Walker Says Deal With Developer Not Quite Done Yet

The office of the has issued a statement that a deal with an unidentified developer to fund a traffic study for the town is "in the preliminary stages." The statement was issued to clarify remarks made by Jeb Walker at a special Town Council meeting Wednesday, March 23.

Following a presentation to the Town Council by the Long Range Planning Committee, Walker, who was seated in the audience, approached the microphone and said “I’ve made who has to do a traffic study, to pay for our traffic study."

When asked to identify the developer, Walker declined.

 “This was done with me in confidence and I cannot make any more comment than that. It’s more than sufficient money to pay for the study," he told the Town Council.

The statement released by Walker's office Friday said "the offer to fund the traffic count study is still in the preliminary stages and will be presented to all the town boards if and when it is formalized."

A , estimated to cost approximately $25,000, is part of the proposed next phase of the Long Range Planning Committee project. The LRPC presentation to the Town Council was part of the committee's request for a of $175,000 to fund Phase 2.

The release said any private offer to fund a study is subject to "the approval of the Board of Selectmen, Board of Finance and Town Council."

Selectman Rob Mallozzi, who is , said he was not aware of any arrangement before he heard Walker speak on Wednesday night. 

"I wouldn’t preclude the First Selectman from initiating this sort of conversation, if there’s someone in the private sector that has an interest in a certain area of town," he told Patch. "I think it’s perfectly legitimate for a First or Second Selectman to initiate conversations on issues that can be mutually beneficial to both."