Politics & Government

Municipal Area Dedicated to Past Town Manager

Stephen A. Flis sign posted at end of Monteith Drive.

There’s a new sign out at the end of Monteith Drive. It looks much like the old sign, except it's blue and it’s engraved with the name of a man who has left his signature on the Town of Farmington through 30 years as town manager.

Town Council members, past chairmen and residents gathered Tuesday night to honor Stephen A. Flis for his work in guiding the development of the town, seeing Farmington through the flood of 1955, and going out of his way to help everyone he knew.

Past Town Council Chairmen Michael B. Andreas, Gerard O. Haviland and George M. Reider, Jr. initiated the move to name the municipal common for the Flis, who was town manager during their chairmanships.

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Current Town Council Chairman Mike Clark shared what he learned about Flis when he first took a seat on the council.

“I remember turning to Kathy and Jeff Hogan and some of the council members and saying, ‘whoever thought up the design of this town was a genius because Farmington, if you think about how it’s set up – we’ve got the core with the neighborhoods and the high school, and it’s got the ring of industrial base …’ and I was told, ‘Steve Flis designed this.’ It’s fabulous.”

Find out what's happening in Farmingtonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Andreas read the proclamation: “Whereas Stephen A. Flis … acted quickly to establish order and prevent further devastation when the waters of the Farmington River rose to flood stage and brought a major disaster to Unionville businesses, personal property and to our town residents and whereas following the aftermath of the ’55 flood and throughout his career, Stephen A. Flis was instrumental in attracting new business to Farmington by supporting and encouraging redevelopment …”

The proclamation mentions his work overseeing the construction of the Farmington Industrial Park and the UConn Medical and Dental Schools as well as the bridge to replace the “failed Meadow Road bridge,” his work to preserve open space and serving as a “stabilizing force during the three decades he served as town manager” and finally thanked “Flis for his selfless dedication and immeasurable contribution and commitment to the town of Farmington and its residents.”

Flis served in World War II at the Battle of the Bulge, adored his family and served them by working tirelessly, and thoughtfully made sure residents who were too old to shovel snow, didn’t have to, Haviland and Reider said.

It’s fitting, Clark said, that when people come to conduct business with the town, they’ll be reminded of Flis.


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