GUILFORD, CT — The Board of Selectmen voted unanimously Monday, Oct. 5, to put the town's proposed $800,000 purchase of 63 acres on Durham Road, owned by the Bartlett Land Corporation, before a special town meeting at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, at the Community Center, Patch reported. The same agenda listed more than $330,000 in vehicle and equipment spending.
The town has posted videos of the selectmen's Monday meeting and the Planning & Zoning Commission's Wednesday, Oct. 7, session. Written minutes for those and the week's other meetings, except the Marina Commission, had not been posted by Friday, Oct. 9, so the agendas below show what was scheduled rather than what was decided.
Board of Selectmen
The board met Monday, Oct. 5, at 8:30 a.m. at Town Hall, 31 Park St. The Bartlett land borders Connecticut Water Company property and the Sportsman's Club, and can be reached from the parking lot at the Lake Quonnipaug beach, according to Patch. Environmental Planner Kevin Magee said in September that the town would apply for state open space grants expected to cover up to two-thirds of the price. After the vote to schedule the town meeting, Selectman Jonathan Trotta said he still opposes the purchase. "I'm pretty vocal that I think we have enough open space and I'm not for this particular purchase," he said, Patch reported.
The spending items on the agenda were:
- A used truck for the Waste Transfer Station from Barnick's Truck & Equipment, $24,000.
- Three hybrids from Gengras Ford, two for patrol and one for administration, $135,723, plus $55,312.30 for Soli's Garage to modify them.
- A Ventrac MA900 boom attachment, $18,937, and an HR600 diesel mower, $97,936.50, both through the state bid.
- $12,500 for Cardinal Engineering to do added tidal wetland mitigation work on the Clapboard Hill Road bridge replacement.
The board was also to hear presentations on a contract with Readyly and on Greenstage Live Arts' Light up the Green 2027, and an update from the Local Homeless Advocacy Workgroup.
Several items were set for Monday, Nov. 2, according to the agenda. Public hearings and special town meetings at 8:30 a.m. that day would take up an ordinance change on farm property tax exemptions, a waiver of the right of first refusal to buy the Bluff Head Open Space, and acceptance of a 19,118-square-foot conservation easement at 217 Saddle Hill Road. A separate hearing would cover changes to the town's peddling and soliciting rules, Chapter 218 of the Town Code.
Requests to use the Green included the Shoreline Chamber of Commerce's Artisan Marketplace on Saturday, Oct. 10, and the Guilford Rotary Club's Frosty 5K on Friday, Jan. 1, 2027. The agenda closed with a private session on collective bargaining.
The selectmen also called a special meeting for Tuesday, Oct. 6, at 4:30 p.m. at 31 Park St. with one item: possible approval of an energy contract with Direct Energy. The agenda did not give the contract's length, price or what it covers, and the town had not posted minutes or a video of that meeting.
Planning & Zoning Commission
The commission held its virtual public hearing and regular meeting Wednesday, Oct. 7, at 6 p.m. on Microsoft Teams. Five of the six hearings had been tabled or continued from earlier meetings, the agenda notes. The applications:
- A text amendment from Town Planner Anne Hartjen, for the town, updating definitions to match state law under PA 25-1.
- 5 Meriden Street: Gregg Fedus of Fedus Engineering, for owners Jacqueline and George Rissotto, seeking a special permit for building coverage of up to 25%.
- 635 Nut Plains Road: owner Chad Greenlee, seeking a special permit for an accessory dwelling unit larger than the area limits and set in the front yard.
- 41 Mulberry Point Road: Mark Alex Maidique of Bridger AAD, for the Shoemaker Howard W Family Trust, seeking a special permit for an accessory structure over 750 square feet.
- 40 Whispering Woods Road: Todd Anderson of Anderson Surveying, for owner Daniel B. Tucker, seeking a special permit for an accessory structure over 750 square feet.
- 43 Bay Street: Attorney Marjorie Shansky, for owners Sean and Leah Ann Portley, seeking a special permit to excavate, fill and grade the lot for a single-family home. This was the only new application.
The commission's business also included referrals on two land acquisitions, a conservation easement on Lot 20 of the Saddle Hill subdivision and the Bartlett property, plus updates from the Affordable Housing Commission and the Land Acquisition Committee, its 2027 meeting calendar, a vote on bylaws, and a warning about spam invoices and permit phishing.