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Politics & Government

Industrial Park Bid Proposal Rejected By Town Council

Town Manager discusses landfill in her report.

The Town Council approved a motion to reject a bid proposal for Phase II of the Industrial Park at their meeting Monday night.

In the motion, the council rejected the bid proposal because it was “not being in the best interest of the town.”  The council did not mention the name of the developer.

A heated debate occurred between Town Council Member Barbara Orsini Surwilo and Town Manager Barbara Gilbert after Gilbert proposed taking $30 million from the land acquisitions fund to help balance the budget. Surwilo objected strenuously on the grounds that, in her view, the town always raids land acquisitions whenever it has to cover a budget shortfall.

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Gilbert responded that the town had already frozen budgets in every department and also implemented cuts across-the-board, not just to one fund. In the end, the Council approved the budgetary transfer by a vote of 8 - 1, with Surwilo voting against the measure.

Gilbert also gave a report on the proposed landfill during her manager’s report. She said the “owners of the landfill are currently under a consent order issued by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.”  A post closure plan still has to be submitted to DEEP for approval, Gilbert added.

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The owners of the landfill are required to hold an “informational meeting” for members of the public to weigh in on the subject. The date for the “informational meeting” has not been set, however the hearing is expected to be held in one of the town's meeting rooms.

Following these meetings, the plans will be revised and resubmitted to DEEP for approval. Once approved by DEEP, the plans will go before the town's land use boards for approval.  If the plan is not approved, they would have to revised and resubmitted to DEEP.

The next Town Council meeting will be on Oct. 17 with a public hearing on an ordinance that would allow the town to acquire land on Glastonbury Avenue and Meadow Road from Riverfront Future Partners. The hearing will begin at 6:30 p.m. inside the council chambers at Town Hall.

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