East Lyme referendum on - for now

East Lyme - As the aftermath of Hurricane Irene remains unknown, First Selectman Paul Formica said Friday that officials plan to go ahead with Thursday's referendum on whether the town should authorize a $4.23 million bond issue to purchase 301 acres of open space near Darrow Pond.

Polls are scheduled be open at the Community Center from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

But Formica said the safety of the town during and after the storm is a much more pressing matter.

"I'm not really thinking of (the referendum) right now," Formica said. "We want to make sure everyone is safe."

The referendum date will likely be a topic when the Board of Selectmen holds an emergency meeting at 4 p.m. Monday at Town Hall to assess hurricane damage.

In the past year, the town has collaborated with the national non-profit Trust for Public Land to purchase the property from Webster Bank for $4.15 million.

The bond issue also includes $85,000 to pay for the financing. Formcia said the purchase fits into the town's long term debt service plan.

In May, the Board of Selectman approved an agreement with the trust, which is paying for all of the legal and environmental work associated with the purchase.

The purchase has been approved by the Planning Commission, the Conservation Commission and by the Board of Finance.

Plans call for the town to use roughly 50 acres of the property as a site for water tower that would be an essential part the already-approved connection to a water supply owned by the City of New London.

For Formica, the water connection is the key aspect of the purchase. He said it would help solve East Lyme's water shortage.

The town relies on a system of seven municipal wells, which are strained in the summer, when the town's population doubles.

The lack of reliable water, according to Formica, has scared off potential development in the town.

"It's essential for economic development," Formica said.

Formica said engineers have determined that the high land on the Darrow property is the ideal spot in town to place a water tower. The tower would help regulate water pressure when town transfers water to and from Lake Konomoc.

The remaining 200 acres would be preserved for open space and would be suitable for hiking and biking.

The property, which was the site of a JC Penney testing facility, was once considered for a championship golf course. Other plans called for a 600-unit development.

In the past month, the purchase has been criticized by town officials and residents.

Finance board member Steve Larcen, one of two members to vote against the bond issue, balked at the assessment of the property, $4.15 million, the same figure as the purchase price.

Larcen noted that the same firm has performed three separate assessments on the property.

"I wanted to get an independent view," Larcen said at a town meeting last week.

Darci Schofield, a project manager at the land trust, said last month it is typical for the same company to perform assessments because of familiarity with the property.

Larcen, who voted to approve the regional water interconnection, also said last week that he would have supported the purchase if the price was lower.

Residents who live near the land on Darrow's Ridge, have also criticized the speed at which the purchase has moved through the town government.

John Strafaci, a resident, has said several times in public session that the purchase deserves more scrutiny.

If the purchase is approved, the closing date with Webster Bank would be Oct. 31.

s.chupaska@theday.com