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Legislative History for Connecticut Act PA 16-61 SB300 Senate 1457-1460, 1700-1701 6 Public Health 2169-2177, 2205-2207, 143 2222-2225, 2245-2253, 2256-2267, 2362-2466, 2945 House Transcripts have not been received. They are available 149 on CGA website, but are not the Official copy. Contact House Clerk for assistance (860) 240-0400 Transcripts from the Joint Standing Committee Public Hearing(s) and/or Senate and House of Representatives Proceedings Connecticut State Library Compiled 2017 S - 695 CONNECTICUT GENERAL ASSEMBLY SENATE PROCEEDINGS 2016 VOL. 59 PART 5 1368 – 1703 001457 kbk 90 SENATE April 28, 2016 c THE CLERK: On Page 41, Calendar 349, substitute for S.B. No. 300, AN ACT CONCERNING NEW BRITAIN WATER COMPANY LAND, and there are amendments. THE CHAIR: Senator Gerratana. SENATOR GERRATANA (6TH): Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, I move acceptance of the Joint Committee's favorable report and passage of the bill. THE CHAIR: 0 Please proceed. SENATOR GERRATANA (6TH): Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, the Clerk has an amendment, LCO No. 5095. If he would please call that and I be allowed to summarize. THE CHAIR: Mr. Clerk, please. THE CLERK: LCO No. 5095, Senate "A", offered by Senator Gerratana. SENATOR GERRATANA (6TH): 0 001458 kbk 91 SENATE April 28, 2016 0 Thank you. I move adoption. THE CHAIR: Thank you, Senator Gerratana. Please proceed. SENATOR GERRATANA (6TH): Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President. This bill is -- I should say, this amendment is a strike-all amendment. The bill that was before us in the Public Health Committee, of course, had a hearing, and it was clear from the hearing that many of the people who participated from the community of New Britain, Southington and also Plainville, suggested that perhaps we should do an environmental study before proceeding with any further legislation. 0 So, this bill before us actually does that. It is particular to the city of New Britain, of whom -- or of which they shall commission an environmental study. It has the criteria for that study, and also sets in place some overview, as well as a timeline, including a public hearing in the city of New Britain. There's also two repealers of statutes that will no longer be necessary regarding this issue. Again, I move adoption and urge the Chamber's support. Thank you, sir. THE CHAIR: Thank you, Senator Gerratana. Will you remark further on the amendment before us? Senator Witkos. 0 ........................---------------------------------------------------------------------. 001459 kbk 92 SENATE April 28, 2016 0 SENATOR WITKOS (8TH): Thank you, Mr. President. I'd ask that the Chamber stand at ease at this time. THE CHAIR: The Chamber will stand at ease. (Pause in proceeding) The Senate will come back to order. As the Chamber will remember, we are now -- S.B. No. 300 is before us. There's an amendment on -- on before us also. At this point in time, any further comment on the amendment before the Chamber? Seeing no other further comment, I'll try the Chamber's mind on the 0 amendment before us. All in favor -- all in favor signify by saying Aye. SENATORS: Aye. THE CHAIR: Opposed? Ayes have it. We have the bill before us, as amended. Any further comment as the bill before us? Senator Gerratana -- oh, sorry. Senator Markley. SENATOR MARKLEY (16TH) : 0 001460 kbk 93 SENATE April 28, 2016 0 Thank you, Mr. President. But pardon me, Senator Gerratana, I just wan~ed to rise to say I think that this is a good solution for what could be an interesting situation. This is a proposal that there's a lot of support for, both in terms of a large employer in the area that is eager to be able to continue with their operations efficiently, and the surrounding towns, which are supportive. We've had to balance that against the environmental concerns in going into a watershed area, and I think that what the Committee has come up with is exactly the right solution, and I would urge the circle to support it. Thank you. THE CHAIR: Thank you, Senator Markley. Any further comment on 0 the bill, as amended? Any further comment? Senator Gerratana. SENATOR GERRATANA (6TH): Thank you, Mr. President. If there's no objection, I would like to move this item to our Consent Calendar. THE CHAIR: Any objection to placing this bill on the Consent Calendar? Seeing none, the bill is moved to the Consent Calendar. The Chamber will stand at ease for the moment. The Chamber will come back -- come back to order. 0 001700 kbk 333 SENATE April 28, 2016 0 186, S.B. No. 262; Page 36, Calendar 203, ~ No. 240; Page 36, Calendar 222, S.B. No. 301; Page 36, Calendar 226, S.B. No. 179; on Page 37, Calendar 249, S.B. No. 122; Page 38, Calendar 257, S.B. No. 139; on Page 40, Calendar 333, S.B. No. 289; and on Page 41, Calendar 349, S.B. No. 300. THE CHAIR: Mr. Clerk, will you call for a roll call vote on Consent Calendar 1. The machine is open. THE CLERK: Immediate roll call has been ordered in the Senate on the Consent Calendar for today. Immediate roll call in the Senate. THE CHAIR: 0 Senator Gomes; Consent Calendar. Senator Hartley; thank you. All members have voted. All members have voted. The machine will be closed. Mr. Clerk, will you call the tally, please? THE CLERK: On today's Consent Calendar Total Number of Voting 36 Those Voting Yea 36 Those Voting Nay 0 Absent and Not Voting 0 0 001701 kbk 334 SENATE April 28, 2016 0 THE CHAIR: The Consent Calendar passes. (Gavel) Are there any points of personal privilege? Senator Leone. Senator Leone? SENATOR LEONE (27TH): Yes. Yes, Madam President, just for a purpose of an announcement? THE CHAIR: Please proceed, sir. SENATOR LEONE (27TH): For just-- for the General Law Committee, we'll 0 have a meeting for a referral 15 minutes prior to the start of the first session tomorrow. Thank you. THE CHAIR: Thank you; so noted. Senator Winfield. SENATOR WINFIELD (lOTH): Yes, thank you, Madam President. The Housing Committee will be meeting at 10:30 outside the House Chamber. THE CHAIR: Senator Coleman. SENATOR COLEMAN (2ND) : 0 JOINT STANDING COMMITTEE HEARINGS PUBLIC HEALTH PART 5 2075 – 2593 2016 002169 71 March 7, 2016 kbk/jh/mc PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE 1:00 P.M. c PUBLIC HEARING ELLIE NICOLE: Thank you. REP. RITTER (1ST): Thank you very much for your testimony. I don't see Senator Looney, when he comes; Mayor Stewart welcome and then Heather Wagner will wrap up 354. Mayor nice to see you. MAYOR STEWART: Very nice to see you, thank you for having me here. Three minutes, I'll be as quick as possible so there is time for all the questions. Thank you very much Senator Gerratana and members of the Public Health Committee. I want to thank you for this opportunity to speak to you today in support of SENATE BILL 300, which is a piece of legislation that has the ability to make extraordinary quality of life changes for the betterment of our community in New Britain for not c just now but for hundreds of years to come. We held a town hall meeting on February 17th to discuss the creation of this new water source and many community leaders and I heard from residents about the dire need to relocate the blasting at Hill Pond Quarry. The further away from the homes the better because right now [indiscernible 54:56] and the blasting comes within 300 feet of some people's homes. This practice will continue for another 30 years unless this legislation is allowed to move forward. With this project, blasting would be moved farther away from homes up to 3000 feet away from day one. While allowing the city of New Britain to lease 131.4 acres of water company property to Tilcon we would fulfill the wish of our residents and secure a new clean water reservoir that would benefit New c -------------------····-···· 002170 72 March 7, 2016 kbk/jh/mc PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE 1:00 P.M. PUBLIC HEARING Britain and long term for the entire region. Our 0 city's founding fathers, The Stanley's, and some of you might know who they are from Stanley Works, had tremendous foresight to develop the water supply system that we have today and there hasn't been a new reservoir that created in Connecticut in the last 40 years. This proposed reservoir will provide fresh drinking water on a daily basis to thousands of residents and potentially for hundreds of thousands in the region during an emergency. Think of the cooperation this water source could provide in help to keep local rivers and streams flowing. Wildlife would be able to spawn where dried brooks like the copper mine in Bethel are becoming a concern. The New Britain Water Company has been in existence for more than 150 years and we hold our drinking water standards and our responsibilities to the surrounding community very high. With the addition of this new reservoir the 0 New Britain Water Company's current water capacity will increase from 2.9 billion gallons to 7.6 billion gallons, that's an increase of 162%. The construction of this reservoir would increase our margin of safety insuring that we have an adequate supply of water and can help surrounding communities like Bristol, Berlin, Plainville, Southington, and any one downstream. Additionally, the amount of class I watershed land, which we understand is very precious land, will increase from less than 10 acres right now to over 240 when the new reservoir is completed.