Saturday, November 22, 2008 11:30 PM EST
Petition targets Cannon Square plan
 The plan to modify Cannon Square has been criticized by a petition. SUSANNAH H. SNOWDEN / SUN FILE PHOTO |
STONINGTON — Although plans to modify Cannon Square were approved by the Board of Warden and Burgesses last month, a petition to downsize the plans has surfaced.
“We, citizens of the Borough, hereby petition the Warden and Burgesses to scale back the plan (estimated to cost up to $99,150) to modify Cannon Square. We agree with preserving the cannons and repairing the posts and chains. We do not agree with lowering the level of the square. We do not agree with planting four elm trees,” the anonymous petition reads.
The drive to modify — some would say restore — the square was spearheaded by the Stonington Village Improvement Association. Using old pictures, they developed a plan to restore the deteriorating cannons, discard the chain fence, and remove the soil that had built up over the years, causing the historical plaza to look more like a hill than a square.
Several public hearings were held before the board approved the project on Oct. 20. According to Jim Hicks, president of the improvement association, the project has been discussed at every board meeting for the past several months.
“There’s been plenty of time for public comment,” added Warden Don Maranell.
Both Hicks and Maranell said they didn’t know who has been circulating the petition.
Maranell said there was a small group of residents who found fault with the project at the October meeting. One person protested spending the money, he said, while others said they didn’t want to see trees planted at the square’s four corners. According to the draft minutes of that meeting on the borough’s Web site, “Juan O’Callahan questioned the projected expenditures for the Cannon Square project.”
The money for the project is coming from a state grant, private funds, and about $10,000 in borough funds that had been re-allocated from another part of the budget, Maranell said. The amount of money that the borough is spending is small compared to what they’re getting in return, he said, calling the expenditure a “wise investment.”
He also said there have been some misconceptions about the leveling. The top of the square will not be brought down to street level; only about 12 to 18 inches will be removed. Leveling the square makes it more accessible to the handicapped, he said.
Maranell was supportive of the tree plantings, because “there historically have been trees there,” he said. However, he added that the board is looking into whether or not elms are the right tree species to plant there, or if they’ll be overwhelming.
“They have a right to petition,” Maranell said, noting that the board will make decisions based on the best interests and wishes of the borough.
“We’re listening to all residents,” he said.
lrovetti@thewesterlysun.com
“We, citizens of the Borough, hereby petition the Warden and Burgesses to scale back the plan (estimated to cost up to $99,150) to modify Cannon Square. We agree with preserving the cannons and repairing the posts and chains. We do not agree with lowering the level of the square. We do not agree with planting four elm trees,” the anonymous petition reads.
The drive to modify — some would say restore — the square was spearheaded by the Stonington Village Improvement Association. Using old pictures, they developed a plan to restore the deteriorating cannons, discard the chain fence, and remove the soil that had built up over the years, causing the historical plaza to look more like a hill than a square.
Several public hearings were held before the board approved the project on Oct. 20. According to Jim Hicks, president of the improvement association, the project has been discussed at every board meeting for the past several months.
“There’s been plenty of time for public comment,” added Warden Don Maranell.
Both Hicks and Maranell said they didn’t know who has been circulating the petition.
Maranell said there was a small group of residents who found fault with the project at the October meeting. One person protested spending the money, he said, while others said they didn’t want to see trees planted at the square’s four corners. According to the draft minutes of that meeting on the borough’s Web site, “Juan O’Callahan questioned the projected expenditures for the Cannon Square project.”
The money for the project is coming from a state grant, private funds, and about $10,000 in borough funds that had been re-allocated from another part of the budget, Maranell said. The amount of money that the borough is spending is small compared to what they’re getting in return, he said, calling the expenditure a “wise investment.”
He also said there have been some misconceptions about the leveling. The top of the square will not be brought down to street level; only about 12 to 18 inches will be removed. Leveling the square makes it more accessible to the handicapped, he said.
Maranell was supportive of the tree plantings, because “there historically have been trees there,” he said. However, he added that the board is looking into whether or not elms are the right tree species to plant there, or if they’ll be overwhelming.
“They have a right to petition,” Maranell said, noting that the board will make decisions based on the best interests and wishes of the borough.
“We’re listening to all residents,” he said.
lrovetti@thewesterlysun.com
We are Watching wrote on Nov 27, 2008 10:05 AM:
" The money for the project is coming from a state grant, private funds, and about $10,000 in borough funds that had been re-allocated from another part of the budget, Maranell said.I wonder what part of the budget it's comeing from ? "
Readers View wrote on Nov 22, 2008 9:56 AM:
" I believe preservation is needed to protect past history of the borough of Stonington and a public meeting is needed to address or readdress these important issues of Cannon Square and to discuss preservation costs of this project. "
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