FirstLight Budget Reduction Stuns Lake Authority

After submitting its budget requests for the 2013/2014 fiscal year, officials at the Candlewood Lake Authority learned that FirstLight Power Resources intends to reduce its voluntary contribution to the Authority by up to $15,000 – providing an annual total of only $50,000. 

“We are stunned at Firstlight’s decision to reduce funding for Candlewood Lake, which is both the largest lake in Connecticut and an economic engine for the western Connecticut region,” said Larry Marsicano, executive director of the C.L.A.

In a letter to area leaders, FirstLight announced it reprioritized its funding with a goal of equalizing support for three nearby water bodies: Lake Lillinonah, Lake Zoar and Candlewood Lake. FirstLight also announced it planned to further reduce its contribution to the C.L.A. in future years.

“Additional funding for other water bodies should not come at the expense of our continuing efforts to protect the health and beauty of Candlewood Lake for all users,” he added.  “FirstLight is robbing Peter to pay Paul.”

Until this year, FirstLight was a full partner with the five Towns surrounding Candlewood Lake – Danbury, Brookfield, New Milford, Sherman and New Fairfield -- in providing equal share funding for the activities of the C.L.A.  This continued a practice established by CL&P, the long-time previous owner of the lake. 

And in surprising twist, rumors are now circulating that Town leaders subsequently met privately, and possibly with representatives of FirstLight, and without including C.L.A. officials, to discuss funding for the Authority.

Adverse Impact

“If FirstLight reduces its annual contribution, our efforts – to provide continuous water quality monitoring, public safety via the Marine Patrol, public outreach on the growing threat of invasive species, and innovative education and research for students -- will be stymied,” said Howie Berger, a Sherman resident and Chairman of the C.L.A.

He pointed out that a healthy and vibrant Candlewood Lake sustains property values for lakeside homeowners, generates revenues from real estate taxes for the five towns, and attracts visitors to local shops and businesses.  He also stressed C.L.A. plays a key role in protecting the valuable Vaughn’s Neck peninsula from residential development.

The C.L.A. has been nearly flat funded by the five towns and FirstLight for the past four years, according to Mr. Berger.  “Our budget request of $64,422 for the next fiscal year is actually $500 less than our request for the current year,” he said.

Arbitrary and Non-public

George Walker, a Brookfield Selectman who also serves as a board member for the Connecticut Federation of Lakes and lives on the shoreline of Lake Lillinonah, expressed displeasure at the suddenness of FirstLight’s announcement.  He also criticized the firm’s lack of commitment to the future health of Candlewood Lake and the veil of secrecy surrounding its decision and the aftermath.

“This funding decision is arbitrary and was made without any discussion with the C.L.A.,” he said.  “It appears to be part of a FirstLight strategy to substantially reduce financial support for the good work of C.L.A., which benefits the health of the Lake and the thousands of residents who rely on Candlewood for recreation.”

He also questioned the company’s newfound commitment to Lake Lillinonah and Lake Zoar, pointing out that FirstLight could just as easily reduce funds to those lakes in the future.

But he directed his most serious criticism to the secrecy surrounding FirstLight’s decision, and the rumored follow-up meetings of town leaders.  “This is completely the opposite of transparent government,” he said.  “FirstLight should have acted responsibly and discussed their plans openly with the C.L.A.”

“If the rumors are true, about town leaders holding meetings with FirstLight and excluding the C.L.A. as well as the public, the problem is only worse.  Those meetings reportedly dealt with the public funding of the C.L.A. and should have been open so all could hear what was being discussed and decided.”

Progress Jeopardized

“This is an especially critical time for the C.L.A.,” added Phyllis Schaer, another Sherman resident who serves as a delegate to the C.L.A. and heads up the Authority’s Zebra Mussel and Aquatic Invasive Species Task Force.

“We have led efforts to prevent zebra mussels from entering into Candlewood Lake from the nearby Housatonic River.  We have established an innovative partnership with the CT Dept. of Energy and Environmental Protection, and the Bureau of Reclamation in the U.S. Dept. of Interior, to spearhead very promising research with carbon dioxide that may prevent the further spread of zebra mussels along the entire length of Housatonic River.”

“We are aggressively exploring alternative measures, such as the introduction of sterile grass carp, to better control the acres of Eurasian watermilfoil that clog our shorelines.  This initiative is especially crucial and will help compensate for FirstLight’s intent to cease biennial deep drawdowns, which they announced in meetings with us.”

“This reduction in funding by FirstLight will undermine all those efforts and hamper our primary concerns with protecting water quality and assuring public safety on the Lake.”

A Repeat

Mrs. Schaer said she is hopeful that town leaders and area residents “will speak out as they did before when FirstLight attempted to reduce funding, and convince them of their error in judgment.”

Less than two years ago, and just weeks before the end of the fiscal year, management of FirstLight announced an even more drastic reduction in funding for the C.L.A.  At the time, the for-profit firm said it would contribute only $15,000 for the fiscal year just ending (creating an immediate deficit for the C.L.A.) and pledged nothing for the fiscal year about to start (creating yet another deficit.) 

That announcement was met with an outcry from town leaders and the public, including an editorial in the Danbury News-Times highly critical of FirstLight’s action.

As a result of the outcry, management at FirstLight reversed course and restored its funding for the C.L.A., which is the only regional agency that acts on behalf of the residents of the five Towns, as well as FirstLight, to protect the water quality of Candlewood Lake and assure public safety on the Lake.