Fairfield Hills Master Plan Review Committee

The 2018 Fairfield Hills Master Plan Review Committee

Focus and Membership

The Fairfield Hills 2005 Master Plan instituted a 5 year review process that continued with the 2013 update. The Board of Selectmen have appointed the following ten Newtown citizens to review all aspects of the plan, including vision, uses, and underlying assumptions. First, the committee intends to review every aspect of the plan by inviting those with interest or experience to our meetings for discussion, culminating in a public meeting early in 2019. We then will investigate and implement public engagement activities that leverage the findings from the prior discussions. We hope to have these activities start in the early spring.

Deborra Zukowski (Chair)

Deb and her family moved to Newtown in July, 2002. Her husband, a college professor and volunteer weed-whacker, enjoys tending paths in the Newtown Forest Association’s Nettleton property. Their daughters, Claire and Sadie, graduated from Newtown High School in 2006 and 2008.

After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from MIT and working over 30 years in hi-tech research and development as a computer and information systems engineer, Deb retired in 2011 to have time to pursue volunteer work and pet projects. She has been a school and community volunteer for over 12 years, participating in almost a dozen committees, including the 2010 FFH Master Plan Revision Committee and the 2012 FFH Master Plan Workgroup. She is now a sitting member on the Newtown Cultural Arts Commission as well as the 2018 FFH Master Plan Review Committee.

Neil Chaudhary, PhD (Vice-Chair)

Neil Chaudhary holds a PhD in experimental psychology.  He owns a small business that focuses on traffic safety research.  He is or has been a member of several standing committees for the National Academies of Science and Engineering’s Transportation Research Board. He has held several positions for the Town of Newtown.  He was a member of the Legislative Council for 5 years where he served as vice chairman of the Council and chairman of the education committee.  He was a member of Newtown’s Tickborne disease action committee and the committee charged to explore regionalization of emergency dispatch services for the Town.  He served as the Legislative Council’s Liaison to the public safety committee (related to Garner Correctional Facility) and still serves on that committee.

Bob Bowen

Originally from Pennsylvania, but a longtime Connecticut resident, Bob moved with his wife and three daughters to Newtown from Danbury in August of 2017. Since moving here, he has done volunteer work for the Newtown Forrest Association and is also a current VP of Education for a local Toastmasters club. When not at work, Bob enjoys getting outside as much as possible and can be found on local trails and roads, training for 5ks and half marathons. Bob’s focus since moving to town has been him to explore and discover which has led him to such lesser known spots such as Al’s Trail and the Catherine Violet Hubbard Animal Sanctuary. His main interest in volunteering for this board was to try set the strategic plan that would help shape the future Fairfield Hills as it could be a regional attraction.

Bryan Roth, AAMS

Bryan moved to Newtown with his family in 2006.  His wife, Dana, is a private college counselor. His children, Eliza (15) and Lewis (13), go to Newtown public schools.  Bryan is a Financial Advisor that runs the Edward Jones branch on Church Hill Rd. and he also owns the Big Buddha Cigar Lounge in Hawleyville.  Bryan sits on the Board of Directors for Newtown REACH and the Newtown Chamber of Commerce.  With deep roots now in Newtown, it's important to him that Fairfield Hills grows and becomes a destination for all town residents.  Setting the groundwork through this committee is an integral part of the process and he has volunteered to be part of it. 

Chandravir Ahuja

Chand and his wife Roberta moved to Sandy Hook with their boys in the summer of 2003. Both their boys, Akash (2015) and Ravi (2018) graduated from Newtown High 

Roberta is a ceramic artist - and has always been an active volunteer in town since we moved here, currently serving with FISH of Newtown and Meals on Wheels. 

Chand has spent his entire career in the commodity trading business. He is actively volunteering in several organizations and is especially passionate for showing hospitality to international students at the University of Bridgeport via Bridges International. 

It is a privilege to serve the community we live in.

Doug Smith

Doug Smith has lived in Newtown since 2015 when he moved with his wife and two children back home from Philadelphia.  After growing up in neighboring Brookfield, he attended undergrad at St. Lawrence University in Upstate New York, and then medical school and residency in Philly.

He lives with his family in the Taunton area of town, and works as an Emergency Physician at Danbury Hospital. As a Newtowner with a young family, he is excited to be involved in helping shape the development of the beautiful Fairfield Hills campus, and the huge present and future benefits this resource provides to the town's residents.

Gary MacRae

Gary MacRae, recently retired, and his wife Michelle have been Newtown Residents for the past 22 years. His youngest daughter, Courtney, is a 2001 graduate of Newtown High School.

He has been a CIO and top-level information technology leader for several billion dollar domestic and international retailers. Gary’s background combines technology as a certified software developer, leadership as a past officer in the Massachusetts Army National Guard, and business acumen with retail CIO experience and an MBA from Boston College.

Gary’s business passion has been to leverage the power of technology solutions to drive business profitability and improve the customer experience.

Robert Rau

Bob has had a long and varied career in the chemical industry, including management responsibilities in the areas of research, technical service, product management, manufacturing, sales, and strategic planning. He was also the vice president for the chemical division of a major US conglomerate, with an $800M budget. He holds a MS/PhD in Chemistry.

Bob has been active in service, both nationally as a 1rst Lt in the USAF R&D Command and locally as a member of the Economic Development Commission for 7 years - 3 of those as its chair - as well as a driver for Meals on Wheels for 5 years.

Jeffrey Jorgenson
 Rob Sherwood

 

 

 

 

Members

Chandravir Ahuja (R)

Bob Bowen (D)

Jeffrey Jorgenson (R)

Gary MacRae (R)

Robert Rau (R)

Bryan Roth (U)

Rob Sherwood (D)

Doug Smith (D)