1-5-2011 Connecticut:
New London, Conn. — Montville’s quest to keep a residential sex offender treatment facility from being built in town could be over.
On Tuesday, New London Judge Joseph Q. Koletsky dismissed an appeal by town leaders who hoped to halt or block construction of the $2 million complex because of potential economic and safety impacts on residents and businesses.
The 34-page suit, filed Oct. 22 in New London Superior Court, also called into a question a formula the state used to rank potential host communities. Officials said the formula improperly weighted the town’s assets and contradicted findings by the Montville planning department.
20 days to appeal
Montville has 20 days to appeal the decision. Town Council President Donna Jacobson said the matter will be discussed at the Jan. 10 meeting.
“It is up to the council to decide if there will be further action or not,” said Jacobson, who attended Tuesday’s hearing in New London with Mayor Joseph Jaskiewicz. “I think that we as a town have done everything we possibly can to avert this from becoming part of the community.”
The suit identified as defendants the state Department of Correction, the state Court Support Services Division and The Connection Inc., a Middletown-based nonprofit social services agency the state chose to build the complex.
Connection spokeswoman Heide Erb said Tuesday the company had no comment regarding the ruling.
Department of Correction spokesman Brian Garnett said Koletsky’s decision “speaks for itself” and declined further comment.
Jeffrey and Sabrina Rogers, who live near the site and have children in Montville’s schools, backed the town’s efforts.
“There is a safety risk, because where you have a higher concentration of a certain type of behavior, the chances of it getting into other parts of the community are higher,” she said. “As a parent, I’m not thrilled.”
Jeffrey Rogers said he worries those who get released from the program will stay in town, but state prison officials have said those released from the Montville facility will be returned to their home communities.
Jacobson said she was “disappointed” by the ruling.
“This is a very sad state of affairs, when a municipality is dismissed and residents’ concerns are dismissed,” she said. “We have reacted as expediently as possible and taken the residents’ concerns to heart, and that’s how we will continue to proceed.”
Jaskiewicz said he was confident in the town’s arguments.
“I thought the town had done a great job on showing the numbers,” he said. “I’m not going to get into the legal aspects of it. We’ve got 20 days, and the council will talk about it.”
Construction on the facility has not begun.
Plans call for a 24-bed center to be built on the grounds of the Corrigan-Radgowski Correctional Center on Route 32. In 2008, Gov. M. Jodi Rell and the General Assembly mandated the program for individuals who needed rehabilitation before their release from prison. ..Source.. ADAM BENSON, Norwich Bulletin
January 5, 2011
Judge denies Montville's bid to block complex for sex offenders
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2 comments:
When are people going to get it. These people deserve a chance. Are they suppose to live on the streets like animals, or a third world country. Where is the forgiveness, when is making a mistake a crime. When so many of these so called "sex offenders" have may committed a minor infraction. I am glad the state is using the money they get from labeling a person to their advantage. Give them a chance. But then again you need to look into yourselves and remember any mistakes you have made. Everyone has skeltons in their closet and if we knew each and every one you may be next living on the street.
Your right ,so put it in your town.Give them a chance?.Not with my 9 year old daughter.Not a chance.It houses 24.Say for 6 months ..thats 48 a year...If 1 out of the 48 goes bad.which is pretty good odds.It wont be in this town.put it next door to you.
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