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	Group Begins Legal Process to Block Patriots Stadium (WTNH) _ The first shot in the legal battle against the New England Patriots stadium has been fired in Hartford. But there is positive news concerning the moving of the steam plant off the stadium site. Both developments coming as another deadline looms. Two weeks from today the state must give the patriots a status report showing some progress on clearing the site for construction of the stadium. Chief capitol correspondent Mark Davis reports. Deputy sheriff Robert Tasillo made the rounds this afternoon in the first official step in what promises to be a long and drawn out legal effort to not just delay the stadium but to stop it from ever being built. This is the beginning of what Ralph Nader has been talking about for months. Deputy: "Okay, we have some papers here for the Governor and so on that you'll be accepting for, Okay?" "Okay." The writ names the Governor, state budget director Marc Ryan, state Treasurer Denise Nappier, and the New England Patriots. The lead attorney in the case told me his team will prove the deal must be stopped. Atty. Frank Cochran, 'Stop the Stadium': "The Patriots Stadium enabling act is in violation of the State Constitution because it consists of special exclusive emoluments and privileges to a group of people which is in violation of Article first, section one of the State Constitution." The attorney general has said that he doesn't feel the group has a case. He will now have to convince a judge. There is positive news concerning the moving of the steam plant. What's been lost this week is that this appears to be close to happening, so close that the Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority has decided to go forward with planning a one mile pipeline from the plant to its trash to energy plant in the south meadows. They produce plenty of steam there and hope to hook up to the CTG steam system and add a water cooling system to replace the facility on the stadium site. They say they want to be ready when the deal is approved. The report that's due two weeks from today says if it does not demonstrate sufficient progress in the arrangements for relocation of the Connecticut Natural gas facilities the team may terminate this agreement. The Patriots continue to say that they are committed to the Hartford project. What we don't know is this: If there is an agreement to move the steam business but not the gas company headquarters by two weeks from tonight does that constitute sufficient progress? The development agreement leaves that up to the team. A source close to the talks tells us that the governor's negotiator talked several times by telephone with CTG president Arthur Marquardt today trying to break the deadlock on moving the gas company. You can download and read the complaints filed against the state at the website for 'Stop the Stadium'. Today's News Page. WTNH Home Page. ©1999 WTNH/WTNH-DT A LIN station.

Group Begins Legal Process to Block Patriots Stadium
(WTNH) _ The first shot in the legal battle against the New England Patriots stadium has been fired in Hartford. But there is positive news concerning the moving of the steam plant off the stadium site. Both developments coming as another deadline looms. Two weeks from today the state must give the patriots a status report showing some progress on clearing the site for construction of the stadium.
Chief capitol correspondent Mark Davis reports.

Deputy serves papers Deputy sheriff Robert Tasillo made the rounds this afternoon in the first official step in what promises to be a long and drawn out legal effort to not just delay the stadium but to stop it from ever being built. This is the beginning of what Ralph Nader has been talking about for months.

Deputy: "Okay, we have some papers here for the Governor and so on that you'll be accepting for, Okay?"
"Okay."

The writ names the Governor, state budget director Marc Ryan, state Treasurer Denise Nappier, and the New England Patriots. The lead attorney in the case told me his team will prove the deal must be stopped.

Cochran Atty. Frank Cochran, 'Stop the Stadium': "The Patriots Stadium enabling act is in violation of the State Constitution because it consists of special exclusive emoluments and privileges to a group of people which is in violation of Article first, section one of the State Constitution."

The attorney general has said that he doesn't feel the group has a case. He will now have to convince a judge.

There is positive news concerning the moving of the steam plant. What's been lost this week is that this appears to be close to happening, so close that the Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority has decided to go forward with planning a one mile pipeline from the plant to its trash to energy plant in the south meadows. They produce plenty of steam there and hope to hook up to the CTG steam system and add a water cooling system to replace the facility on the stadium site. They say they want to be ready when the deal is approved.

The report that's due two weeks from today says if it does not demonstrate sufficient progress in the arrangements for relocation of the Connecticut Natural gas facilities the team may terminate this agreement.

The Patriots continue to say that they are committed to the Hartford project. What we don't know is this: If there is an agreement to move the steam business but not the gas company headquarters by two weeks from tonight does that constitute sufficient progress? The development agreement leaves that up to the team.

A source close to the talks tells us that the governor's negotiator talked several times by telephone with CTG president Arthur Marquardt today trying to break the deadlock on moving the gas company.

You can download and read the complaints filed against the state at the website for 'Stop the Stadium'.

Today's News Page.

WTNH Home Page.