Guilford, Unlike Branford, Passes On Taking Stand Against Tolls

GUILFORD, CT - Even though some other town legislative bodies, including Branford, have taken a position against Gov. Ned Lamont’s controversial position to construct tolls on Connecticut highways, Guilford won’t be joining them.

At the most recent Board of Selectmen meeting, First Selectman Matt Hoey said former Selectman Gary MacElhiney had recommended the board might want to weigh in on this issue so he put it on the agenda.

Hoey added, however, that he feels it is not appropriate for the board to make a recommendation.

Selectman Charles Havrda said he agrees with Hoey. He does not think this is a decision the board should be involved in.

If the town has a whole wanted to make a statement then it should go to a Town Meeting, Havrda added.

Selectman Louis Federici said it is a state legislative issue and everyone should have the ability to offer an opinion on it.

In the handful of towns that have taken votes against the tolling plan it has been the Republican Party members who have led the charge against the plan being pushed by Lamont - who is a Democrat.

One of those towns was neighboring Branford, where the Branford Representative Town Meeting joined several other town boards in the state in stating their opposition to tolls being constructed on highways in Connecticut.

The RTM's vote, which was far from unanimous, came after a lengthy debate on whether the RTM was the one to make a statement in such a matter or whether taking a stand for or against tolls was better left to state representatives and senators who represent the town.

In the end, those who felt it was within the right of the RTM to take a stand for residents against tolls - and the impact it would have on the town of Branford - won out.

The ordinance said in part, that tolls would cause "a dramatic increase of trucks and vehicles on Branford streets" by vehicles that exit Interstate 95 to avoid the tolls and instead use Branford roads such as Route 1 instead.
The ordinance further stated that would cause increased "traffic congestion and accidents," which would additionally "increase the cost of public safety to the town of safety."

In addition the side effects of having tolls on the highway and the spillover impact on Branford, the ordianance said "would put Branford buisinesses at a competitive disadvantage."