After commenting that his squabble with the town over property at 573 E. Main St., “seems to be under control,” implored the board to focus on his Red Hill Road property at Wednesday’s .
Cooke maintains the property has been and should continue to be classified as farmland, under CT PA 490 guidelines. At one point, before Interstate road construction, the parcel was part of the 573 E. Main St., property.
Third Selectman John Opie said the Red Hill Road parcel should be considered part of the 573 E. Main St. “It is a classic textbook example of a farm unit,” said Opie, who added that undertaking such a designation would save the town tens of thousands of dollars in litigation.
“I have my reservations that a judge would even allow us to prevail,” he said, noting that litigation costs would negate any taxes the town would collect on the property.
Opie made a motion that the two parcels, now considered separate, should be grouped as one unit. Second Selectman Francis Walsh seconded the motion. However, a vote was not taken Wednesday.
“I’d rather not vote on this now,” said First Selectman Anthony “Unk” DaRos, adding that he’d rather put the matter on the agenda for the next meeting. Walsh agreed, saying that he would like to speak with about the proposal. “I would rather not vote it up or down.”
Opie said he wanted to see the issue resolved soon. “And that my motivation,” he said, “to try and get this resolved before this board leaves office.” All agreed that the matter should be on the next meeting’s agenda.
