Carpino Hears Portland's Concerns on Arrigoni, Energy Plants

State Rep. Christie Carpino said the crush of the budget deliberations was in high gear at the State Capitol, and that a bill could move quickly, but she was taking the time Monday night to meet with her constituents in Portland, because she stressed it was important.

A variety of concerns were brought up in a lively meeting that went over the 60 minutes that were scheduled.

Two people expressed concerns about the budget being hammered together by Governor Dannel Malloy and the Democratic majority in Hartford. They opposed the tax increases in the package and lack of fiscal reform measures. One man suggested Republicans could walk out and boycott a vote. 

Carpino, a Republican,  joined the Republican caucus in proposing an alternative plan that avoided tax hikes while consolidating departments to save money. She said a boycott would do no good, and the Democrats have the votes to adopt it without Republicans. But she said she would not join any such effort, preferring to speak and reason on the floor, representing the views of her constituents.

Carpino, who represents Cromwell, Middletown and Portland, then heard an earful of complaints about noise from residents who live across the Connecticut River from the Kleen Energy natural gas power plant, and another energy facility, NRG, also in Middletown.  One man said there was a loud noise like an "explosion" on April 10th that "shook his house." He also said, "What you're hearing now is a loud roar going 24-7 and it has a harmonic to it."  He believed it might be a diesel engine, but can't get any answers from authorities. He said Middletown police told him, "They have no jurisdiction about construction or operational noise."

Some local residents sustained damage to their homes when a violent explosion occured Feb. 7, 2010, that destroyed much of the Kleen Energy plant and killed six workers and injured 50 others. There was a state and federal investigation leading to a ban of "gas blows" to clear pipes.

Carpino says regarding Kleen Energy, she's still speaking to officials. She said in cases like this you need regulators.

"Another set of eyes is exactly what we want," she said, adding that there should be a number to call in Portland to get answers for worried citizens. 

The matter of the Arrigoni Bridge project came up and Carpino again assured those in attendance she's watching it carefully. A man who said he was an iron worker on a bridge project says the men can easily get tired with long shifts and night work, and the schedule could suffer. A woman said authorities are downplaying the extent of tie-ups and delays, saying even accidents back up Route 9 all the way to the K-Mart Plaza in Cromwell.  

Carpino says she's attended almost every offical meeting on the bridge, and would continue to monitor events closely. She said she's gone over all suggestions with officals, even a "water ambulance." She was told it was 30 years since such an idea came up, and authorities explained it wasn't medically helpful or faster. 

At one point she quipped that she might "use a kayak" if she had to during the bridge construction to keep in touch with Portland. Carpino is a Cromwell resident.

As the meeting went on, Carpino took many notes, and at the end urged everyone to give her their contact information so she could provide answers. It was well over the alloted 60 minutes for the meeting and she was rushing  to another meeting with Cromwell residents.