The public responded to an invitation to talk about building a new Public Works facility on town-owned land off Tabor Drive, at packed Board of Selectman (BOS) meeting Feb. 1. The speakers, mainly familiar political faces, questioned the price—and the advisability—of the proposal.

The BOS is now continuing its investigation of the idea and should be calling a second Public Hearing within 60 days, said First Selectman Anthony "Unk" DaRos (D).

DaRos announced at the Feb. 1 meeting that the night's public discussion would be a "question and answer" session, allowing the BOS to gather input and ask its own questions of the town's Building Facilities Committee, which was in full attendance. In January, the committee formally recommended the BOS approve building Public Works at the Tabor site, at a cost of $10.9 million.

Third Selectman Jamie Cosgrove (R) led the BOS questioning with an attack on the project's cost. Several years ago, the town created a combined plan for a new fire headquarters and public works facility, built on the Tabor site, for a proposed $17 million. Then, Cosgrove noted, a figure of $8 million was brought up for a stand-alone Public Works; last year, the number increased to $9 million.

"Now here we are up to $11 million, and I strongly feel if we go with this site you're recommending, it's going to be significantly higher than $11 million," said Cosgrove. "There needs to be a budget in place before we actually go [forward]. You're trying to sell us this product. We're trying to talk ourselves into spending this money."

Residents from the area raised questions about increased truck traffic, noise levels, improvements needed to substandard roads, and other issues impacting their quality of life. Representative Town Committee (RTM) clerk Dennis Flanigan (R) noted area residents have long endured trucks traveling to the town's former landfill off Tabor Drive and now would be burdened with Public Works traffic.

"People have had to suffer with that for a number of years," said Flanigan, also noting, "We should take a hard look at the cost of this facility. All we're hearing about is Tabor is the site…give us the pros and cons of the other sites."

Others who spoke, including RTM member Frank Twohill (R) and resident Joy McConnell, asked if other sites could still be considered for the facility.

"The answer is, 'Yes,'" said DaRos.

The potential for contamination on the site was first raised by resident Wayne Cooke. He pointed out the town had once considered the land's potential for contamination (due to methane leaking from the adjacent former landfill) to be such a great risk, in 2003, the Tabor land taken by Branford by eminent domain to head off future residential development.

"The things that were said seven years ago about this property preclude it from ever being developed for anything," said Cooke.

Lengthy litigation followed the eminent domain action, ending in 2010 with the Connecticut Supreme Court overturning a $12.8 million jury award against the town. Branford ultimately paid approximately $20 million in legal expenses.

Noting outside experts quoted in the press have most recently have been using the word "polluted" with regard to the Tabor site, McConnell pointed out Branford's taking a legal risk on future lawsuits, should health issues arise due to contamination (click on the video to see McConnell speaking at the meeting). McConnell, a Republican, unsuccessfully challenged DaRos for the first selectman's seat in 2011.

"The history of that property is such that if I were working on it, and I got sick, I would have a doubt...and so words like polluted…in my view…don't play very well with a jury; at least not from the taxpayers' perspective. So I would urge you to consider whether or not putting Public Works on this property, rightly or wrongly, is going to expose us to liability. Because if it does, I think that $20 million we used to acquire the property is going to be dwarfed by personal injury lawsuits and I think that is a major concerns to the taxpayers," said McConnell.

"I'd like to reiterate that exactly what Joy [McConnell] brought up is exactly why the town is going to control the environmental issues on that property," said DaRos.

McConnell also asked if the BOS would allow the public to tour the Tabor land, which is currently closed to unofficial access. DaRos said such a plan was in the works. McConnell also raised questions about possible construction/clearing already taking place at the Tabor site, and was told by Public Works Director Art Baker that the field was being used as a holding and storage area by the town, but that it was not being prepared for any type of construction.

The Board of Selectman intends to announce the date for a second public hearing on the matter, to take place within 60 days of Feb. 1. The announcement will be posted at www.branford-ct.gov.