Thompson: 200 Tyler Street 'Request for Proposals' for Information Gathering Only

East Haven Republican Town Committee Chairman Ben Mazzucco from former Capone Administration officials regarding a request for proposals for the , which was posted several weeks prior to last fall's referendum vote.

Well it now appears that he has got them.

'No Sinister Plan'

Earlier today former Town Finance Director Thomas Thompson confirmed for East Haven Patch reports that the RFP was for informational purposes only.

And not a "secret agenda to peddle the property for condominium development” as alleged by Mazzucco in his .

"There's no sinister plan here at all," Thompson said.

Committee's Request

Thompson said he posted the RFP at the request of studying future possible uses for the town-owned site last year.

The committee, which was tasked with the third option of developing a plan to sell the old high school school for condominium use, was looking to obtain current market and development information specific to the site, which they could then use in formulating their report.

"And I just recopied what they gave me, put it on our website site and put out an RPF, to see if we could get some ideas from developers," Thompson said.

But, unfortunately, nothing came from it.

"No one responded to it and it just ended," he said.

Referendum Vote

All three committees eventually completed their work, and during last November's municipal election to allow voters to choose their preferred option of the three final future use ideas: educational purpose, community purpose and condominiums.

East Haven residents .

Non-binding?

In April, however, Town Attorney Joseph Zullo reported that, in his legal opinion, to call the referendum in the first place — thereby voiding its results.

Although at the same meeting former Town Attorney told the council and maintained the vote was a binding one, the Maturo Administration has continued to move forward with its plans to .

Public Hearing on Sept. 4

Last month, some East Haven Democrats, however, criticised the for scheduling a series of closed meetings regarding the old high school.

In response, Mayor Joseph Maturo Jr then and said an upcoming public hearing would be held to present his administration's plans for the 200 Tyler Street site.

Earlier this month, the Town Council set a .

East Haven Patch will have additional reporting previewing next week's public hearing to come.