Horse Guard Supporters Urged To Lobby Governor

By John Voket and

Kendra Bobowick

Noting that state employee unions are still in the process of ratifying or rejecting a controversial labor contract offer that could delay or end the scheduled closing of Newtown’s Governor’s Second Company Horse Guard unit, State Representative DebraLee Hovey is calling on local officials and residents to take action by making a call.

“I’ve already sent word to the first selectman [Pat Llodra] to appeal to her fellow selectmen and other elected town officials to call the governor’s office personally and explain their concerns about the psychological and economic development consequences of losing the Second Company Horse Guard,” Rep Hovey told The Bee August 16.

The call for residents to flood the governor’s office with messages opposing the closure was also made by the leader of a civilian contingent of supporters for the local horse guard unit.

A move-out date is just days away, according to longtime supporter Ken Fay. On August 22 the trailers currently packed with the horse guard’s gear and materials, and ten horses selected for reassignment to Avon, will all be transported to the other facility. “And that’s it. Newtown will be a closed facility,” he said.

Supplies are already packed, and most recently, Mr Fay received word that the horses “are in the process of being adopted out.” Seeing the activity that started about a week ago is “sad,” he said.

Ms Hovey, who along with colleague Chris Lyddy has been working tirelessly to keep the centuries-old ceremonial military facility open in town, is also asking residents to contact the governor’s office. But anyone wishing to make their concerns known should do it quickly, because the state military commander has only given assurances that the facility would remain open until August 22.

Late Tuesday, Mr Fey confirmed that the looming relocation date is still slated for this coming Monday. He said, “That’s why you’re seeing movement and preparation to move.”

That deadline could be delayed based on the outcome of the state labor union votes, but is also pending the state’s military leadership and the governor himself agree to a plan to permit the horse guard units to conduct fund raising to underwrite their operating costs.

“The citizens of Newtown should pick up the phone and let the governor know how they feel about the horse guard, and let him know if they share my concern about what will happen to that property if it is abandoned,” Rep Hovey said. “We don’t have much time, but we need to be a thorn in the governor’s side for the next few days.” Mr Fey also urges residents to contact the governor’s office “for a stay of action,” he said.

Plans are already in motion. Roughly ten horses have left or are leaving Newtown in the last week, while ten others, which will be relocated to the First Company Governor’s Horse Guard in Avon, remain.

The select ten horses “are being taken off grass and being put on a hay diet,” Mr Fay explained, since the Avon facility lacks grass for feeding the animals.

Also ongoing are efforts by state representatives, private citizens, supporters, and town officials promoting a public/private partnership and fundraising campaign to sustain the horse guard for the coming fiscal year.

Although in past days supporters have raised just enough — approximately $50,000 — to keep the unit operating for the coming fiscal year, Mr Fay said the effort overall “needs more time.”

Rep Lyddy told The Bee August 17, that he plans to meet with the governor either August 19 or Monday, August 22 to personally press for an order to delay the final relocation of horses to Avon until several of these issues could be fully examined and possibly initiated.

Recent Negotiations…

Rep Hovey has previously said that if the horse guard facility on Wasserman Way closes, the state could sell part or all of the property, sanction it for another state use, or just leave it undeveloped.

“Then it would just become one of the biggest and most visible blighted properties in Newtown,” Rep Hovey said.

On August 2, Reps Chris Lyddy and Hovey conferred with military department officials after learning horse guard volunteers were ordered to begin packing up noncritical items and storing them in trailers in anticipation of relocating and merging with the First Company unit in Avon.

Following a conversation with General Thaddeus Martin, Rep Lyddy said, “I called directly to get clarification on this situation and to ensure that our agreed-upon plan to maintain the guard in Newtown until, at the very least, August 22 was still in good standing.”

The agreement stands, Rep Lyddy learned. The Second Company received orders to begin packing, but General Martin maintained that he has no intentions to move the horses or the supplies until August 22, if at all.

This latest activity comes close on the heels of a meeting with the local lawmakers and General Martin July 28, during which, Rep Lyddy said, “We were able to develop a number of ideas to address our concerns with the plan to move the Second Company to Avon as a result of this ever-changing fiscal situation our state is facing.”

In an e-mail following the July 28 meeting, Rep Lyddy said, “I am encouraged by our meeting with General Martin and remain committed to working with the Military Department and the Governor to ensure that Newtown and the Second Company Governor’s Horse Guard are well represented. We must develop a plan that satisfies the need to keep Newtown’s unit up and running while also being sensitive to the fiscal situation facing our state. I am confident our plan addresses both of those issues.”

Rep Lyddy also detailed a plan that emerged, stating, “We reached an agreement this morning that will ensure no horses are transferred to the Avon facility until August 22, if there is still no agreement between the Governor and the unions.”

But as that deadline approaches with no definitive union agreements in place, Rep Hovey believes the best way to influence buying more time before the horses are removed from Newtown is for a wave of constituent calls to pour into Gov Malloy’s office from local officials and residents.

To reach the governor’s office, call 860-566-4840, or toll-free 800-406-1527. To e-mail the governor, go to ct.gov/malloy and click on the e-mail link to the right of the home page.