Thursday, May 27, 2010

Pool goes to PZC

My understanding is that the pool structure is now headed to PZC for an 8-24 vote. I'm not sure what would happen if they rejected it. I'm assuming the project would die.

Tim White

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

The PZC is voting on Aug. 24?
Another reason to have waited til Nov. for the referendum vote.

Anonymous said...

There is no reason for PZC to say no. The building is on town property and being constructed the footprint of the bubble. An 824 is a formality the way a school addition would be handles, etc. which won't even be necessary if the referendum fails.

On the otherhand, the June referendum is not a formality...the public gets it say so...yes or no. For those who insist they can't show up to vote because its not in November let them make their point, stay home, boycott and abdicate your responsibilty.

Anonymous said...

Connecticut General Statutes - Chapter 126 - Municipal Planning Commissions

Sec. 8-24. Municipal improvements. No municipal agency or legislative body shall (1) locate, accept, abandon, widen, narrow or extend any street, bridge, parkway or other public way, (2) locate, relocate, substantially improve, acquire land for, abandon, sell or lease any airport, park, playground, school or other municipally owned property or public building, (3) locate or extend any public housing, development, redevelopment or urban renewal project, or (4) locate or extend public utilities and terminals for water, sewerage, light, power, transit and other purposes, until the proposal to take such action has been referred to the commission for a report. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, a municipality may take final action approving an appropriation for any proposal prior to the approval of the proposal by the commission pursuant to this section. The failure of the commission to report within thirty-five days after the date of official submission of the proposal to it for a report shall be taken as approval of the proposal. In the case of the disapproval of the proposal by the commission the reasons therefor shall be recorded and transmitted to the legislative body of the municipality. A proposal disapproved by the commission shall be adopted by the municipality or, in the case of disapproval of a proposal by the commission subsequent to final action by a municipality approving an appropriation for the proposal and the method of financing of such appropriation, such final action shall be effective, only after the subsequent approval of the proposal by (A) a two-thirds vote of the town council where one exists, or a majority vote of those present and voting in an annual or special town meeting, or (B) a two-thirds vote of the representative town meeting or city council or the warden and burgesses, as the case may be. The provisions of this section shall not apply to maintenance or repair of existing property, public ways or buildings.

Two points: absentee ballot and the statute does allow a project to be approved in advance of the 8-24 review.

Anonymous said...

Third point: a reading of this statute indicates that disapproval by the PZC can be over-ridden by a 2/3 vote of the Town Council. But, I hardly think that the PZC would not approve this project.

Anonymous said...

Are you kidding me 1:46? No one is saying they cannot show up to vote. However, with the rush to a special election in about 3 weeks, they're making it very difficult for the public to make arrangements- or is that the point? A quick back-door election?

First, Mr. Milone stated that a regular election in November costs about $12,000 - $16,000 to set-up. The special election for the pool will cost an additional $6000-$10,000 on top of the $12,000 - $16,000 we'll be spending in the fall in the general election.

Second, when there is a general election, there are many polling places, and arrangements are made for seniors, the disabled and other affected groups to get to the polls.

Third, there appears to be a plan to use the high school as the only polling place. Why not Highland School which is in the center of town?

Finally, since the special election is only 3 weeks away, absentee ballots must be applied for and obtained forthwith. This has not been made clear yet to the public.

The Town Council has stated that it must move forward with the vote now, so that construction can be over and done with by next summer. Mr. Slocum indicated that the contractor has promised to be done by June. Does anyone know of any project completed by a contractor on time with no problems?

There were a number of spending questions on the 2008 ballot for the town. None were even close to $7 million. An expenditure of this magnitude should be on the November ballot.

Anonymous said...

"There were a number of spending questions on the 2008 ballot for the town. None were even close to $7 million. An expenditure of this magnitude should be on the November ballot."

The question is on a ballot. Now it's your responsibility to get off your backside and either show up to the polls to either vote for or against the pool enclosre. If you won't be in town on the day of the vote..guess what there's something called an Absentee Ballot. All you (Anyone) need to do is call Town Hall for a quick and simple application.

For some, they have the ability to cast a "NO" vote while they're sitting on a beach drinking Martini's. LOL.