The Rocky Hill Town Council voted 5 to 4 for the town attorney to take “any necessary legal action” to prevent the discontinuation of the at a special meeting Monday night.
Following an hour-long discussion in executive session, the Town Council approved a motion, which stated, “If the ferry service is discontinued, the town attorney is authorized to take any necessary legal action to prevent the discontinuation of the ferry.”
On July 15, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy submitted a to close the $1.6 billion gap in his two-year budget if an agreement couldn’t be reached with the unions. Part of that plan included eliminating the ferry services and all eight workers would be laid off. Union negations are still ongoing.
Republicans Nadine Bell, Frank Szeps and Catherine Vargas along with Democrat Timothy Moriarty voted against the motion.
Bell said the motion “is like signing a blank check at a time when we are in an economic crisis.” However, Bell said she would be sending a personal donation to stop the ferry closure.
Mayor Anthony LaRosa felt the ferry is a historical landmark, so action had to be taken by the council.
“We need to do something now,” LaRosa said. He added that since he has been on the council, the issue of closing the ferry has come up three times and has been stopped twice.
and First Selectman Ralph Eno against the Department of Transportation and the state comptroller to stop the closure of the Hadlyme-Chester ferry was dismissed Thursday morning in Superior Court in New Britain. The Town Council but was never allowed to by the judge.
No residents spoke during public comment and only one person from the public was in the audience before the council entered into executive session.
After the vote, the Town Council retired to executive session again to discuss pending claims and ligation regarding the Foundry. However, no action was taken.
