Just In: Town $1.5M Richer

The state Bond Commission voted nearly unanimously Friday morning to approve the $4.25 million Tweed New Haven Regional Airport bond. Just one legislator voted against it, said Mayor April Capone.

East Haven gets $1.5 million of the dough for selling wetlands to the airport authority in a March 2009 deal brokered between Capone and New Haven Mayor John DeStefano. Capone said the money will go toward reducing the town's $5.19 million deficit. Another $2.4 million in the current year's budget is also expected to take a big bite out of the deficit. And yet another $2.4 million in the mayor's proposed FY'12 budget could likely wipe out the debt and put the town in the plus column.

"This money will make a tremendous difference to the people of East Haven and I will give specific details at the State of the Town/budget sddress on March 31," Capone said minutes after the bond approval.

When will the town see the $1.5 million?

"It has to go through procedure at the state and may take a little while, but I think it's before the fiscal year ends," said Capone.

The bond bill sat dormant since 2009 while Republican Gov. Jodi Rell was in office. Last November, the first Democratic governor, Dan Malloy, in 20 years was elected and promised to help move the bond bill forward.

"I am grateful to Gov. Malloy for approving this bond," said Capone. "It makes a world of difference to know that as a mayor I can pick up the phone, speak to our governor and explain what is important to East Haven. He showed today that he actually listens."