Page 32 - North Haven Magazine Issue 17 Winter 2021

A Message From

Michael J. Freda This year’s grand list only delivered an extra .4% . This
grand list growth equates to an incremental tax revenue
First Selectman of approximately $337,000 in new tax revenue so I am not
happy with myself and with that marginal performance.
n July of 1995, I walked into the sports facility at Cheshire
IHigh School to play a baseball doubleheader against one Here is the good news, I have lit a new fire within me and we
of our rivals. are off to a solid start and there will be no excuses made as
we move forward this calendar year.
Just as my teammates and I were getting ready to take the
field to warm up, our manager said “gentlemen can I have New projects on the horizon which will be coming to town
your attention please because I have two announcements include some you have heard about, and some that I will
to make”. share with you here.

We all paused and our manager Chris Pelkey said, “I Those new projects include:
received word last night that our Captain Mike Freda has
been selected to be the starting centerfielder for the National 1. A huge expansion at the Amazon facility within the
League in the annual all star game at Muzzy Field in Bristol building
next week. Also, the revised league stats have come in 2. A Five Guys restaurant coming to town
and Mike continues to lead the league in hitting batting an 3. A Jersey Mike’s store coming to Universal Drive
unbelievable .494.” 4. The construction beginning of the Hampton Inn Hotel on
Universal Drive
As my teammates were congratulating me, Manager Pelkey 5. A new bakery coming to the La Lupa plaza
said, “And Mike, would you like to say a few words?” 6. Ferraro’s Market which will be opening soon.
7. The expansion of an existing business in town, Praxair,
Without hesitation, I said…. “Thank you, Chris and I would which will be significant.
just like to say that I am still not satisfied with my performance
because hitting .494 means that I have failed over 50% of Other projects that I am involved with include trying to bring
the time and I have to do better.” a new Mexican Restaurant to town, an additional Starbucks
to the south side of town, and possible developmental
Baseball has always taught me a valuable lesson in how projects at the old Howard Jonson’s site and the site of the
to deal with failure because it is a very difficult sport to play old Parese Motors.
flawlessly in terms of getting a hit in every at bat, and playing
errorless ball in the field. Down through the years, I have had to contend with this
side of my personality that never is satisfied. It can be both
When I think back about that July day years ago, it really a positive and a negative.
served to define who I have been in business, in sports
and here in government. I am never satisfied and am I I use it to continue to have the fire and energy to never give
completely driven in the elusive pursuit of excellence. up and to never, ever be discouraged with all of the times
that I have failed in the pursuit of my goals.
I remain unsatisfied and I always am looking to improve and
to get better. This year’s grand list is a good example of that. As we move forward together, there will definitely be many
more games won than lost here in North Haven as we
Last year we had a record year in grand list growth and I was continue to pursue that very elusive goal of excellence in
still looking to improve but was unable to accomplish doing everything that we do.
better this year.
Sincerely,
Just prior to the pandemic, I had 37 major economic Michael Freda
development projects that I was personally involved with
that we were going to bring forward to our town. Then,
much like being hit by a high and inside fastball, Covid and
the pandemic hit hard and that subsequently curtailed those
projects as it took me some time to get back up out of the
batter’s box.
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In my mind, I failed.