Date: Fri 16-Feb-1996

By ANDY GOROSKO

Published: Aug 11, 1999 12:00 am

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

DPUC-Northeast-Utilities-land

Full Text:

DPUC Considers Sale Of Northeast Utilities Land

B Y A NDREW G OROSKO

The state Department of Public Utility Control (DPUC) held a public hearing

this week on the proposed sale of 11.1 acres of Connecticut Light and Power

Company (CL&P) land to two local women.

Joseph St Germain, a senior project manager for Northeast Utilities (NU), told

DPUC representatives at the hearing that CL&P has agreed to sell the land for

$270,000 to Mary Ann Murtha and Beverly Setz. At that price, the land would be

sold at a rate of $24,324 per acre. CL&P is an operating company of the

holding company known as Northeast Utilities.

In an appraisal of the land performed for CL&P one year ago,

Lesher-Glendinning, Inc, found the value of the residentially-zoned acreage to

be $210,000, according to the DPUC. That appraisal placed the value of the

property at $18,918 per acre.

Mr St Germain said the prospective owners of CL&P's 11.1 acres acquired

approximately 4 acres adjacent to 11.1 acres from a private party after CL&P

agreed to sell them the 11.1 acres.

Mr St Germain said the women bought the four acres to provide better access to

the 11.1 acre parcel. The 11.1 acre property is intended for the construction

of single-family homes, he said. Mr St Germain didn't specify how many houses

would be built on the land.

The CL&P appraisal indicated that the highest and best use of the 11.1 acres

would be the construction of a nine-lot residential subdivision.

The 11.1 unimprovced acres of surplus CL&P property is located on Route 302

near Rock Ridge Country Club. The street addresses of the land are 230-234

Sugar Street and and 2-6 Dodgingtown Road.

State law required public utility companies to first offer the surplus

property they want to sell to governments. Because no governments were

interested in buying the land, CL&P agreed to sell the land to the two women.

The DPUC monitors such land sales by public utilities to ensure that the

utility's rate payers are protected; to make sure that the land being sold

isn't needed for other public utility purposes; and to ensure that fair prices

are paid for the land.

The DPUC also oversees public utilities' accounting parcaticesin monitoring

independent land sales.

A DPUC decision on the proposed land sale has been scheduled for an April 24

DPUC meeting. An attorney representing CL&P requested that the decision be

expedited.

Richard G. Patterson served as the DPUC's hearing officer at the February 13

session.

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The editorial took no position on the budget going up or down so you're reading things into the editorial that simply aren't there. The turnout is tied to the lack of passage, in that people who came out to vote last time did not this time, indicating a lack of support on their part. Perhaps it wasn't spelled out clearly enough, but that's what the editorial was driving at, people showing lack of support by not casting a vote. The editorial did address likely concerns among voters that may have led to lack of support and lack of turnout. This lower turnout also follows increasing turnout over the past four referendums in three years (meaning it is an aberration from that), and increased turnout is something that I do push for regularly in editorials. Any disappointment you might be seeing is at the break in that trend, not at whether the budget passed or not. I'd rather see more people come out and vote "no" then not vote at all.

Lower Turnout Results In Two Budget Defeats

Clearly, property owners no longer want to bear the burden of expenses while the state does not meet it’s responsibilities. Rising costs must be addressed by actions that do not include yearly increases of property owners’ taxes. The state of CT must meet its share of the educational costs, and other costs.

Town And School Budgets Fail At Referendum

This feels like an oddly misleading headline and narrative, particularly coming from the Editorial Board. The headline "Lower Turnout Results in Two Budget Defeats" pushes a misleading narrative regarding voter turnout, and then seeks to tie the outcome of the referendum to that misleading narrative. Sure, voter turn out for this year's referendum, 18%, was lower than last year's. However, last year's turnout, 25.4%, represented the highest turnout in the most recent 10 budget referendums. If you take the time to examine turnout percentages between 2017 and 2026 (2017: 19.9, 2018: 15.7, 2019: 17, 2020: 0, 2021: 8.98, 2022: 7.7, 2023: 8.8, 2024: 15.1/17.49, 2025: 25.4, 2026: 18), this year's turnout was actually the third highest in the past 10 cycles. Perhaps the headline of this article should say "Lower Voter Turnout Than Last Year", which is more accurate, rather than creating an impression that this year's turnout is some type of aberration - a narrative that the turnout numbers, in all their binary glory, simply do not support. Further, the headline of this article appears to tie the "lower turnout" to the defeated budgets. Sure, that could be true. But, perhaps, its more likely that Newtown residents are feeling the squeeze of multiple economic influences. In Newtown, we've experienced property revaluations and increased municipal spending. Eversource continues to raise rates. The state legislature gives PURA the authority to impose Public Benefit charges that benefit a tiny percentage of the public (and subsequently burdening the rest of us). At the national level, inflation has run rampant for years and many of those costs remain high to this day. In short, the data tells a far less dramatic—and far more honest—story than the headline suggests. This wasn’t an electorate vanishing in apathy; it was a fairly typical turnout delivering an verdict that, perhaps, some at the Editorial Board didn't like. At some point, it’s worth considering that residents aren’t confused, disengaged, or misled by turnout; they’re simply doing math at their kitchen tables and concluding that “no” is the only responsible answer left.

Enjoyed the forum which only confirmed my support for Brandon Moore as the Democratic candidate to run for the state representative position. Brandon Moore did not waiver about his duty to all the people, if elected, when an issue presents itself that requires that he voice a difference of opinion for the wellbeing of Newtown residents. If Michelle Ku’s 16 years have led to her loyalty being to other elected officials, as she implied, then Newtown is going to continue to witness actions that do not protect its residents. She could not unseat republican, Mitch Bolinsky, during a Blue Wave, and once again, will not do it now. Winning that seat is critical for all. That explains why her previous campaign committee now campaigns for Brandon Moore. It explains all the endorsements he has received from local elected democratic officials. It’s why we need Brandon Moore to be the democratic candidate to run for state representative.

Second Newtown DTC, League Of Women Voters Candidates Event Planned

Appreciated the opportunity to hear from both candidates as we were present for the College Dems forum but only heard from Brandon Moore. It was an opportunity to see who can unseat the Republican incumbent and there is no doubt that Brandon Moore should be the Democratic candidate. One concerned parent posed a question about discrimination unaddressed by the school district and interestingly enough, Michelle Ku, who proudly speaks of her Board membership years, said little, while Brandon Moore passionately addressed the issue along with his experience as an Apache Helicopter Commander. This family is supporting Brandon Moore. We need change and someone who is not afraid to disagree, especially about the rising costs of living in Newtown.

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Date: Fri 16-Feb-1996

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