Branford RTM Tables Swap

Even though a "for lease" sign now stands in front of 175 North Main Street, a commercial building proposed to be "swapped" with the town's former post office, the swap may still progress as proposed-but the Representative Town Meeting (RTM) has decided to take a wait-and-see approach.

On April 13, a majority vote of the RTM approved amending a committee report to table an item on the agenda since the summer. The item asked the RTM "to consider and, if appropriate, approve a proposed property exchange between the Town of Branford and Queach Corporation for town properties located a 1111 Main Street and Queach Corporation property located at 175 North Main Street."

With no definitive answer to the question, the item has been re-referred monthly by the RTM since July 2010.

Much has transpired since First Selectman Anthony "Unk" DaRos (D) first broached the idea of swapping buildings in June 2010. The swap proposal called for moving the Board of Education from 1111 Main Street to a renovated Canoe Brook building, currently home to the town's senior center. The former post office (Board of Education) building would become privately owned retail/office space. (To see a suite of related "swap" stories, visit www.zip06.com/branford.)

On April 13, noting the Board of Finance (BOF) had recently voted to appropriate $30,000 in the 2011-2012 fiscal year to aid a committee exploring the best use of town buildings, Rep. Marc Riccio (R) made a motion to table the item on the RTM agenda.

"The Board of Finance clearly sent a message…Thirty thousand dollars [has been] asked to be appropriated in this year's [2011-2012] budget to review all buildings in town to possibly move the Board of Education…Why continue this debate?" said Riccio.

RTM Majority Leader Anthony Giardiello (D) said he understood questioning whether the town needs a bigger senior center and "if we do, if this is the right place?" But he added he was in favor of keeping the item on the RTM agenda, saying Branford's "probably not going to get a better deal" per square foot than with the proposed swap.

Rep. Sandra Reiners (D), chair of the RTM Ways & Means Committee, also favored re-referring the item.

"The opportunity may have evaporated, but I haven't heard that yet...Why kill it right now? Why not keep it at least on the back burner?" she asked.

Rep. Michael Nardella (R) argued that keeping the item on the RTM agenda without "concrete plans" has led people to think "we're fumbling the ball on this.

"Taking this off the agenda sends a clear message that until people have concrete plans, we're not going to take this up," said Nardella.

Rep. Paul Muniz (D) said he was inclined to agree with Nardella, because he felt it's "important for our body to streamline our conversations."

The decision carried by a vote of 15-11.