Guardianship of our natural resources is an established practice now, but the undeveloped spaces, parks and trails that define Connecticut can be sold, swapped or given away by the General Assembly without public hearings. A proposed amendment on the November ballot will require public hearings before State property can be transferred through the annual omnibus bill. The amendment addresses the process of real property conveyance. It is important to note that Hampton has some State owned land within its municipal borders. This would include parts of both Goodwin and Natchaug State Forests.

The ballot question provides a Constitutional Amendment to the current law related to State owned properties and reads as follows: Shall the Constitution of the State be amended to require (1) a public hearing and the enactment of legislation limited in subject matter to the transfer, sale or disposition of state-owned or state-controlled real property or interests in real property in order for the General Assembly to require a state agency to sell, transfer or dispose of any real property or interest in real property that is under the custody or control of the agency, and (2) if such property is under the custody or control of the Department of Agriculture or the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, that such enactment of legislation be passed by a two-thirds vote of the total membership of each house of the General Assembly.

A “Yes” vote ensures that the public is informed before the disposition of state owned property. A “No” vote continues the current practice allowing the enactment of legislation by the state to sell, transfer, or otherwise dispose of any real property or interest in real property under the control or custody of an agency of the State.

Jean Romano