A LITTLE MORE TIME FOR PRESTON

"THEY'RE BASICALLY SAYING, 'SCREW YOU, PRESTON, '' SAID ROBERT CONGDON, FIRST SELECTMEN OF THE TOWN OF PRESTON. WHAT WAS HE TALKING ABOUT?

ON FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2009, THE TOWN OF PRESTON RECEIVED AN ANSWER FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS ON THE FATE OF NORWICH STATE HOSPITAL PROPERTY. THE ANSWER FROM RAE ANNE CURTIS, COMMISSIONER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS, WAS THAT THE STATE WOULD SELL TO PRESTON THE PROPERTY FOR ONE DOLLAR ($1.00). PRESTON MUST DO THE ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANUP OF THE PROPERTY ESTIMATED AT $40 MILLION ($40,000,000.00).

THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT WANTS THE TRANSACTION COMPLETED BY FEBRUARY 27, 2009. PRESTON HAD BEEN LOOKING FOR 120 DAYS (AROUND THE END OF APRIL, 2009) TO COMPLETE THE DEAL. PRESTON INTENDED TO FIND A DEVELOPER AND THEN COMPLETE THE TRANSACTION.

CONGLON, FELT THAT IF THE TOWN OF PRESTON TELLS THE STATE, IT CAN'T OR WON'T MEET THE DEADLINE, THE STATE WILL STAKE A CLAIM TO THE PROPERTY. THE TOWN HAS NO LEGAL RECOURSE IN COURT BECAUSE FOR PRESTON TO SUE THE STATE, THE STATE WOULD HAVE TO ALLOW THEM TO DO SO. THAT PROBABLY IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

CONGLON SAID, "MY GUESS IS THEY'LL SAY, 'YOU DIDN'T LIVE UP TO THE TERMS OF THE PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT, 'YOU'RE OUT OF LUCK. AND BY THE WAY, YOU CAN'T SUE US."

RICHARD BLUMENTHAL, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF CONNECTICUT, IS SAID TO SUPPORT PRESTON'S REQUEST. BLUMENTHAL SAID, "THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT PERMIT A TOWN TO SUE THE STATE ARE VERY UNUSUAL AND RARE. THAT'S WHY I CAN'T SPECULATE OR GUESS AS TO HOW IT WOULD WORK."

PRESTON SHOULD BE HAPPY, THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT GAVE THEM UNTIL FEBRUARY 27, 2009, TO COMPLETE THE TRANSACTION TO PURCHASE THE NORWICH HOSPITAL PROPERTY. THE STATE, IN PREVIOUS LETTERS , HAD SAID THEY WOULD NOT GRANT PRESTON AN EXTENSION. ALTHOUGH FEBRUARY 27, 2009, IS A SHORT TIME FRAME, IT IS AN EXTENSION.

PRESTON, SHOULD START NOW TO FIGURE OUT IF THEY CAN NOT FIND A DEVELOPER BY FEBRUARY 27, 2009, HOW THEY ARE GOING TO PAY FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANUP AT AN ESTIMATED $40 MILLION.

BROKENWING EDITORIALS WISHES THE TOWN OF PRESTON WELL, IN THEIR PURSUIT OF THE NORWICH HOSPITAL PROPERTY. I THINK EVERY MOHEGAN WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE NORWICH HOSPITAL PROPERTY (419 ACRES IN PRESTON) DEVELOPED.

HOPEFULLY, PRESTON WILL FIND A DEVELOPER WHO WILL DEVELOP THE PROPERTY TO ADD TAXES TO THEIR TAX BASE AND NOT BE A BURDEN ON THE PEOPLE OF PRESTON. PRESTON NEEDS TO DEVELOP BUSINESSES, NOT HOMES OR APARTMENTS. ON THE NORWICH HOSPITAL SITE.

IT WOULD BE GREAT TO SEE SOMETHING SPARKLING, VIBRANT AND NEW RISE ON THE EAST BANK OF THE THAMES RIVER. WHAT DO YOU THINK?