Selectmen Delay Selection of New Branford Public Works Site

After more than two hours of comments from residents and discussion among board members, the Board of Selectmen decided they were not yet ready to make a decision regarding the location of the town's new Department of Public Works facility.

At their regularly scheduled meeting Wednesday night, the board unanimously voted to re-refer an agenda item that called for the possible approval of the town-owned Tabor Drive site as the new spot for public works.

In their motion, which was approved unanimously, the selectmen noted the item will be included for further discussion and possible action as part of the agenda for the board's next meeting.

'On the Agenda'

"I want to address this again, probably next meeting," First Selectman Anthony "Unk" DaRos said of the final decision on where the new DPW facility will be. "I want it on the agenda… and I think it's got to stay there full time" until a final decision is made on a location.

The Public Works Building Committee — which was on hand at Wednesday's meeting — recently submitted a report to the selectmen that recommended the Tabor site as the town's best option for a new DPW location.

The committee voted to recommend the same location as the new site earlier this year, as well.

Opportunity to Talk

During Wednesday's meeting, however, more than a dozen residents rose to voice their concerns about constructing a new facility at the site, noting the effects the project could have on the local environment and quality of life, as well as safety concerns.

DaRos said that that was the main purpose of placing the Tabor site item on the meeting's agenda.

"We wanted to give people the opportunity to talk," he said.

Other Items 

Also at the meeting, the selectmen tabled a second DPW related item on the agenda, which called for the possible recommendation to the RTM for the approval of $325,000 in funding for a schematic design budget for the proposed DPW project. The item once again be considered at the board's next meeting.

In addition, the selectmen also voted to add to the agenda of its next meeting a third related item, which involved a recommendation to approve $30,000 in funds that would be used by the Public Works Building Committee to carry out a more detailed screening of the three additional potential sites added back in the spring for the new facility.

Public Works Still Without a Home

Currently the public works department is in its their second year of leasing space at 137 N. Branford Rd. to house their operation.

Just before the winter of 2010-11, PWD was moved from their former home at 45 N. Main St., to make way for the new Fire Department Headquarters.