Emergency Service Agreement Delays Magnet School Vote

The $126 million interdistrict Magnet School proposed for Fairchild Memorial Park remains undecided, but Trumbull has 65 days from Feb. 16 to vote on it.

The Planning and Zoning Commission chose to postpone the vote at its Feb. 16 meeting because of lack of a ratified emergency services agreement with Bridgeport. That puts the deadline in May, but officials hope to decide it sooner than that.

"Things have come down really to the last minute," said Trumbull Town Attorney Robert Nicola, adding that Bridgeport has "engaged in lengthy discussions with the Trumbull Center Fire Department."

"I believe it's signed but not approved" by the Trumbull zoning board and Town Council and the Bridgeport City Council, he said.

Under the proposal, Bridgeport is offering to handle emergency calls at the school and will pay to install a water line to serve the school and the Quarry Road area of Trumbull. Without an agreement certified by both Trumbull and Bridgeport, the school would fall under Trumbull's jurisdiction.

The board can receive a one-time, 65-day extension.

"If you don't grant the extension, I imagine there's a problem," Nicola said.

Board Vice Chairwoman Arlyne Fox renewed her objections to the proposal.

Located in the park, the school would house three magnets of 500 students each, teaching Information Technology, Aerospace and Natural Science. The state would pay to build it with existing funds set aside several years ago, and it would contain green technology for heating, cooling and power. Seventy percent of the students would come from Bridgeport.

Fox likes the idea, but not the location, citing risk of tick-borne diseases, among other reasons. She said there are still loose ends.

"The project shows no benefit to the residents of Trumbull, absolutely none. If anything goes wrong, it's our problem. It's our property. We are really opening ourselves up to a can of worms," she said.

Board member Fred Garrity said "with the magnitude of this program, I'm in favor of the extension."

"It's going to be ours to deal with. This was not Trumbull's idea," Fox responded.

If the panel approves the school, Town Planner Bill Levin has suggested about a dozen conditions. Construction will involve several weeks of rock crushing and hauling.

Some park neighbors oppose it because of the noise and increased traffic on Quarry Road and Old Town Road.

A Town Council Committee meets Monday to discuss the proposed agreement and make a recommendation to the full council.