OVERTIME FOR PRESTON?

KENT BORNER, OF PRESTON TOWN'S HOSPITAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE SAID,"WE'RE GOING INTO OVERTIME. BUT WE HAVEN'T LOST YET ........LET'S JUST KEEP SHOOTING."

LAST NIGHT, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2008, THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN OF PRESTON, VOTED BY A VOTE OF 2 TO 1 TO NOTIFY THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT OF PRESTON'S PLANS TO PURCHASE THE 419 ACRE NORWICH STATE HOSPITAL PROPERTY. THE VOTE WAS TAKEN AFTER THE HEARING THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE HOSPITAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE, FOR THE TOWN OF PRESTON TO PURCHASE THE PROPERTY FROM THE STATE.

THE NEXT STEP, IS FOR PRESTON TO NOTIFY THE STATE, BY JANUARY 5, 2009, OF ITS DECISION TO PURCHASE THE PROPERTY. THE STATE HAS SAID IN LETTERS TO PRESTON THAT IT HAS NO INTENTIONS OF GIVING PRESTON ANY EXTENSIONS.

IF THE STATE WERE TO GRANT PRESTON, ITS REQUEST TO PURCHASE THE PROPERTY, PRESTON WOULD HAVE ABOUT 120 DAYS TO FIND A DEVELOPER AND SEAL THE DEAL. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE TOWN COULD NOT ACCOMPLISH IN THREE YEARS.

AT THE MOMENT, THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ANY BANKS READY TO IMMEDIATELY FINANCE A PLAN FOR THE PROPERTY. THE TOWN CLAIMS THAT THERE ARE ABOUT 5 DEVELOPERS STILL INTERESTED IN DEVELOPING THE PROPERTY. OUTSIDERS ARE SAYING THAT THIS PLAN OF ACTION BY THE TOWN, WILL PUT THE TOWN IN A NEGOTIATING DISADVANTAGE WITH DEVELOPERS.

ROBERT CONGDON, FIRST SELECTMAN OF PRESTON SAID, "IT'S DEFINITELY A LONG SHOT. WE'VE WORKED OUR TAILS OFF FOR THREE YEARS. WE HAVE SOME REAL OPTIONS THAT COULD COME TO FRUITION."

I DON'T THINK THE STATE WILL GO FOR THE DEAL. I DON'T THINK THAT PRESTON IF THEY GET THE CHANCE, CAN PULL IT OFF IN 120 DAYS, SOMETHING THEY COULD NOT DO IN 3 YEARS. WHO IS GOING TO PAY FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL CLEAN-UP AT AN ESTIMATED $40 MILLION? IF THEY PUT IN HOUSING IT WILL ONLY ADD TO THE TAX BURDEN OF THE TAX PAYERS. THEY NEED SOME KIND OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT. WHAT DO YOU THINK?