Press Release
January 11, 2010
The Town of Madison’s Board of Selectmen (‘BOS’) wishes to announce that the environmental investigation portion of the Griswold Airport Property due diligence process has been completed. This site was examined in a Phase I, II, & III process using historical review, soil and groundwater analyses, conversations with regulatory officials, and ground penetrating radar scanning. Environmental experts have told the town that the overall condition is consistent with its use as a small, private airport with only shallow soil restoration required. They estimated the cost range of restoration to range between approximately $200,000 to $400,000.
After intensive negotiations between the BOS and the Seller, an agreement was reached where the seller will bear the likely costs of restoring this land from an airport to its natural state. Specifically, the BOS has obtained a credit of $200,000 against the purchase price and the placement of an additional $150,000 of purchase money into an escrow account. If the site restoration expenses exceed the credited $200,000 plus the town's internal budget of $50,000 (already included in the referendum funds), the town can then draw from the escrowed funds. No extra monies are being requested for the town and the purchase price to the town will be reduced by $200,000 in anticipation of spending that money on site restoration.
“I am very pleased with this result. These concessions on the part of Leyland provide enough money to cover the town near the top of the worst case scenarios,” said First Selectman Fillmore McPherson. “I’m more confident now than ever that the town government’s budget can deliver a restored site with athletic fields and a natural preserve. This was a difficult, complicated negotiation but both sides reached an agreement which, I think, is very favorable to the citizens of Madison,” said Selectman Joseph MacDougald, the other member of the negotiating team on behalf of the BOS.
Upon a motion made by Joe MacDougald and seconded by Al Goldberg the Board of Selectmen unanimously adopted this new motion. Selectman Noreen Kokoruda indicated her support of this project. Selectman Goldberg stated, “The Board of Selectmen’s successful conclusion of this negotiation enables the public to be assured that the restoration of the site will be fully accomplished.” He also indicated that he had also spoken to the absent selectman, Bill Gladstone who was away on business, but that Mr. Gladstone was also in favor of this contractual change.
Madison will hold a town meeting on this topic on the evening of January 19th at 7:00 p.m. in the Brown School auditorium. The Referendum vote will be held in polling places in town on January 26th. For further information, contact: Fillmore McPherson, First Selectman, 203-245-5602
