations were placed on hold until a new administration was in place.
Shortly after being elected, I created a committee to resume negotiations with the Ashforth Company. This was a bi-partisan group consisting of two members each from the BET and RTM. This group was able to secure the participation, on a volunteer basis, of local residents with significant private sector experience in the commercial real estate industry as owners, developers, investors and consultants.
This group of elected officials and volunteers began substantive negotiations with property owner/ developer over several months. In the end, both groups agreed that, as a result of their fiduciary obligations to their respective shareholder and taxpayer constituencies, the negotiations had reached an impasse. Both sides acknowledged that the negotiations had been substantive and respectful, and that there was the possibility that financial conditions might result in a desire for future negotiations.
Recently, Planning & Zoning approved the Ashforth Company’s proposal to redevelop and improve the commercial buildings it owns between Arch Street and Greenwich Avenue on the north side of the Metro North train tracks. A game changing project has begun that promises to transform the bottom of the Avenue where it intersects with Railroad Avenue. Greenwich Crossing will exhibit the vibrancy that we now see on Greenwich Avenue these past four years.
These various improvements are indicative of the desire of the Ashforth Company to maintain the value of its investment, as well as to contribute to the beautification of an important part of our downtown. I applaud their willingness to make this financial commitment and I know the Town will look forward to the possibility of future opportunities to work with them.
I also salute the hardworking volunteers who recognized the present and future value of this Town asset and acted in the best interests of our residents and taxpayers. Whether on special select committees and task forces such as this one, or other ones such the Energy Management Advisory Committee, Sustainability Committee, the Anti-Semetism and AntiHate Task Force as well as a few others we created since December of 2019, our volunteers continue to answer the call when asked to assist our beloved Town when opportunity arises. We remain grateful to them and proud of their efforts.
And each time I leave, Greenwich is
Tuggin’ my sleeve, Greenwich is
The beautiful harbor, Greenwich is
The vibrant Avenue, Greenwich is
One town that won’t let you down
It’s my kind of town.
-with thanks to Francis Albert Sinatra
Fred Camillo is First Selectman of Greenwich and a life-long resident.
