Watershed
Top 10 of 2018: #1 – Stewart Watershed Mining Plan Defeated, Again
Republican Mayor Erin Stewart’s proposal to allow the strip mining of New Britain’s protecting drinking watershed land was defeated.
Watershed Mining Study Refund Sought by Council
The City Council is seeking a refund from the engineering firm hired as part of Mayor Erin Stewart’s plan to allow strip-mining of drinking watershed land.
Proposal Seeks Refund for Watershed Mining Study
A Council proposal seeks a refund for the study that was part of Stewart’s plan to allow strip-mining on New Britain’s protected drinking watershed land.
Stewart Watershed Mining Plan Slammed by State Commissions
Republican Mayor Erin Stewart’s proposal to allow the strip mining of New Britain’s protecting drinking watershed land was broadly slammed by two key state commissions, the Water Planning Council (WPC) and the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ). The two commissions were responding to a state law that required that they provide their recommendations on Stewart’s […]
Two Days Before State Report, Stewart Withdraws Watershed Mining Plan
Just two days before a key state decision regarding Republican Mayor Erin Stewart’s plan to allow strip-mining on New Britain’s protected drinking watershed land, Stewart has withdrawn the proposal. Stewart’s withdrawal of the mining plan comes just before an August 24, 2018 special meeting of the state Water Planning Council (WPC). The WPC has previously been critical […]
“It’s not for sale.” – Council Votes Down Selling Fifteen Acres to Burlington.
The City Council overwhelmingly voted down a proposal to sell fifteen acres of New Britain owned Class 3 watershed land to the town of Burlington, defeating the plan at its July 11, 2018 meeting. The vote is a victory for Protect Our Watersheds CT and others who had opposed the sale. Protect Our Watersheds CT and […]
Apparent Leaky Pipes Arise As Issue in Debate on Mining Plan – Council Considers Hiring Firm to Study.
The City Council is set to consider a resolution to study what the state Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) said is, “what appears to be an increasingly leak-prone water distribution system,” in New Britain. The consultant hired under the resolution would study and offer recommendations on this, “unaccounted water.” On May 25, 2018, the CEQ released their […]
July 9th Hearing Set on Proposal to Sell 15 Acres of Watershed Land for $276,000
The City Council is set to hold a public hearing on the second of two controversial watershed proposals from the administration of Republican Mayor Erin Stewart. On July 9, 2018 the Council will hold a hearing on a resolution that would authorize Stewart to sell fifteen acres of Class 3 watershed land owned by the city […]
Overwhelming Opposition to Stewart Drinking Watershed Mining Proposal
Huge opposition met Republican Mayor Erin Stewart’s controversial plan to allow strip mining on New Britain drinking watershed land at the public hearing held on June 26, 2018 in front of the City Council and the Board of Water Commissioners. Speaker after speaker spoke in opposition to the plan at a packed hearing in the […]
June 5th Hearing on Proposal to Sell 15 Acres of Watershed Land for $276,000 is Postponed
BREAKING NEWS (6/5/2018): The City Council hearing which includes the Burlington land sale proposal has been postponed. It had been scheduled for tonight, June 5, 2018. The new date for the hearing is to be announced. There will be a hearing on June 5, 2018 on a resolution that would authorize Republican Mayor Erin Stewart to […]
Proposal to Sell 15 Acres of Watershed Land for $276,000
A resolution has been proposed by Ald. Jamie Giantonio (R-1) and Ald. Daniel Salerno (R-AL) to authorize Republican Mayor Erin Stewart to sell fifteen acres of Class 3 watershed land owned by the city of New Britain in Burlington. The resolution says that Stewart has already authorized the sale for $276,000 to the Town of Burlington. The fifteen acres on Covey […]
Top 10 of 2017: #4 – Exposing New Britain’s “Watergate”
Many important stories have been covered by the New Britain Progressive in 2017. It may be difficult to name only a few articles as the top stories of the year, but there are a few the New Britain Progressive would like to share as our Top Ten. Other Top Ten stories can be found at […]
At Large City Council Candidates Discuss Education, Economy and Water
Current Democratic Ald. Manny Sanchez (D-3) is joined by fellow Democrats, Eva Magnuszewski, Yvonne Muniz, Katie Breslin and Richard Reyes as the Democratic candidates for At-Large City Council members, facing Republican Desiree Costa and incumbent Republicans Tremell Collins (R-AL), Jim Sanders, Jr. (R-AL) and Daniel Davis (R-AL) and the Republican Council Leader Daniel Salerno (R-AL). […]
Ward 4 City Council Candidates Campaign on Education, Economy and Watershed Land
Democratic challengers Ann Speyer and Bobby Berriault are taking on incumbent Republicans Don Naples (R-4) and Robert Smedley (R-4) in the election for the two City Council seats representing New Britain’s Ward 4. New Britain’s Ward 4 elects two members of the City Council. The ward includes Little Poland, the Belvedere neighborhood, the Little Warsaw neighborhood, the Stanley […]
Ward 1 City Council Candidates
The City Council election in New Britain’s Ward 1 is between two incumbent Republicans and two Democratic challengers. Democrats Veronica T. DeLandro and Molly McGuire are taking on Ald. Jamie Giantonio (R-1) and Ald. Wilfredo Pabon (R-1), two of the city’s longest-serving Council members. Ten of the fifteen members of the City Council are elected from […]
Presentation July 26th to Discuss Effects of Mining New Britain’s Watershed Forest
Protect Our Watersheds CT will hold a presentation on “What’s at stake if New Britain’s watershed forest is harmed”. The presentation, featuring Dr. Richard Judd and Atty. Paul Zagorsky, will be held at the Community Room in the lower level of the New Britain Public Library on Wednesday, July 26, 2017 at 6:30pm. Protect Our […]
The Web of Watershed Mining
Records show that key players in the proposal by Republican Mayor Erin Stewart to allow the Tilcon company to strip-mine New Britain drinking watershed land are tied together, behind the scenes, in a network of business and other relationships. Tilcon, the company that is seeking a long-term deal, in which it would be permitted to […]
Water-gate? Extreme Drought Continues While Stewart Drinking Water Well Sale Comes Under Increased Fire
Press Pool New Britain continues to be under “Extreme Drought” conditions, according to the United States Drought Monitor. The news comes as the plans by Republican Mayor Erin Stewart to sell a high-yield drinking city water well come under increased fire, with state legislation proposed in response to the sale. The well sale has come […]
Rep. Lopes Bill Requires Fair Market Value For City To Sell Wells, Watershed Land
By John McNamara State Rep. Rick Lopes (D-24) has filed a bill requiring municipalities or water companies to “complete a fair market appraisal of any property encompassing a watershed, well or reservoir before such property may be sold, and to make such appraisal public at least 90 days prior to such sale.” The legislation (6481) […]
City Hall Watch: Stewart Wants More Money For Tilcon Watershed Study; Costs To Exceed $350K
By John McNamara The Stewart administration is seeking an additional $17,500 for an environmental study of Tilcon Inc.’s long-term plan to lease city watershed for trap rock mining. The extra cost is up for consideration at the December 14th Common Council meeting and follows the June 2016 Common Council approval of a $337,000 no-bid contract […]