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10/08/2014 12:00 AMMore than 200 sign-carrying residents turned out last night to ask Town Council for help—and to rebuke its members for not looking out for the safety of residents, who fear they’ll be living in what one termed a “blast zone” if plans made by J.J. Sullivan, Co., go through.
J.J. Sullivan, Co., hopes to install propane storage tanks with a total capacity of 60,000 gallons at 40 Ciro Road. A petition was submitted asking Town Council to hold a binding referendum vote to override a new amendment to zoning regulations which now allows the tanks in.
The amendment s was passed by a majority of Planning & Zoning Commission (PZC) members at an Aug. 17 meeting, following a public hearing on the matter at that meeting. During the hearing, North Branford Fire Chief William Seward III attested to the safety of such a facility.
With the new amendment, it will take only an administrative sign off at Town Hall to allow the propane storage facility at the Ciro Road site.
Last night, many residents said they only learned about the August PZC hearing, vote, and propone storage amendment after the meeting took place. They felt that, due issues including safety, reduced property values, and other concerns affecting their quality of life, the Town Council, as the town’s top elected officials, should have made an effort to heavily publicize the Aug. 17 hearing.
Mayor Anthony Candelora said in response, “I’ve sat on this Town Council for five years. We don’t know what applications are coming in. That’s not our responsibility. Town Council, by our charter, [has] no control over our lands.”
Christine Butler, executive director of Evergreen Woods, located one mile from the proposed site, said the complex is the town’s second largest taxpayer and that she is responsible for submitting a disaster plan to the state as soon as the tanks are installed—and she has none. She said there are 300 residents together with 200 employees at the property and questioned how first responders, consisting largely of North Branford’s volunteer fire companies, could properly assist.
“What is the plan? How do we handle a disaster?” Butler asked the council.
According to another resident who spoke last night, 60,000 gallons of propane has the explosive power of one-tenth of the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. He added that there are 500 residents living within 1,000 feet of the proposed two-tank facility and the effects of the blast on that radius would be enormous and devastating, lighting houses on fire. Three geographic ridges in the area would also send a 50-foot high concussive blast wave to a point extended to the old Town Hall building on Route 80, he added.
Several residents also questioned whether there was a conflict of interest as the land where the propane storage facility would be installed currently is owned by Town Council member Donald Fucci. Council member Rosemarie Angeloni answered that PZC members are recommended by Democratic and Republic Town committees and appointed by the Town Council. Mayor Anthony Candelora added that the Town Council hasn’t had any vote in the matter and said that Fucci would abstain from any vote should it come before Town Council in the future.
However, as described by Town Attorney John Gesmonde, the Town Council’s primary role as the North Branford’s financial body and issues such as concerns with zoning regulations go through other channels. Gesmonde said he would review the petition, signed by 1,019 residents, and let the council know if it was required to act or otherwise respond to the language within 30 days’ time.
Specifically, the petition asks the Town Council to hold a town-wide binding referendum to override the PZC amendment.
Gesmonde said he will see if the council is within its lawful rights to assist the residents with the petition question and allowed that even if the council isn’t, “that doesn’t mean that it’s the end of the road. It means that you’ve come here and this may or may not be the proper body to give you the ruling that you’re looking for,” Gesmonde said, adding, “You should be very concerned if the Town Council starts interfering with [decisions] of boards and commissions.”
Residents coming up to the microphone night also aired questions about Mayor Candelora’s support of the proposed zoning amendment on Aug. 17 (see related content “Public Hearing, PZC minutes 8-17-14”) and asked if he brought the idea for the storage site to J.J. Sullivan Co., a Guilford company. The company’s proposal for a storage facility in Guilford earlier this year was denied. Candelora responded that he contacted J.J. Sullivan in his role as mayor to facilitate economic development, just as he reaches out to other businesses.
“J.J. Sullivan did come to our town, looked at three properties, and came across this property,” said Candelora.
According to information supplied by opponents of the facility, the town would gain $37,000 a year on its tax rolls if the facility moves in.
Following the end of the meeting, Fucci told The Sound he had no comment on the citizens’ comments. The property at Ciro Road has not yet been sold or leased.