Guilford Moves Forward with Purchase of Four Open Space Parcels; Will Seek Bids for Two

At Wednesday morning's town meeting, residents unanimously approved the town of Guilford to acquire four parcels of land to be used for the purpose of Open Space. Immediately following the town meeting, the Board of Selectmen approved the purchase. The parcels, which were formerly part of Quonnigpaug Hills Condominium, were purchased by deed in lieu of foreclosure. 

During the town meeting, Guilford resident Paul May spoke in favor of the town's purchase of the parcels.

"As the president of the corporation for Quonnigpaug Hills, and as a representative of one of the five sections of the Hills, I am in favor of getting this resolved and approved now," May said. "We have been pursuing this closure for 15 years and my boards feel that the time is now for this transaction to take place."

Kevin Magee, the town's environmental planner also pointed out during the town meeting that some of the parcels were adjacent to open space parcels that are already owned and maintained by the town's Conservation Commission.

"I want to thank Selectman Gary MacElhiney for his work on this project," First Mazza said during the town meeting, following the unanimous approval of the purchase. Selectman Cartier later echoed those same sentiments later at the Board of Selectmen.

"This is the resolution of an issue that has been with us for almost 30 years," continued Mazza. "The settlement involved participation from several parties involved. And it resolves several title and tax issues."

The selectman also approved taking action on the sale of two of the four parcels during the Board of Selectman meeting.

"We spoke about the sale of two of the parcels during the town meeting earlier this morning," explained Mazza. "Because the parcels are not reserved or used for town purposes, we can approve them going out to bid here during a board meeting. This procedure is in accordance with our charter."

Now that the motion has been approved, a legal notice will be published on the town's website to solicit sealed bids for the two parcels. Those bids will be opened at a future Board of Selectman meeting, and then there will be a public hearing at that point, during which residents can be heard on the matter.

While he didn't reveal any specifics, Selectman MacElhiney stated there was already some interest in the parcels.

"I know there will be at least one bidder," Selectman MacElhiney said. "There has been some active interest. But that's all I'll say at this time."