2025 Candidates for
Board of Finance (BOF)
Meet our 2025 Candidates for Board of Finance.
Board of Finance Team
Brendan Lynch. Jim Meyers. David Pelsue
Our Plan for Fairfield
Jim Meyers, Brendan Lynch, and David Pelsue are experienced corporate professionals who will provide fiscal discipline and responsible oversight as members of the Board of Finance. They will make smart, meaningful investments in education, strengthen our town with forward-looking investments in public safety and infrastructure, and protect tax relief for seniors.
Fiscal Discipline & Responsible Oversight
Fairfield residents deserve accountability and transparency in how their tax dollars are spent. As your voice on the Board of Finance, we will restore responsible financial management and eliminate wasteful practices that undermine trust.
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Stop Fiscal Mismanagement: An internal audit revealed that hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars were misappropriated under the Gerber/Vitale administration in direct violation of town purchasing policies. We will restore accountability by strengthening our town’s purchasing policies, providing greater oversight of administrative regulations regarding expenditures, and requesting that a second internal auditor be reinstated in the budget to enforce protocols.
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Property Taxes: With home values rising sharply, the next revaluation could lead to significant increases in property taxes. We will work collaboratively to lower the mill rate, offsetting higher assessments and protecting taxpayers.
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Car Taxes: The majority party on the Board of Finance voted to impose a higher motor vehicle tax rate on families. As a result, families saw sharp increases in car taxes this year, which were exacerbated by the administration's switch from two-tax payment installments to a single lump sum. We will push to restore two installments and fight for a fairer tax rate.
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Bonding & Capital Expenditures: The BOF approved the Police Department renovation for $1.5 million. Without approval, the administration attempted to alter plans at substantial cost to taxpayers. We will immediately request a thorough audit of all capital project expenditures over the past two years to ensure compliance with approvals for all capital projects.
Smart, Meaningful Investments in Education
Fairfield’s schools are the foundation of our community. Our children deserve the very best, and our teachers need the resources and respect to deliver it. We will prioritize investments that directly benefit students and classrooms, not bureaucracy.
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Making Education a Top Priority: The Gerber/Vitale administration proposed an initial town budget with an over $3M education cut. Our role as fiscal stewards is to strike a balance between oversight and support. While we cannot rubber-stamp, we must be careful not to undermine educational objectives. We support our dedicated teachers and will ensure they have the tools they need to succeed in meeting the needs of all children.
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Supporting Long-term Capital Investments in Schools: We must commit to having safe and healthy school buildings and support the phased-in approach to funding air conditioning in schools that lack it. We also recognize that planning for the future is essential and acknowledge that investing in the Dwight Elementary School campus is crucial to the success of the educational program for Fairfield’s children.
Strength for Our Town: Public Safety & Infrastructure
Safe neighborhoods and reliable infrastructure are essential to Fairfield’s future. We will make forward-looking investments that will keep our community strong.
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Providing First Responders with the Tools They Need: Fairfield’s police, fire, and emergency services must have the necessary resources to keep our community safe. Yet the administration has delayed union contract negotiations. We will push for timely agreements that promote fairness and align with budget goals.
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Investment in Road Safety and Critical Infrastructure Projects: We need to plan responsibly for long-term growth while preserving Fairfield’s character and quality of life. Crumbling sidewalks and poorly designed projects, like the dysfunctional roundabout on Redding Road, are unacceptable. We will review Fairfield’s long-term paving and sidewalk plan to ensure safer streets and smarter spending. At the same time, Fairfield’s wastewater treatment plant is in urgent need of upgrades and repair. While these projects are expensive and must be balanced against other community needs, they can no longer be ignored. We will prioritize responsible planning, phasing, and funding to make sure these critical improvements are addressed without burdening taxpayers.
Protecting Tax Relief for Seniors
Rising property taxes are forcing too many seniors to consider leaving Fairfield, the community in which they’ve built their lives. We will help seniors stay in their homes by protecting existing tax relief programs and exploring a local tax freeze to cap increases for qualifying residents, as other states have done.”
Transparency You Can Trust
We believe Fairfield residents deserve openness in government. That means:
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Real-time updates on budget and spending decisions, no backroom dealings.
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Public accountability for how funds are allocated, no more rubber-stamps.
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Clear communication with residents every step of the way, with an opportunity for public comment before each voting item.
Get Involved
Fairfield’s future depends on strong leadership and community support. Join us in restoring fiscal discipline, strengthening our schools, and protecting our town. Vote Row B: Meyers, Lynch, and Pelsue for Board of Finance.