Stern Village Resident Defends Tenants' Association

The following is a letter to the editor. 

“The Tenants’ Association at Stern Village, Trumbull, is very much alive and thriving contrary to public remarks made at the Trumbull Housing Authority’s board meeting, Monday,” said Paul G. Littlefield, the organizations founder and officer.

Littlefield responded to Robert Lewis’ statement to the THA Board of Commissioners that the Association was “being phased out, that we don’t need it.” Lewis had been elected President of the Association in June by the Association’s board of directors.

According to Littlefield, “the Association’s board had not authorized, discussed or supported Lewis’ statement about dissolving the Association. He did that own his own.” Littlefield noted that the THA Executive Director, Harriet Polansky, applauded Lewis’ remarks.

As far as the organization’s existence is concerned, Littlefield noted that, since January, 2013, it has been recognized by the THA, the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority, the new state Department of Housing, the Connecticut Housing Coalition and the Public Housing Residential Network. Littlefield added, “The Tenants’ Association will continue as long as the THA exists.”

Stern Village and the Henry S. Stern Center congregate facility are subsidized low-income elderly and disabled housing created and built through state financing. The facilities and the land are owned by the State of Connecticut. The facilities are managed by a local board of commissioners, the THA, which hires staff for day to day operations. 

The THA Commissioners are appointed by the appointing authority of the Town of Trumbull. State and federal law provides for one of the five commissioners to be nominated and elected by the tenants. The SVTA is a legal entity, separate and distinct from the THA. The organization is autonomous with its own Bylaws.

Paul Littlefield