Fairfield Email On Proposed UI Monopole Project Draws Criticism
FAIRFIELD, CT — A recent “deeper dive” look at the proposed United Illuminating monopole project in Fairfield has been removed from the town’s website, following criticism of at least one edited image in the document, Patch has learned.
The message was emailed by First Selectman Bill Gerber to constituents last week, and called for residents to stay engaged in the fight against the proposed project.
“Without question, this issue affects the entire Town and our quality of life for years to come,” wrote Gerber, a Democrat who was elected to office in November.
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On Wednesday afternoon, the link to the lengthy message was not active on the town’s website, instead taking readers to a note from the email platform Mailchimp.
“You probably found this page because one of our subscribers used Mailchimp to send you an email campaign and you traced a link in the email back here to investigate,” the note read, in part.
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In an email Wednesday to Gerber, former Republican Representative Town Member Pamela Iacono questions an image depicted in the deeper dive of a home cut in half to make room for the project.
“On Friday, a town-wide email was distributed featuring a photo purporting to depict the impact of a monopole on a residence,” Iacono wrote in the email, obtained by Patch. “Unfortunately, it has come to my attention that this image is, in fact, misleading and does not accurately represent the situation.”
Iacono reached out to UI for clarification about the image, and company spokesperson Leslie Downey said the doctored image is “not accurate at all.”
“UI is not demolishing anyone’s home or business in full or in part,” Downey wrote in an email reply to Iacono. “UI is requesting easements to maintain clearances for safety. If the Project is approved, UI will work with all residents and businesses individually to minimize impacts.”
The proposed UI project calls for the construction of dozens of tall monopoles that will carry high voltage transmission lines through parts of Fairfield and Bridgeport. According to UI, some poles would exceed 150 feet in the air.
UI says that the project is necessary to modernize and harden its system, but Fairfield residents, including a grassroots group, oppose the project, due to its potential impact on the community.
“By endorsing and approving such communications, we risk compromising the town’s credibility,” Iacono wrote. “Using town resources to disseminate inaccurate information is a serious concern that undermines the trust we place in our local government and in this instance may very well harm our fight against the monopole project proposal.”
Patch reached out to Lisa Clair, Fairfield’s communications director, for comment, but did not immediately receive a reply.
Iacono says that Clair is responsible for sending out the deeper dive message.
“I urge you to take immediate action in rectifying this situation and ask that Lisa Clair issue a retraction and correction, acknowledging the inaccuracies in the previously shared depiction,” Iacono wrote. “I also strongly encourage you to reconsider the use of a paid spokesperson for the town, a role you were elected to handle as First Selectman, especially when potential misinformation is being sent out under your name when a paid communications director is involved.”
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