The views stated here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the editors of this newspaper.
Reading the Haddam Bulletin. Pretty one sided opinions about Higganum Center. The posted opinions I think need to be looked at and I hope they give an opportunity to the other side to post their opinion.
The charrettes had about 180 people that is not by any means a majority with a town of over 8000 plus. These things aren’t supposed to be majority rule and it’s up to residents at a town meeting or in a vote. So counting tables is a waste of time…but regardless each of the tables may of had a few people that kind of took charge. Each person didn’t get to actually vote. I know many that are in favor of the garage at Rossi and heard several tables say so, including mine. The 10 people at my table don’t matter?
The people hired for it were there to find the best and most cost efficient way to fix up the center while solving a few issues. They gave their opinion. Bill Warner is an expert in this stuff so I am not surprised they agreed with his idea. It makes sense.
Let’s take a look at their opinions. They are concerned about contamination and then talk about putting the Town Garage at East Coast Salvage yard.. Hummm. The contamination at Rossi’s has been remediated (of course it will have to be checked again and confirmed). East Coast was taken off the table, due to contamination and the owner made it clear to me it wasn’t for sale. But it keeps coming back up. Do you want our town responsible for another problem piece of land? Plus look at the location: is that centralized to our town? Then you have Rutty Ferry: again, not centralized to the town, impacting neighbors, somewhere in the $8 million range to build. plus or plus. Then we have Rossi’s. It is profitable to the Rossis just the way it is and has been for a very long time. They have no need to change anything. They did want to put in 2 bedroom apartments at the expense of the town providing sewers for around $12 million plus. Or we can buy Rossi’s and for around 4 million, have a new town garage, make it attractive with landscaping as well as develop the front to create store fronts and apartments above. If we don’t do something with the Rossi property it will stay just like it is for another 20 years and the town garage will stay right where it is. Residents aren’t going to vote to spend $8 million for a garage somewhere else. We don’t need a sewer system to sustain the Rossi property. If we do a little less, the community septic will work providing enough for many years.
Daniel Luisi
