Thursday, January 11, 2018
www.berlincitizen.com
Volume 21, Number 47
Trooper calls damage in P.R. ‘unimaginable’ Town councilor Giannone was deployed to island By Ashley Kus The Citizen
After 25 days deployed in Puerto Rico, Connecticut State Police Sgt. Alessandro “Alex” Giannone said the hurricane devastation is “unimaginable.” “Even though it’s four months out, they still need help,” he said. “It’s a complete infrastructure rebuild.”
The Berlin resident and town councilor was one of 13 Connecticut State Troopers deployed to the island at the end of November to assist in recovery efforts after hurricanes Irma and Maria. Metal roofs peeled back, traffic lights destroyed, lack of food, water and, most prominently, electricity were just a few of the conditions Giannone said he witnessed during his deployment. “When we got there we realSee Puerto Rico, A6
Connecticut State Troopers deployed to Puerto Rico, including Berlin resident Sgt. Alex | Courtesy of CT Giannone, center, return home after helping with post-hurricane recovery.
Developer to be decided for Farmington Ave. land A committee made up of town officials from the department of economic development and planning will interview five potential developers to determine plans for the nearly four acres of town-owned land on Farm-
ington Avenue. “I think we have a great group to interview,” said Mayor Mark Kaczynski. Requests for Qualifications (RFQ) were submitted at the end of 2017 and five developers responded: Pennrose, Dakota Partners, Xenolith,
Newport Realty Group and Corvus Capital Partners. All the developers are based in New England with a few from Connecticut. Economic Development Director Chris Edge said all of the companies have also been involved with transit
oriented projects. “They’re all experienced and visionary,” Edge said. CivicMoxie, a consultant hired by the town, recently released a report on potential development of the train station area, including the Farmington Avenue parcels
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889, 903 and 913. The land was previously purchased by the town for a new police station. The station project was previously voted down by the Town Council. CivicMoxie’s report said a police station is See Developer, A2
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By Ashley Kus The Citizen