As we begin the New Year, I’m pleased to announce that New Fairfield has received two grants benefitting our police, fire and communications departments.  New Fairfield has been awarded a $2.1 million Congressionally Directed Spending Grant through Congresswoman Jahana Hayes to update our aging Emergency Radio Communications System.  This funding will allow New Fairfield to upgrade its emergency communications infrastructure to current standards, including 3 radio antenna sites, 116 portable radios, and 72 mobile radios.  Our project is one of 15 community projects sponsored by Congresswoman Hayes, and I offer many thanks to her and to her staff for including this project in the federal appropriations bill.   I would also like to thank our Communications Advisory Committee for their technical assistance, and I look forward to working with them to complete this project.   The New Fairfield Community Foundation has also awarded the Town a $250,000 grant toward the purchase of a dispatch console to replace our existing console which has reached end of life.   Many thanks to Dana Welles and the New Fairfield Community Foundation for their efforts to secure this grant supporting Public Safety in New Fairfield.