February 11, 2019 Board of Selectmen Meeting: brief recap
By Meghan Peterson, PhD
Editors Note: The meeting can be viewed in its entirety at www.vsctv.com. When official minutes become available, they can be accessed at www.haddam.org.
The Board of Selectmen (BOS) held its regular meeting on Monday, February 11 at 6:30 p.m. All members of the BOS were present: First Selectwoman Lizz Milardo, Selectman Larry Maggi and Selectwoman Melissa Schlag. Assistant to First Selectwoman, JoAnn Ricciardelli, took minutes.
Residents filled the Old Town Hall building to the brim. Schlag said that she would like to add discussion of Haddam Elementary School in light of the “RFP” (Request For Proposal). Discussion ensued regarding the Request For Proposal (RFP) that the Regional District 17 Board of Education (BOE) received on Wednesday, Feb. 6. Milardo said that she “does not mind” doing so, but that she “did not have a copy of the RFP.” Milardo continued that she “is happy to discuss HES” but that she could not answer “questions about the RFP” and had been informed that while a copy of the RFP was distributed to members of the BOE, the contents thereof were to remain “confidential” until the BOE members held their meeting on Feb. 26. During this discussion, Milardo and Maggi indicated that they had not yet received a copy.
For nearly two hours, numerous residents voiced opposition to the Regional School District 17’s planned closure of the Haddam Elementary School (HES) in Higganum Center. Based on the public comments, there appeared to be four categories or groupings of views/opinions: residents who want more data and information in terms of the cost-benefit analysis of said closure; residents who want the closure process paused for at least a year; residents who want the Town to purchase the school building and property from RSD17; residents who accept the closure while desiring the guarantee that the building will not be empty and that it will be part of development for Higganum Center. This latter genre of views also included a position that the Town consider purchasing the Swan Hill portion as open space for use by residents, as well as those who argued that development would bring in more families with children, necessitating a school after all – and that it would cost more money in the end. Members of the Save HES movement spoke about wanting to work with the Town to correct the “mistake” of the planned closure and that they want the Town to “work with us,” according to resident Katie Packtor. Christine Palm, State Representative of the 36th District, spoke about wanting to assist with respect to this matter, noting that she has reached out to the Board of Education via e-mail and would send another.
There was mention by resident Ross Hanson of pursuing the possibility that the State Board of Education investigate the local RSD17 Board of Education. There was also mention by resident Erik Hesselberg that he could look into the Towns of Haddam and Killingworth having first right of refusal for the property. Milardo indicated openness to exploring the facts where they lead on these fronts.
Throughout and in response to various public comments, Milardo emphasized that the Town has no legal mechanism by which to intervene or stop the RSD17 BOE’s plan to close HES (Editors Note: HES is not Town-owned; it is owned by RSD17). Milardo iterated that she has sent a letter to the BOE, that she has sat down with the various individuals involved, but that “legally” she does not know what else “we can do.” Selectman Maggi said that “we are here because we don’t want to close the school…that is what it boils down to.”
The next BOS meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 11, 2019 at 6:30 p.m. Hope to see you there!
