Haddam Land Swap Saga Continues

We are still very much devoted to the issue of protecting our publicly owned lands.

For the past few months, Citizens for the Protection of Public Lands (CPPL) has been working on local issues regarding the swap. We are dedicated to researching ways to stop the swap on a state-wide level and to find ways of ensuring that this insult to the public trust doesn’t happen again. One single legislator should never be able to wield the influence and power that allowed this swap to happen.

In an article in the Hartford Courant on Sunday, Jan. 22, Jon Lender reported that the 17 acres we are trying to protect could be worth a million dollars more that the proposed 87-acre parcel the developer wants to swap. If so, the appraisals would reflect the most recent sale price of the two properties: $1,350,000 vs. $428,000, and the developer would have to add cash or other things of value to equalize the swap. 

The DEEP is refusing to release the four appraisals (two independent appraisals were done on each property) stating that by law they are not required to because this is a “negotiation” between the developer and DEEP.

CPPL feels this is not a negotiation because the terms of the swap were legislatively mandated. There is nothing to negotiate, no other parties are involved, the appraisals are cut and dry and they control the deal.

Unless, of course, there is some thought to changing the terms of the swap.

Keep in mind this swap has been proposed and promoted since at least 2005 by Sen. Eileen Daily, so you have to wonder whether pleasing her is what is really driving the bus here. Keep her happy, so she will vote for the Governor’s agenda.

The Haddam Bulletin has filed a Freedom of Information (FOI) request with the DEEP to release these appraisals and was denied.

Subsequently, an appeal was filed with the FOI Commission to ask why the Bulletin’s request should not have been denied.

We will continue to keep you updated.

In the meantime, we are asking you to contact DEEP Commissioner Dan Esty to tell him he needs to release those appraisals.

Tell him it would be good public policy to conduct all of this in the light. Let the public have some faith in the integrity of state government.

CPPL feels that Esty has no grounds to continue this in secret.

We need your help in three ways. Please let us know when you take action. Feel free to copy us on e-mails if you wish.

1. Call or write the DEEP and tell Commissioner Esty you have a right to know what your land is worth.

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection

79 Elm Street

Hartford, CT  06106-5127

Email: daniel.esty@ct.gov

Phone: 860-424-3000

2.  If you are a Haddam resident, contact First Selectman Paul DeStefano and tell him to go on record saying the town wants to be free to do its own planning and wants the legislatively mandated swap cancelled.

First Selectman Paul DeStefano

30 Field Park Drive

Haddam, CT 06438

Phone: 860-345-8531

3. Call or write the Freedom of Information Commission in Hartford and tell them you have a right to know what the appraisals are.

Colleen M. Murphy, Executive Director and General Counsel

Freedom of Information Commission

18-20 Trinity Street

Hartford, CT 06106

Email: foi@ct.gov

Phone: 860-566-5682

Thank you for your continued support.

Citizens for the Protection of Public Lands

Landswap2011@hotmail.com

www.landswap.org

“Nothing could be more axiomatic for a democracy than the principle of exposing the process of government to relentless public criticism and scrutiny.” - Francis E. Rourke