FAIRFIELD — First Selectman Bill Gerber says he is "doing fine" following a brain tumor diagnosis.
Gerber, 60, said in a Monday morning call from Yale New Haven Hospital that he doesn’t know the severity of his condition and is planning to have a biopsy surgery later this week. For now, he said he’s setting his sights on returning to his desk as soon as possible.
"That’s my hope," Gerber said. "We don’t really know what kind of tumor it is yet."
Gerber said concerns about his condition weren’t raised until Saturday, when he felt physically off balance.
"I tripped a couple of times and dropped a few things, so my wife took me to the emergency room," he said.
That’s when a CT scan was conducted and a mass was found, he said.
Despite the situation, Gerber has remained upbeat and optimistic. When discussing his current condition, Gerber said, "I’m walking around and I’m doing everything normally. I can think clearly."
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He also credited his support system, especially his wife, Jessica, who was at the hospital, by his side.
"My wife is the best person in the world," he said.
Gerber then thanked his staff and said "things are going to be alright."
Fairfield Communications Director Lisa Clair said in a statement Sunday night that Selectman Christine Vitale would temporarily fill Gerber's role while he undergoes medical evaluation.
"In accordance with the provisions of the Town Charter, and to ensure continued leadership and stability during his absence, First Selectman Gerber has designated Selectman Christine Vitale to serve as acting first selectman, effective immediately," Clair said.
Vitale ran alongside Gerber in the November 2023 election but they’ve "known each other for years," he said.
Gerber said Vitale "is a close friend," having worked alongside his wife on Fairfield’s Board of Education for six years until winning the selectman seat.
Even while hospitalized, Gerber passionately dove into the work he and his staff have done toward improving street safety, which he said was a high priority to him.
Gerber said he gets worried about his 90-year-old father-in-law, who moved to Fairfield about five years ago, because of the lack of pedestrian accessibility.
"He said walking around Fairfield, there’s a lot of dangerous spots and crossing the street is very dangerous for him. And it shouldn't be," Gerber said.
Gerber addressed the five pedestrian deaths that have occurred in town since 2020, and the most recent hit-and-run on June 21 on Post Road that resulted in the death of 25-year-old Juan Otilio Tista Tista, of Bridgeport. Police said the driver was found but hasn't been identified and the crash is still under investigation.
He brought up various actions he's taken throughout his term to make Fairfield's streets safer, including last week’s launch of a "Safe Streets" Campaign, which includes outreach and education on safe driving and personal responsibility on the road.
"We’ve had a number of deaths in Fairfield from people crossing Black Rock Turnpike. I felt it was important to do," Gerber said.
Gerber took other measures for street safety, including: installed the town’s first roundabout earlier this year at the intersection of Redding and Dunham roads; acquired more than $1.2 million in state grants to improve pedestrian walkability in various areas of town; signed the Vision Zero Pledge in December; and passed a "Safe and Livable Streets" ordinance in late 2023 to better enforce the town's Complete Streets Policy.
"We’ve done a lot of really, really amazing things," Gerber said. "I’m really looking forward to next year and I’m hoping to get back really quickly."
This story includes previous reporting by staff writer Josh LaBella.