Petition to the mayor and the common council of the city of Middletown to deny resolution selling real property on Bow Ln to the state of Connecticut:

We, Citizens of the City of Middletown, hereby request that the Resolution selling real property on Bow Lane to the State of Connecticut, consisting of 91 acres more or less, and also having frontage on Cedar Lane and Reservoir Road, be denied. We object to the parcel being used for the expansion of the Veterans Cemetery or for any other State purpose.

We request that the City retain the property in its present natural state or use it for recreational purposes. We also express our displeasure at not being advised of this proposed sale by our elected leaders regardless of what the law allows.

The selling of this property would make the following impacts on the neighborhood:

1. This land was previously fought for to oppose the states continued attempts to place unwanted institutions in the area that no other town wanted. A group of citizens from across the town formed, called the residence against institutional dumping led by president Francis Muraca. State and local Representatives worked with this group. They included then representative Susan Bysiewicz, now lieutenant governor, state representative Joseph Serra, former mayor and common counselor Thomas Serra, former mayor and  common counselor Sebastian, Giuliano, and many others. After approximately 15 years of negotiations meetings and hours of work in 2005 the state turned over the five parcels of land, Restriction was also placed on all parcels to protect the neighborhood and future generations of Middletown citizens.
2. Environmental reasons alone, the protection of the city water supply  could also have grave impacts. A continuous running stream flows towards the city’s watershed a short distance away. Decomposing and disintegrated contaminates from caskets could get into the soil and include chemical substances applied in the embalming process. This could effect water supply for the city and surrounding neighbors.
3. The property owners have not been informed what is going to be on the matter.

We are asking the mayor and the common council to deny the resolution or table the matter and ask for all pertinent information to be provided to the public and to give the neighbors in the area affected by this proposal written notice in an opportunity to be heard on the matter. The states request for secrecy does not outweigh constituents rights to be informed, especially when the decision could have such a devastating effect on the value of properties and private water.

Thank you for taking the time to consider this important matter. Open communication with the public and intentional consideration for our environment important issues that deserve to be heard and addressed.

Thank you.