Council Endorses Economic Development Plan

The town council approved an for Tolland at Tuesday night's meeting, signaling the council's interest in supporting the plan's objectives in the future.

Economic Development Commission Chairperson George Mantak asked the council to help implement the plan, which calls for more development of Tolland's limited commercial and industrial zones to strengthen the tax base and create a sense of community, amongst other goals.

"It's all those parties coming together with a common focus that brings us where we need to be," Mantak said. "We've been whipsawed back and forth as councils have changed. It [the action plan] is a guideline that carries forward."

He added that nothing prevents the addition of amendements to the plan.

After officially endorsing the plan, the council discussed the town's current snow and ice removal plan.

Council member Sam Belsito expressed an interest in lowering the average salt dispersal rate of 150 pounds per mile in order to prevent salt pollution. The Eastern Highlands Health District is currently in Tolland.

Belsito asked if it would be possible to test a small portion of road with a rate of 125 pounds of salt per mile in an effort to prevent possible salt pollution.

Town Manager Steven Werbner, however, expressed concerns about the dangers of lowering the rate further.

"We're extremely concerned about the environmental impacts of salt and sand," he said. "There are areas of concern. We have the responsibility to balance the public safety concerns with the environmental concerns."

Director of Public Works Clem Langlois, Jr. explained that the advanced truck equipment that has allowed the town to halve the state's standard rate of 300 pounds of salt per mile (on two-lane highways) would stop working properly at rates lower than what the town uses.

"It would be nice to reduce, but the equipment we have just won't allow us to do that anymore," Langlois said. "We've reduced it as much as we possibly can."

The council agreed that the town should pursue lowering the rate if the town is made aware of any equipment or chemical advances for ice and snow control. Werbner pointed out that the town already uses an award-winning salt product from Cargill.

The council also set a public hearing on Jan. 3 for the transfer of $625,000 to cover Tropical Storm Irene and .

The council also cancelled its regularly scheduled meeting for December 27 and scheduled a facility plans workshop at 7:30 p.m. on that date and will perhaps discuss the condition and uses of Parker School.