DC Moore: Carfora Breaks Neighborhood Promise

It was over two years ago that Momauguin neighborhood residents attended a Town Council meeting (8/6/2019) to give public comment against the sale of DC Moore Elementary School, located at 70 Elliott Street, a school that was shut down in 2016 due to mold and health concerns. It used to be a K-5 school with a reputation for flooding, soggy carpeting, poor plumbing and possible cancer cluster amongst teaching staff.

Public records show public comments were against the sale to sole bidder and developer, Ralph Mauro, to build homes on existing lots. He was present to show drawings of the site plan, but it was ill-received by the residents present. During the meeting, there was a break for an executive session with Democrats on one side and Republicans on the other. Democrats were outnumbered since two representatives were absent from the evening, the votes cast were 8 Republicans to 5 Democrats in favor to transfer land to Ralph Mauro by land ordinance for $410,000 (see attachment).
Mayor Joe Maturo signed the ordinance that was written by Town Attorney Joseph Zullo. With no deadline date noted, a legal faux pas, the land ordinance has not been executed to date. Residents have attended meetings, completed petition and Freedom of Information requests to stop the purchasing sales contract. Mayor Joe Carfora sent a purchasing sales contract to Ralph Mauro in August 2020, against the election promise to return the land to open, green space and public park, as announced via Zoom at the Board of Finance meeting.

Since then, journalists at East Haven Courier and New Haven Register have confirmed that existing Town Attorney Michael Luzzi has existing conflicts of interests with same developer since he does work for the family. The land and buildings are vacant and unoccupied, not properly secured by Town Hall departments. Town Hall put up security cameras, but residents are not sure if the cameras work.

Last Friday, September 17, 2021, Mayor Carfora put out a press release stating that he has requested due diligence on the site, and will return matter to Town Council. This would mean that Ralph Mauro would have to legally step back from the land ordinance with his name on it since August 6, 2019, and waive his right to litigate the completion of his bidding procedures. Neither of these two vital steps has occurred. This leaves to wonder: is this another Mayor Carfora pitfall for voters? What is the due diligence work? How does this press release protect the town and voters? What if the real plan is to sell the land and buildings right after this election! That would be a double promise broken for voters. Too many unanswered questions. Town Council Representatives for District 2, Joe Deko (D) and Joe Santino(D), have not put the DC Moore issue on a Town Council agenda in 2 years, no public stance on the record. Town Council representative Sal Maltese (R) has written letter to the editor to express his support for green and recreational space here.

In a small town, community dialogue and public referendum would be the best ways to communicate with residents and voters. Who is brave enough to do that? The Mayor Carfora press release from 9/17/21 gave no timelines, no next steps on the legal work that is missing. As always, development is the key election issue. Returning the land to nature to make a public park after poor building construction is the best resolution.

Thank You

“East Haven Politics” Team

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sources:

1. https://www.nhregister.com/news/article/We-live-here-Advocates-push-to-keep-former-16122219.php

2.https://www.zip06.com/news/20210126/residents-speak-out-against-sale-of-dc-moore-school-property?fbclid=IwAR36m4P95OpEzA0ICQvfP22H6WgJ73tVtgYl5oFsQ32omAvF8e6mFAbjTYY