In Kathleen Griffin's idealized version of Fairfield, the people would welcome the third train station with open arms and enter a contest to name the station.

Back when she served on the Representative Town Meeting, on more than one occasion she talked about turning the station on Commerce Drive from being a lightning rod for contentious dialogue to one we could welcome.

More recently, once again a private citizen, Kathleen has brought the notion up anew. She has decided to force the town to have a discussion over whether or not we're comfortable with the current moniker: Metro Center.

"Does the name 'Metro Center' really conjure up an image we want people to have of Fairfield?" Kathleen wrote in a letter to the editor, sent to all the town's newspapers. "Would you like it if the Metro North train schedule read 'Greens Farms, Southport, Fairfield, Metro Center'? I know that I wouldn't. And I think that we as a town, along with our selectmen and our state representatives, need to lobby the state to change it."

Chatting with Kathleen about this last week, she recalled, "I first brought it up to [First Selectman Ken] Flatto some time back. I did it because I think towns are like businesses and products should market themselves and reflect what they want to be about.

"This train station, with a name like Metro Center, does not, I think, reflect how we want people to think about Fairfield. The train station, like the other two, is the first thing seen by people coming into the area."

The 35.5-acre parcel that comprises the station, parking and land for private development is set along Ash Creek and nearly one-third of the space is actually going to be open space, very un-Metro.

"Ken said he'd actually like to do something but Fairfield is not in charge," she continued. The state has control over the naming, and apparently, the Metro Center name came up early and has stuck despite its lack of formal appointment.

"Ken's latest comment was to wait for a new governor and maybe that's the time to try and get naming turned over to the town," Kathleen added. "I don't know if the state cares or does not care. I don't know if the developer cares and if we can force the development to take on the look of the station to work in harmony with the name."

When I asked Flatto about this, he responded, "I have written and asked the DOT to consider a new train station name fitting for our community heritage such as Fairfield Grasmere station, and the state has indicated they are open to suggestions but wish to wait until the station nears completion in mid-late 2011."

The State Department of Transportation did not return repeated calls.

"Fairfield could do a survey and give people a say. Let people voice their opinion," Griffin said. Apparently, the people in town have also given this some thought because she mentioned that three times in the last few weeks people asked her about this issue – all prior to her letter being sent.

And what would she name it? "I like Ash Creek after reading your column [about the Commerce Area study.] It really will become a beautiful part of town with walking trails and green space. We're a beach community, so Ash Creek works."

Given its proximity to the border between Fairfield and Bridgeport, many have considered calling the station Black Rock but Kathleen said, "Ken doesn't want Black Rock because people will think of the Bridgeport area while the station is still in Fairfield. I think the region has cute houses and it's a nice neighborhood within walking distance to train. And there's also Black Rock Turnpike so that would tie things together, but I can understand his town pride coming through."

Since this is a state matter, I asked our three state representatives, all of whom sit on the General Assembly's Transportation Committee. Tom Drew, in whose district the station falls, said, "I support exploring the most advantageous and desirable name possible for the economic benefit of the community in whatever venue(s) may be appropriate."

While Tony Hwang chose not to respond to repeated requests, Kim Fawcett said, "I approached the previous DOT commissioner with Kathleen's idea, and he liked it and agreed that it would be a good way to get the community involved.  The state's primary focus right now is to get the station open and servicing commuters, but it is certainly an idea Rep. Drew and I can pursue in 2011. We will need to wait until we have a new governor and a new DOT commissioner to determine how to proceed.

"I love the idea and would be happy to see the commuters who use the station have a say in what the station is called."

Town Attorney Richard Saxl confirmed that the contract between the town, state, and Blackrock Realty, LLC has a placeholder name with the state holding final say. He did remind me, though, that a road is being constructed that will run through the station and the town has control over naming it. Saxl has kiddingly been calling it "Flatto Way" but should Kathleen's quest come to naught, we could always have a street-naming contest.

"It costs us nothing to change the name before signage is printed," Kathleen said. "We should find out what the people want."