Updated: June 27, 2002 Please scroll down to this new entry.
Carolyn Laban - Jun 4, 2002

Yesterday I met with the Mayor of Middletown. As I thought, she was not very well informed of the situation regarding the Hubbard Homestead but was very interested when I gave her the details. I will call her today and ask for a letter of support. It is up to me to get VERY VOCAL. The only thing she could see that would change things is if I can get enough people together to buy the farm. Then I could go ahead with applying for Federal funds from the new Farm Law signed on May 13th to restore the barn, and turning it into an historical site for tours. She likes the idea of the farm being open for tours. And she agrees that it would help bring money into the town. However, the town does not have the money to buy it at this time. IF ANYONE OUT THERE WANTS TO HELP, PLEASE DO! I've gone this far and am willing to be the curator of this beautiful farm. What makes this whole thing even more interesting is the people who are involved. Which makes me even more desperate to save this farm. 1) the person now living at the farm had originally planned on buying the farm (9 acres, house and barn, etc). He wanted to build a few houses behind the barn. Said he was going to save the pasture with the barn. However, he needed financial help to purchase the property. He went to a financial group (of sorts) that help low income families buy property. This financial group just happened to be the Gazzillo Brothers (the contractors who now own it). They went out to survey the land and bought the land out from under the first party. Now, don't feel so bad for the 1st party yet. Come to find out, he is the ex-commissioner of Planning and Zoning and is living there rent-free as caretaker. 2) This first party had introduced the Gazzillo brothers to a lawyer in town. This lawyer was the Mayor of Middletown not too many years ago. He does not appear to be the type of lawyer I would've hired. But Hey! He was once the Mayor! Who's going to question the ex-Mayor? 3) The first party says the Gazzillo Bros promised him a "finders fee" once they got their subdivision approved which would allow him to buy the house and an acre of land (no barn included because it was going to be torn down). Now that I've stirred up this plan, the barn and house are on the same proposed lot but the acre of land promised to the 1st party isn't. And now the 1st party is talking to my committee. As you can see, the cast of characters are stabbing each other in the back. This shows you the type of people I am dealing with. And the story and facts continue to come in...........Next PZ meeting is June 12th. PZ has a meeting on the 6th but I found out we are not Tabled until the 12th.


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JUNE 7, 2002

The next Planning and Zoning meeting is June 12, 2002. I have spoken twice with Mayor Thornton and she said she was going to send me a letter of support and also let the Planning and Zoning Commission know of her support also.

The CT Trust for Historic Preservation has made a preliminary review of an application that was submitted by Jean Maynard (a member of our committee) and will send me a letter of support and interest in registering the farm in the State Registry. This could win us some time.


The contractor's latest building plan still has a house in the paddock. We want that out and we want the PZ Commission to rezone the whole farm as a historical site. However, because the contractor had already put in an application for a subdivision permit, it can't be rezoned. Not unless the subdivision request be dropped. I can see this is going to be a "who can wait the longest" contest because I'm sure the contractor is waiting for me and the RHHP committee to back off too.

I am holding off on the National Registry application because it would cost a couple thousand and it would be a waste to put that kind of money into it if the owner of the land doesn't want to honor it. He could still build, if the town lets him. Therefore, all of my energy is going into local awareness of this project. I have made 2 Television stations aware of what is happening and I have talked with 2 State Senator offices.
And of course, the people at the CT Trust Preservation are in constant contact with me and I appreciate EVERYthing they are doing to help.

Please keep sending me your support so that I can show it to the Mayor.