Alcombright Nixes Modern Liquors Purchase
 Mayor Richard Alcombright said the buying the property wasn't a high priority. |
Mayor Richard Alcombright informed the City Council on Tuesday night that a grant expected to pay for two-thirds of the $265,000 purchase won't be available until 2011.
"I think we have other priorities that we're going to be looking at," he said. "For now I'm going to be backing away."
City councilors were lukewarm to the idea last June as the full price tag would be $315,000 when the cost of razing the building and repaving the lot was added in.
Alcombright said the former mayor had not signed the purchase-and-sales agreement; when it recently landed on his desk, he took a second look at the deal, including inspecting the building with Building Inspector William Meranti and Michael Nuvallie of the Office of Community Development.
The mayor had thought the building might be re-used as a field house or for Parks and Recreation. "I didn't get a good comfortable feeling for that," he said. "I didn't see it as a really a viable building to keep and do something with" and neither did the others.
The councilors didn't question the decision and President Ronald Boucher agreed with Alcombright's assessment that it was a low priority: "Absolutely."
 Councilor Gailanne Cariddi updated the council on revisions to a curfew ordinance. |
The city had received about 46 percent of expected revenues by the end of January but a large excise tax billing had gone out with the last week and property taxes were not due until Feb. 8.
"I'll have a much better idea as we move into March were we are," he said, adding that the city had taken in "about $70,000 above where we were at this time last year."
The mayor also requested expanding the Windsor Lake Commission from three members to five to create more discussion and activity toward improvements and marketing of Historic Valley Campground. In his letter to the council, he wrote that he would like to appoint people interested in the lake and "dedicated to the camping life style."
The issue was referred to the council's General Government Committee. The committee's chairman, Councilor Gailanne Cariddi, also asked for input on a curfew ordinance that is being revised.
A similar curfew ordinance had been struck down by the Supreme Judicial Court based in large part on its use of criminal penalties. Cariddi said the revised ordinance would have noncriminal penalties — community service ordered by a juvenile court.
After some discussion between councilors, it was agreed that the age on the curfew be raised from age 16 to 17 and the time be changed from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. to accommodate teens who work evenings. Cariddi said the revisions will be ready for the next meeting.
In other business,
 Council President Ronald Boucher and City Clerk Marilyn Gomeau. |
► The council approved appointments to the Housing Authority board of Jennifer Breen Kirsch for four years, TRIAD President Pearl Mullett for one year (fulfilling residential requirement of at least one board member) and Richard Dassatti for two years (who, as a letter carrier, fulfills requirement for one union board member).
Former Mayor John Barrett III had said there could be a conflict of interest in Alcombright's appointments because his wife, Michele, works for the Housing Authority. Alcombright said the city solicitor had researched the issue and had spoken to the state Ethics Commission; the finding of both had been there was no conflict and "that I have every right to appoint people."
► Boucher, on behalf of the council, mayor and City Clerk Marilyn Gomeau presented Councilor Lisa Blackmer with a donation to VNA & Hospice of Cooley Dickinson Hospital in memory of her late mother, Lynda Hall.
