February 2020 Update from Haddam First Selectman Bob McGarry

By Meghan Peterson, Ph.D.

We recently spoke with First Selectman Bob McGarry for the purpose of providing information and updates about various town and community projects.

Tylerville Water

According to McGarry, work on the Tylerville water main continues. As of the end of January, 34 connections had been made, with approximately 100 more to go. McGarry emphasized that “progress is moving right along.”

Dublin Hill Bridge

The Dublin Hill Bridge opened for traffic on Dec. 31, 2019. “It, too, needs work in the spring,” McGarry said, explaining that “the road needs paving, which currently consists of a gravel mix. Sidewalks will need concrete staining. There is about a month’s worth of work that remains.” Here, McGarry noted that this work should finish up “in early spring.”

Higganum Center

McGarry explained that work continues on a community septic system for Higganum center. Recently, he held a meeting with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to confirm on a preliminary basis if Haddam qualifies for funds for rural waste development. As a result of that meeting, it was confirmed that Haddam qualifies as a rural town designation (population under 10,000) and therefore can apply for a mix of grant and bond financing. McGarry says this opens up an “important avenue” to pursue infrastructure development in Higganum Center. Jacobson Engineers, the Town’s engineering firm, has done an early concept design for how the community septic system may be implemented. Currently, the design suggests three separate systems, each under the 7,500 gallons storage capacity that would allow the system to remain under Connecticut Department of Public Health regulations. If the storage capacity is larger, it may necessitate the jurisdiction of the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. The idea centers on possibly splitting land between the school property, septic systems and the Rossi property, with a strip of land between the two tanks, transition that over to the Hadda Land Trust for additional public access to Swan Hill.

Scovil Hoe Mill Buildings

The Town is currently applying for a grant to fund an environmental study of the mill buildings in order to have a clear picture of the “best way to approach” remediation and use. One idea is to clean them up, then subsequently rent or lease them out, McGarry said. Here, he iterated that the “big concentration and focus” is on Higganum Center, noting that there “are a lot of moving parts with what can be done there.” Another approach that McGarry finds positive is a focus on outdoor recreation and activities for area families and visitors. Bill Warner, Haddam’s Town Planner, has been focusing on generating ideas for various hiking and biking trails. McGarry indicated that with the opening of the Cove, such ideas now have greater possibility for occurring.

Citizens Bank, Haddam Elementary School Buildings

McGarry expressed that he is “cautiously optimistic” when it comes to making use of the now-closed Citizens Bank location in Higganum. He envisions that being suitable for an ideal restaurant location. Meanwhile, on behalf of the Town, McGarry has been working with an interested private school organization on a matter of leasing the HES building. At this point, a preliminary lease of terms and conditions has been sent to this school organization interested in leasing the building.

Haddam Town Budget

The budget season is in full swing, according to McGarry. All Town departments and agencies have submitted budget requests to the Board of Selectmen. Four special BOS meetings have been held; the board has likewise crafted a preliminary budget that it will forward to the Board of Finance. McGarry said that approximately five or six agencies/departments came to the Board of Q&A sessions regarding their budget requests. Some requests come in at or below budget levels from the previous fiscal year.

Spring Road Work

Design work for Candlewood Hill to Laurel Heights is in process. Preliminary designs received approval a couple weeks ago, according to McGarry. The plans call for the road “to be widened some as well as road curves softened a little bit.” McGarry highlighted that Jacobson Engineering were “very good to work with.” With the new bond money, the following roads are slated for work this year. As always, work is contingent upon weather and ground conditions:

• Clarkhurst Road (Finish work started in 2019)
• Hurd Park Road (Finish work started in 2019)
• Injun Hollow Road
• Christian Hill Rd
• Dublin Hill Road
• LT Shubeal Road
• Depot Road
• Little City Road (Possibly drainage work only this year with paving in 2021)
• Candlewood Hill, phase 1
• Beaver Meadow Road culvert

Economic Development & Revitalization

“The big concern is to try to draw people into Higganum Center and to assist people who have businesses in place there already,” McGarry explains. At the other end of town, he says there are plans for a “large daycare center” to come to Tylerville Center, which would be accessed by Route 154/Saybrook Road. Representatives of the center “have come before Planning & Zoning with preliminary design plans to ensure compliance with the POCD,” McGarry added. Moreover, there is a developer interested in multifamily units in Tylerville, as well as a health and wellness rehabilitation center.

Public Input

McGarry stressed the importance of Haddam residents’ input and involvement in matters that affect them. He made clear that if “people want to have input” in the budget process, it is one that is “open.” The Board of Finance meetings are open to the public, as are the Board of Selectmen meetings. On the point about voicing concerns during the budget process, McGarry says, “My suggestion is: write! Write to the Board of Finance and copy the Board of Selectmen onto your letter or e-mail.”

McGarry added that in light of information that emerged from a recent RSD #17 school budget meeting with the respective boards of selectmen, finance, and jointly-held board of education from Haddam and Killingworth, it is especially imperative residents make their voices heard. He is referencing the fact that as of the official enrollment count taken Oct. 2019, Haddam’s enrollment increased by eight students while Killingworth’s enrollment decreased by 76 students. This change may lead to a million dollar increase for Haddam’s share of the regional school district education budget. McGarry says this, in turn, may lead to a difference of one mil (an increase, in this case) in terms of property taxes. That said, McGarry did note that the Grand List is expected to rise a bit, which may help to offset the consequences of this education budget news. Finally, McGarry said that he attended a “very good meeting” with lots of representatives for the 17 towns within the Connecticut RiverCOG (Council of Governments). State Representative Christine Palm and State Senator Norm Needleman were also in attendance, and McGarry said he was able to speak to them about concerns he had in terms of funding for various town projects, infrastructure and education funding in Haddam. He is looking forward to addressing these issues and more in the weeks and months to come.