Kokoruda Votes Against Requiring DEEP to Conduct Study

From Rep. Kokoruda: State Rep. Noreen Kokoruda today voted against a proposal in the legislature’s Appropriations Committee. The proposal, Senate Bill 515: AN ACT REQUIRING A STUDY OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC ACCESS AND ENJOYMENT TO WATERWAYS FOR LAND-CONSTRAINED MUNICIPALITIES would require the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) to conduct a study to consider ways to encourage economic development along Connecticut’s waterfront.

The aforementioned proposal was raised for the city of New Haven, who originally requested having the ability to use floating structures for a restaurant or other entertainment options off its shore. The bill was a compromise in the Environment Committee to change the bill to a study to investigate the issue.

“This is the beginning of a long process with regard to our state’s fiscal health, and it is very likely that we will have to make arduous cuts in order to balance our budget,” said Rep. Kokoruda. “I simply could not support this proposal when all of our state parks are forced to cut services and there is talk of cutting critical park employees, including Hammonasset State Park's Ranger Russ, which is a real problem. With Hammonasset State Park right in our own backyard, and the legislature working to pass a balanced budget, we just cannot afford another study.”

Rep. Kokoruda noted that the Fiscal Note for this study would amount to $40,000. The bill passed out of the legislature’s Appropriations Committee 22-21.

The 2017 legislative session adjourns on June 7.

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