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Some Work
Subcontractors spent the past couple weeks removing the roof at 88 Main. Linda Lemmon photo.
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM --- A flourish of legal advice last week netted little for the languishing project at 88 Main Street, in the center of downtown Putnam.
Progress on the building, which is owned by Dexter Properties LLC, had been slowed after a disagreement about how the building permit fee would be covered. Bruce Dexter II said that in the bid documents for the rehabilitation of the building, Economic and d Community Development Director Delpha Very had said the town would waive the building permit fee. However, a town ordinance prohibits the town from waiving that fee.
After 30 days the building permit application was void because it was incomplete --- no fee had been paid. Rose Construction of Pomfret, the low bidder for the project, continued work on the building under a permit for facade demolition and shoring. The fee had been paid on that permit. That permit was worth $21,000.
Town Administrator Douglas M. Cutler said that Dexter let the town know that he was considering suing the town because it was not standing Very's offer of the town waiving the building permit fee. Town Attorney William St. Onge suggested that the town make a settlement offer to Dexter for approximately $4,000 --- an amount very close to the amount of the building permit fee. Selectmen approved that plan June 27.
On June 28 the town expected Rose to pick up a "fee-less" building permit; however, Cutler said he balked at signing the legal release document.
Very said July 1 that she's concerned about the project sitting longer because it's a "very very tight" building budget. No building permit was issued.
Dexter did not return phone calls.
Dexter Properties LLC purchased the building in October 2009. Dexter had said he wants to put in a restaurant, retail space and, on the top two floors, a boutique hotel.
Rose Construction of Pomfret bid $359,000. The project will include removing the brick veneer and windows. As layers are removed, Very said, the structural soundness of any underlying layer will be checked and corrected/replaced if needed. All the trim will be brought back, using composite. The plans call for dark green vinyl-clad trim. In addition the roof will be replaced.
A state Urban Action grant of $400,000 will go toward the Rose Construction renovation costs. Some of that funding was already used for civil and structural engineering for the project. The grant money must be used in the next year.