Syrian refugees will not be housed at Southbury Training School (Waterbury Republican-American)

State: No plans to house Syrian refugees at Southbury Training School

BY PAUL HUGHES
REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN

HARTFORD — State officials say Connecticut has no plans to house any Syrian refugees at the Southbury Training School.

Rumors circulating in Southbury to that effect prompted Rep. Arthur J. O’Neill, R-Southbury, and Sen. Robert J. Kane, R-Watertown, to contact the Malloy administration to confirm or squelch them.

The governor’s office and the Department of Developmental Services informed both lawmakers that there are no such plans under consideration.

“Ordinarily, I would not address a rumor, but in consideration of how rapidly it seems to be spreading, I wanted to take the opportunity to proactively reassure the community that no such plans exist,” O’Neill said.

“If additional rumors of this nature arise, we will not hesitate to inform the taxpayers about exactly what is going on,” Kane said.

The Republican-American also contacted the governor’s office and Southbury officials on Wednesday concerning the rumored plan. The Malloy administration confirmed no consideration was being given to housing Syrian refugees at the training school.

Devon Puglia, a spokesman from the governor’s office said there are no plans to place refugees at the Training School.

“Whatever you’re hearing, is not correct,” Puglia said. “It’s not rooted in anything factual. It’s just not correct.”