The referendum would authorize the Town Council to issue up to $10 million in bonds for redevelopment projects along the town's three major commercial corridors - the Silas Deane Highway, the Berlin Turnpike and the Wilbur Cross Highway.
The passage of the referendum, according to the explanatory text, does not mean that the town will automatically issue $10 million in bonds.
While most residents agree that the town's long-stagnant grand list - a disproportionate amount of which comes from residences - needs to be jumpstarted with new commercial developments to ease the residential tax burden, the meeting underscored some people's mistrust of their local officials.
The meeting was held, according to redevelopment agency members, to dispel falsehoods being spread by a political action committee, WIN PAC, which was formed to defeat the referendum.
Accordingly, the meeting was moderated and the 75 residents in attendance could only submit questions in writing to the members of the redevelopment agency.
Agency member Paul Thompson opened with a brief PowerPoint presentation targeting several "myths" purported by WIN PAC, such as the claims that residential homes are being targeted for eminent domain, there are 13 "secret" projects that the town is working on, and that the town lacks a plan for redevelopment.
"Wethersfield is in competition with 169 other towns in the state for development dollars," Thompson said. "Rocky Hill, Newington and Hartford - those communities are looking to attract the same developers. . . Over-reliance on residential tax dollars will decrease the value of homes" and will ultimately lead to people leaving Wethersfield."
Thompson stressed that there are not 13 "secret projects . . . there are no negotiations."
The redevelopment agency, Thompson said, has identified numerous commercial properties that can be enhanced and improved through redevelopment Later in the meeting, redevelopment agency chair Lee Kuckro asked out loud how secret the properties being targeted for redevelopment could be if a resident followed the agency members in his car when the members went on a tour of the parcels.
"I was invited!" Dr. Ken Sokolowski interjected.
The exchange led to an admonishment from moderator Heidi Lane that further interruption would lead to her asking Sokolowski to leave.
While the town previously declined to identify the properties because it might drive up their cost,
Kuckro said Tuesday night that "there is nothing secret about the sites. Look at the Weight Watchers building; look at Fun Zone. There are no negotiations. We need approval of the voters referendum, then we can begin the redevelopment process."
In response to a lack of a cohesive plan, Thompson said, "[t]here's plenty of plans" - referring to several studies commissioned by the town in the 1970s, '80s and '90s.
"We need the financial flexibility to act quickly," Thompson added.
During the question and answer period, residents wanted to know how much the grand list would grow as a result of the redevelopment, how quickly the town would recoup its investment and how much, if any, input they will have over approving the acquisition and redevelopment of certain parcels.
Agency member Michael Zaleski responded that the goal was to take small projects and do them well to further attract commercial developers.
"This is not a silver bullet project," Zaleski said. "There's not a change overnight that provides additional economic grand list growth to the town."
As for a question concerning eminent domain of residential property, Zaleski replied, "Sorry, not an option."
Town Councilor Paul Montinieri echoed that position after the meeting saying that the town was not seeking to displace anyone from their homes.
At the end of the question and answer period, the agency permitted five minutes for representatives of two groups, WIN PAC and a pro-referendum group, to address those in attendance.
"We don't want to fight in town," Barbara Ruhe said on behalf of WIN PAC. "We've lost faith in our government... We don't want Blue Back Square...We don't trust what you're proposing...This is not to say we're against redevelopment. We want to know where, how and why [the money] is going to be spent...We don't think you've been forthcoming. Eminent domain is something that can be changed by any council if attractive. The appropriation could be spent on things that they were not intended . . . We don't want to give you a blank check. Come back to us with a plan."
It was unclear after the meeting whether any opinions had been changed one way or the other.
"It was well-orchestrated and well-planned," Leigh Standish said. "It was like the band leader singing to the choir. I was disappointed at the anger and hostility of the chair [Kuckro]."
Montinieri, who has worked extensively on the referendum and is running for re-election on Tuesday, said after the meeting that should the measure fail to pass, the Town Council will go back to work to draft a redevelopment referendum that will meet the approval of the voters.
There was, however, one thing that everyone could agree on.
"I think it's going to be a close election," Mayor Andrew Adil said after the meeting.