Members of the Public Feel 'Betrayed' by Foundry Decision

The Town Council rescinded an ordinance Monday night that had attempted to take the Foundry by eminent domain and establish a public park in its location. However, some audience members at the meeting Monday night were upset with the current plan for the site and how it was negotiated.

In 2009, the town filed a lawsuit to take the Foundry, where gray iron castings were made, from its owner by eminent domain. The developer responded by filing an injunction against the town.

"We lost the eminent domain suit," said Mayor Anthony LaRosa.

For the past year, the town has been in negotiations with Riverfront Future Partners, the landowners of the Foundry. The Town Council first saw the proposed plan in March.

On Sept. 26, the that would call for the demolition of the Foundry and the development of a mixed-use project on the site that would include retail and residential space, as well as a public park.

"There is no question that you (the public) will have all the input you are going to need," LaRosa said. "And that is going to be when it goes to the boards and commissions."

Members of the audience felt "betrayed" by the decision and questioned the council on why all the negotiations were held in executive session.

"We entered into these negotiations with the owner of the property to try to find some middle ground," LaRosa said. "I know many of you are not happy with that middle ground. I will tell you this ... many of the people in town are happy with it. These negotiations need to be kept private."

Kristin DiLorenzo was one of those people who felt “betrayed” and "wanted to share her feelings" with the council Monday night.

"I believe this is contrary to what we had been led to believe."

After "years and years of meetings," DiLorenzo felt the town wanted to create open space on the Foundry site. She added that the buildings in the proposed plan are similar in size to buildings in plans that have previously failed.

Resident Ed Chiurcarella also had problems with the negotiations being held in executive session without public comment. Chiurcarella compared the Foundry issue with the . , the councilors wanted public input, so that the new proposed high school plan would not fail.

"Sometimes in life we need to take our own advice: As you go forward on this agreement, please don't repeat the mistakes of the past. Consult with the public before you do anything really big. Find out what they really want."

Members of the public also questioned where the money for the demolition and remediation of the land was coming from.

The town has agreed to make payments of up to $425,000 toward the demolition and remediation of the Foundry. The money will come from the state under funding obtained by former state Rep. Richard Tulisano years ago, LaRosa reiterated.

"If we don't use it for remediation and demolition, it goes back to the state of Connecticut,” LaRosa said. "We can't use it for anything else in the town of Rocky Hill."

Deputy Mayor Philip J. Sylvestro added that it could take up to a million dollars for demolition and remediation of the Foundry site, however, the owner of the property would have to pay the rest of the cost.

Councilor Larrye de Bear voted against the motion again. In the proposed plan, the town agreed to drop both of its lawsuits and the developer dropped one. However, the developer still has one lawsuit pending against the town.

"The town should be able to keep at least one of its lawsuits in effect in case something goes wrong down the line. This developer does not have the greatest track record as far as I am concerned."

De Bear stated that previous deals with the developer "have disappeared" and believes this deal could "disappear" if there is something that the developer did not like.

Town Manager Barbara Gilbert said the town lawsuits could be refiled, if needed.