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Stratford council approves grants, leases, appointments and land conveyance; several items unanimous
Summary
At its Feb. 10 meeting the Town of Stratford council approved two conservation and emergency grants, authorized negotiations and referrals related to Armory Road property, approved fee changes and multiple board appointments, and approved a land conveyance and related covenants following executive session.
The Town of Stratford Town Council voted Feb. 10 to approve a series of grants, contracts, appointments and a land conveyance following executive sessions, issuing unanimous votes on most items.
Why it matters: The actions authorize town participation in state and federal grant programs, begin negotiations on a property lease with the Stratford Housing Authority, adjust permitting fees, and finalize a conveyance and development covenants for a parcel described in executive session. Several items will affect town property holdings, emergency operations capacity and local affordable-housing planning.
Votes at a glance:
- Item 6.2.1: Grant application to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) for $20,000 with no town match to implement a restoration program for forested and riparian areas of Stony Brook Park. Motion approved unanimously.
- Item 6.2.2: Grant application to FEMA and the Connecticut Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security for $26,000 with a town match of $19,000 to support the town's emergency operations center. Motion approved unanimously.
- Item 7.1: Referral/land-record cleanup related to abandonment or reconfiguration of two road rows and a parcel at 200 Clover Street; measure referred/approved per planning commission recommendation.
- Item 7.2: Increase in final inspection fee (amount described in meeting as $24,120) — motion approved unanimously. The transcript records the amount as $24,120 but does not provide additional budget detail.
- Item 7.3: Authorization for the mayor to enter negotiations with the Stratford Housing Authority for the lease of Lot 4300 Armory Road in terms acceptable to the town attorney and the council; motion approved unanimously.
- Item 7.4: Referral of the acquisition and lease of Lot 4300 Armory Road to the Planning Commission for an 8-24 review; motion approved.
- Appointments (7.4.0.1–0.7 and 7.5): Multiple appointments and reappointments to the Stratford Library Board and Arts Commission were approved; council members noted the library board provided the candidate recommendations after a governance interview process.
- Executive-session outcomes and land conveyance: Following executive session the council approved a conveyance of approximately 0.87 acres identified as Candlewood Road (Map/Block/Lot 50/193/203) for $1 and authorized acquisition of development covenants and restrictions on an adjoining 9.61-acre parcel at 630 James Pond Road (Map/Block/Lot 50/193/28) for a sum not to exceed $20,000. The motion passed unanimously.
Other actions noted in the meeting included scheduling and administrative items such as transfer-station hours, revaluation notices (Vision Government Solutions engaged for townwide revaluation under Conn. Gen. Stat. 12-62), and project updates for the army engine plant demolition and the Benjamin Nickel Building performing-arts restoration.
Quotations and council notes: During the appointments discussion a library governance representative described the board's candidate vetting process and said the board looks for specific skill sets and asks candidates to serve on multiple committees; that representative described a reactivated governance process that interviews applicants and forwards recommendations to the council. The library representative said the chair of the council was provided the recommendation list.
Next steps: Several items will require follow-up—negotiation terms for the Armory Road lease, Planning Commission 8-24 review, and administration of the FEMA grant match for the emergency operations center. The Candlewood Road conveyance includes development covenants the town will record and monitor.
