After a lengthy debate which included testimony from Middletown residents opposed to the lease created by Middletown's Planning and Development Department with golf course developer Tony Pioppi, the Middletown Common Council voted to give Mayor Sebastian Giuliano the authority to sign the agreement. The resolution passed with a vote of 9-3.Pioppi provided an abbreviated presentation similar to one he has presented to the Economic Development Committee in the past, and City Planner Bill Warner urged the Common Council to accept the lease, dismissing criticism coming from the Conservation Commission as complaints from "a bunch of preservationists."
Another Conservation Commission member Michael Ennis, speaking as a resident, and not as a representative of the Commission said, "My objection to this proposal is that it does not rise to the value, quality and benefit of the city compared to the amount of land, the time we're surrendering and the amount of money we're getting for it."
Stephen Devoto, also a correspondent for the Eye, testified that he was not against the golf course in principal, and that he did not view it as the environmental disaster that others did, but he criticized the lease as shortchanging the city in dollar value, environmental quality and exclusivity, and encouraged the Council to make changes which would bring more value to the city. He compared the proposed lease to others in the country near and far and demonstrated that the city lease, which provides land to the developer at $1 a year for the first five years, might actually bring many more tax and lease dollars to the city.
Finally, Beth Emery, also an Eye correspondent, complained that the Council allowed a presentation from the developer, and asked pointed questions, but had no questions from the qualified experts of the Conservation Commission. Emery also stated that the lease should be more specific in its demands for safe environmental practices.
Former mayor candidate Dan Drew spoke in favor of the lease proposal, saying that it would become an economic driver for the city. Middlesex Chamber of Commerce Director Larry McHugh also agreed that the economic impact of the course would have a positive affect on Middletown. His support was echoed by Will Longo, owner of Main Street's Nikita's Restaurant that a golf course could help bring customers to town on slow summer weekends.
The most unique support for the project was offered by Attorney Ralph Wilson, who own property adjacent to the proposed golf course, and stressed that by building a golf course, it would discourage the state from re-claiming the land and building something far less suitable there. Wilson explained that his family had been part of protests to rebuff penal institutions that the state had proposed formerly for the property over the past 40 years.
"We don't trust politicians," Wilson said. "We don't trust the state. You sitting here, we trust. We don't trust the next batch coming in."
Both Council members Ron Klattenburg and David Bauer, who voted against accepting the lease, protested that the lease draft attached to the resolution was incomplete, needed further consideration and should not be voted on until certain issues were addressed.
"I'm uncomfortable," Klattenburg said. "There are so many issues that were brought up in the public hearing that I wish I could see in this lease. Maromas holds such a special place for many people in Middletown that we have to be sensitive to that place."
"This project is a steamroller," Bauer said, challenging the contention by two Democratic council members that the project had been vetted over several years. "If I'm not mistaken, the RFP went out less than a year ago," Bauer added.
In defending a lease which city planner Warner admitted was constructed from the boilerplate language of a previous golf club lease, and which contained a number of typos, and was not available for public inspection until hours before the meeting, Council member Gerry Daley said that "a marked-up version of the lease" had been "available" for months.
18 comments:
WHY?
Why vote to authorize a lease until the full environmental impacts of the golf course are known? Let the developer proceed under his own dollar to propose a plan for scrutiny by outside evaluators, such as the Environmental Review Team. Then we can decide whether to proceed with a lease.
I applaud those Council members that voted against this golf course. Whatever happened to the numberous comments made by the public at workshops two years ago regarding the use of this open space. Trust me, 'golf course' was not part of the conversations. Why did the Planning Dept. ask for comments if they weren't going to be used in deciding what to do with the land? I suggest that it was a smoke screen for what was really happening behind the scene.
Dogleg
Is it possible to "debate" when the outcome has already been foreordained? A Common Council that acts without facts or, contrary to facts, is a big fat farce, a charade of actual democratic government. Projects recommended by the EDC are moved forward to their "done deal" conclusions, through the next required municipal agency's "debated" approvals. Janice is right about the smoke screen theory of City Government.
And, David, are you from another town where an Environmental Review Team works in cooperation with the Planning Department? We should be so lucky!
As for WHY? It sounds as if Attorney Wilson can provide the "unique" answer. By degrading the environment with a golf course the City can prevent the State from building another prison next to his home!
(Thankfully, Larry McHugh, having endorsed the golf course, had already left the building so we were spared the "Evils of NIMBY" speech to Attorney Wilson... )
The future is usually difficult to predict but in the mists I foresee a continued short leash for the Mayor.
Jasper Cane
Council member Bauer is mistaken. It was not an RFP (Request For Proposals) that went out about a year ago, it was an EDCRFGCP (Economic Development Committee Request For Golf Course Proposals).
The fact the lease was ill prepared and no one got it in their package and it ws not at the Library for the public as required, why not table it for a month, make the corrections and make a semi-intellegent decision.
Kudos to Councilman Faulkner for speaking up that a legal document in front of the Council for action should be complete and comprehensible.
Councilman Daley response to Councilman Faulkner statement is th classic issue with the Dem council memebers who have served to long.
Have no fears this golf course willnever happen.
It will be an interesting application process how willMr. Warner and the Dems pressure the boards to pass this with little information.
All the studies and that were discussed intergrated pest management plan, traffic, water withdrawal, should be presented to the Commissions and reviews by outside experts since the City Engineer Office does not have the in-house expertise.
Hundreds of acres of public lands to Anthony Pioppi for promising to do a good job. Maybe he could tackle my lot as well. All those putters and drivers and small white balls!
I must have missed the "Environmental Review" when Millane Nurseries planted all their trees there.
Why does it seem that the most of the people in power in Middletown – and I do not mean just the elected officials – only tolerate, at best, residents whose opinions and concerns do not agree with theirs? I have too often seen and heard stereotyping and attacks, as if residents who try to have a voice in the decision-making about their city are unwelcome intruders in a private club. And the insiders just go right ahead with their agenda.
The protocol and superficial politeness at meetings: meaningless and hypocritical. The subsequent name-calling and criticism are not too far from bullying. If this is how our city operates, what has happened to the democratic process? What are we demonstrating to our young people?
Congratulations to Council members Bauer, Faulkner, and Klattenberg for independent thinking and for listening to residents who take the time to be involved even if it is, perhaps, a losing battle.
To Anonymous 4/9 5:34 PM:
Voting against the Golf Course will likely have more negative repercussions than if one voted "yes".
My take on the attitude that public speakers encounter at the Council meetings:
All the decisions have been made before the meeting and everyone with a vote walks in knowing how they intend to vote. Once you accept that, it makes sense that the players posture to the crowd a bit, and try to adjourn as quickly as possible.
I believe that our elected officials exist mostly to facilitate the relationships between municipal workers and the "Big Shots" in town.
The public is there to pay the bills, and they are tolerated as long as they don't take up too much valuable time.
Bravo, David. It's good to have this stated openly.
David Bauer, what are these "negative repercussions"? While I do not doubt the integrity of those who voted against the golf course, they undoubtedly knew that their votes were not going to influence the outcome. This too can be a kind of posturing.
The whole golf course proposal had nothing to do with the citizens of Middletown, despite the workshops and appearances of public involvement. The addition of the provision for "active recreation" for the lands gifted from the State was the beginning of a continuing non-transparent chain of events. Based on the facts surrounding the RFP and the cast of characters, that these events culminated in the approval of a tacky lease , comes as no surprise. This way government, that alienates informed and active citizens, isn't exactly corrupt but it certainly isn't what our Founders had in mind, in my opinion.
To Anon 11:02 AM 4/10
Although I have been known to posture more than a little bit - it really can't be helped once you settle your posterior into those nice, comfy, council chairs.
If you followed the dialog leading up to the golf course agreement, you heard that Ralph Wilson has been advocating for this almost 20 years. He has a long and focused memory for those who do not support his issues in Middletown. There was also mild Chamber support for this project.
Both of those parties have a much better memory than the average voter, so I am sure that this vote last Monday will cost me votes if I run for the Council in 2011.
I hope that is clear enough what was meant by "negative repercussions".
Our founding fathers also did not expect our elected officials to fold to a very small group of people opposed to something. The Mayor and the Council understand what their constituants want and who they are. Until the few who show up at meetings and post comments of blogs like this can influence the majority of residents NOTHING will change. The fact is, based on every election, the majority votes democratic and the majority rules. There will be a golf course because the Mayor and the Council understand who VOTES.
This was not approved because the 'voters' want it. The lease was approved because certain people in power want it. This will become apparent in the future when we can 'follow the money' and see who wins. Nature will be the loser.
Quit being so naive. Yes the minds were made up to vote in favor of this course long before this meeting took place. Just like the oppositions minds against the proposal were made up long before. It was all posturing so later, if it fails everyone can say "I told you so". Instead how about we voice our opposition, vote, then say I wish you luck, I hope you succeed! Instead we have negative back biting and wishes for failures. That's what makes Middletown so unique! We slam our own people if we do not get our way.
It's not always about votes, its about doing the right thing. If you voted for the minority voice on the golf course, say it and stand tall. If you voted for the majority, say it and stand tall. The problem is politicians are no longer willing to stand for what they believe in. They waiver in the wind, while making personal attacks. State your opposition and move on! If Mr. Wilson takes votes away from Mr. Bauer, then it is Mr. Bauers fault for allowing it to happen.
Most of us will respect you for taking a stand! But please do not linger on it, posture on it, and back bite later on because of it. I for one thought all the proposals for the land use were ridiculous. How about we just let it sit as god intended it to. The problem is we all think we have the best idea, when in reality we never do. Move on, its done. Trust me if it fails, it will return to it's natural state eventually!
I'd be more apt to vote for those who stood in opposition to this golf course. With fewer people having the money and time for golf, this doesn't make sense.
It is disconcerting to see this go ahead with so little regard for environmental impact and so little regard for the community at large. in addition, the terms of the lease make little sense--how is this good for the average taxpayer in MIddletown?
To Anon. 8:07--so what you are saying is that if the majority of the people do not want something the government should not ram it down their throats?
Sounds vaguely familiar.
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