Budget Deliberations, Day 8

Odds & Ends

’08-’09 Budget Scorecard

Mayor’s Proposal: $177,302,411
Council’s to date: $174,939,805

By Sharon Bass

At the second-to-last budget deliberation last night, the Legislative Council created a new line item for town employees on the state pension plan (Municipal Employees Retirement Fund). Most workers are on the local pension program but those hired since last year will get their retirement checks from the state.

“The budget should have come to us with this line,” said President Al Gorman.

Finance Director Mike Betz said $170,000 should be put in the MERF account. But upon questioning from councilmembers to back up that figure, he said he didn’t know how many employees are in the MERF plan, the number of town workers in total or the payroll for the town side.

Chief Administrative Officer Scott Jackson said $170,000 was an “accurate figure,” which translates to $2 million in payroll for the new employees.

Councilman Matt Fitch said, “It seems pretty high.”

“I am absolutely uncomfortable voting on this tonight until we get more information,” said Finance Chair Curt Leng.

“This is the best estimate,” said Gorman.

A motion was made to put $100,000 into the new line account (under miscellaneous revenue) and another 50 grand into the E&C account. It passed.

Pension held steady

Councilman Craig Cesare made his motion to reduce the local pension contribution from $12.5 million  to $11 million (up one million from his original idea). “I think we owe it to the taxpayers to give them a break for one year with no tax increase,” he said. “Eleven million dollars represents a substantial contribution compared to [past] years.”

Leng disagreed. In the '07-'08 budget, $12 million was put in the retirement account.

“It’s fun to have a little Republican-Democratic tussle at the end [of the budget season],” said Leng. “I think [$11 million] is incredibly irresponsible. We worked very, very hard to get the pension fund from zero to $12 million.”

Leng said it was a “bad sign” to Wall Street and the auditors to fund the account with less money. “I feel very passionate about it,” he said.

There was a little talk of increasing the already-voted-on amount of $12.5 million.

Cesare’s motion for $11 million failed, with just he and Councilwoman Betty Wetmore voting in favor.

Tonight at 7, the Council is scheduled to vote on the final  town/school budget.
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Police Station Moves Forward

Folks prepare for their turn to opine on the police plan, while cops wait in the back for the Council's verdict. Photo/Sharon Bass

By Sharon Bass

The main course on the Legislative Council’s menu Monday was borrowing $1.02 million for the new police headquarters. The money is earmarked for further design work, hiring a construction manager and getting two professional project estimates.

Dozens of cops lined the back wall of the chambers and folks for and against the plan, which will attach the new facility to Memorial Town Hall, filled the seats.

Everyone -- everyone -- prefaced their public statements with how imperative it is to give police a new home. That said, 10 spoke against and nine spoke in favor of the current proposal. After about an hour or so of “it’s a horrible plan,” “it’s one man’s [Mayor Henrici's] political plan,” and “we need to act now,” Bill Burns of the Dunbar Hill Civic Association told it like it was.

“You’re going to spend the money no matter what we say,” he said. “So since you’re going to spend the money make it the best for these guys.”

The vote: 14 yeas and Wetmore abstained.

In other legislative news

The Council voted unanimously to take over the troubled Hamden Plains Cemetery, located in the 2nd District. Another 15-0 vote went to the formation of an advisory cemetery committee to oversee the rehab of the resting grounds.

“I don’t think we should be in the cemetery business but after looking around down there, something’s got to be done,” said Wetmore.

“I think it is time we move favorably ahead with this,” said Gorman.

The committee includes all 2nd D rezzies: Rev. E.J. Moss, Councilman and police Lt. Gabe Lupo, former Mayor Barbara DeNicola and former Councilman John Flanagan.

Also, the Council approved the mayor’s appointments for the Inland Wetland & Watercourses Commission. The chair, Steve Sosensky, and soil scientist Mike Conklin were recently denied reappointment by Henrici.

In their place are Michael Montgomery, who previously served on IWW and has a background in environmental and ecological science, and Joan Lakin, a former Planning & Zoning commissioner with a water background.

Also, IWW Commissioner Debra Sharkey was reappointed for a second term.

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Up or Down?

Councilman Cesare.                 Councilwoman Noble. File photos

Cesare calls for lower pension deposit; Noble calls for higher pension deposit

By Sharon Bass

During the ’07 municipal elections, Republicans ran on a platform of no tax increases. Councilman Craig Cesare (R-at-large) said he has a plan to achieve that goal. He wants to lower the pension contribution in the 2008-09 budget from the current $12 million to about $10 million. “That would mean no tax increase at all,” he said.

Meanwhile, Democrats are talking about increasing the contribution to about $13 million, said Councilwoman Carol Noble (D-at-large). The mayor had proposed $13.5 million in his budget, but the Legislative Council knocked it down to $12 million last week.

The parties will fight it out tonight after the 7 p.m. Council meeting, when they continue budget deliberations. A final vote on the town/school budget is expected Tuesday.

“We handed the taxpayers two consecutive, substantial tax increases and we’re heading for a third, and I just think the citizens need a break for one year, especially the seniors,” said Cesare. Shortly after Henrici gave his budget address in March, Cesare vowed to not raise taxes.

“This is temporary tax relief. This is not the answer to Hamden’s problems. Make no mistake," he said. "This is the only way to offer taxpayers a break for a year.”

Noble argued that the town’s bond rating could be injured by decreasing the retirement account allotment.

“Democratic councilpeople are talking about increasing it to possibly $13 million," she said. "The mayor has told Al [Gorman] and Matt [Fitch] this could possibly affect our bond rating when we go out for the police station and the fire building and animal shelter. We might pay a higher interest.

“We’re a risk when you’re not funding something like your pension obligation," Noble said. "Twelve million dollars could affect it, definitely. Ten million dollars would be a disaster.”

In 2006, the annual payout to retirees was $14.4 million. “I don’t think Craig [Cesare] understands that an amount of money is needed each year, and by going to $10 million we’ll probably come out with a zero contribution to our pension fund and certainly affect our bonding,” said Noble.

“I respectfully disagree with her,” said Cesare. “It’s not going to bankrupt the town. The pension fund is not going to end tomorrow. Yes, I do think it needs to be dealt with but it’s not going to be solved tonight.”

Last year, Mayor Henrici pushed the council to approve $85 million in pension obligation bonds saying it was a must-do. Seeing resistance, he lowered it to $55 million and had financial suits converge in Council Chambers to try to convince the 15 men and women of the alleged urgency. Still, few councilmembers agreed that the town should go so deeply into hock. There was not enough support for the POBs.

In his March '08 budget address, Henrici said he was dropping the idea.

Not only did he drop it, he also didn’t follow through on another recommended tool to beef up the pension fund, dubbed the “Amento Plan” by the town’s auditors. That plan, started by former Mayor Carl Amento, was to increase the contribution by $3 million every year. But Henrici proposed just a $1.5 million hike for the coming fiscal year and the Council voted it down.

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Travel Loot Gets 1st Vetting

File photo

By Sharon Bass

The Ethics Board received a letter from Mayor Craig Henrici late this week asking for an “advisory opinion” on whether his taking a monthly travel stipend from three budgeted line items constitutes a Town Charter violation. Chair Colin Odell said the matter will be taken up a public meeting sometime this month.

“We would offer an opinion as to whether it was problematic or not. Whether we see it constituting a violation of the Town Charter,” said Odell.

According to Section 18-8 of the charter, line-item transfers must be approved by the Legislative Council. Henrici’s weren’t. Neither was the $587 he received for 10 months last fiscal year -- potentially another charter violation (Section 5-1). But the mayor has only asked the board to opine on the account transfers.

Odell said it’s been three or four years since the board had a case.

“I think it’s the right thing to do because there are questions about the line items being used for [Henrici’s travel] allowance,” said Councilwoman Carol Noble.

Finance Director Mike Betz skimmed from three accounts to come up with the $587 monthly stipend. Two were in Public Works, the other in Finance.

Asked for comment, Councilman Jack Kennelly said, “I think, let the Ethics Board look into it as the mayor indicated, and let them make a decision.”

But Councilman Craig Cesare was dubious about the mayor’s decision to ask for an opinion about his own behavior.

“It’s clear to me that this is a charter violation. I think by bringing it forward themselves, this is an attempt by the administration to downplay the seriousness of this,” he said. “I look forward to the ruling from the Ethics Board. But if this doesn’t answer the question of whether this was a charter violation or not, then this was yet another waste of time.”

Like others on the Council, Cesare said he wants a more thorough investigation by Ethics, which would mean filing an actual complaint.

Odell said that’s fine but not right now.

“People are very welcome to file any complaint they’d want to, but right now we would have to make a decision on what order to move forward in if the identical issue was filed as a complaint,” he said.

Unlike complaints -- which the board deals with privately until/if there’s a finding of probable cause, at which time the matter becomes public -- an advisory opinion is an open process from the get-go, said Odell.

At the upcoming meeting on the mayor's travel allowance, Odell said the procedure will be established on how the board will proceed. “Decisions would be made at subsequent meetings,” he said.

Three affirmative votes are needed to issue an advisory opinion; four for a complaint. The Board has currently just four members with one vacancy and both alternate spots left blank. Odell said he didn’t know when Henrici would fill those vacancies. The mayor doesn't return messages from the HDN.

“It seems quite clear to me that there have been charter violations,” said Cesare, “and the actions taken by the administration seem quite clear what was done. I don’t understand why we have to go through all these hoops. It is Politics 101.”

Republicans Odell and Walter Rochow and Democrats Wayne Spies and Al May sit on Ethics. Odell said the first meeting on the line-item transfers will be held mid-month, but wasn't sure which day.
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Shocked Again

Steve Sosensky. File photo

Inland Wetlands chair booted; fellow commissioner booted in March

By Sharon Bass

It was déjà vu for Steve Sosensky. Last week, Mayor Craig Henrici denied the chair another term on Inland Wetlands & Watercourses in the identical manner in which the mayor axed fellow Commissioner Mike Conklin in March.

Like Conklin, Sosensky said he sent a letter to Henrici asking for reappointment (his three-year term was up April 30, 2008). And heard nothing. So Sosensky said he asked to meet with the mayor on April 28, before his term officially expired.

Like Conklin, Sosensky said once nailed down, Henrici told him he was following “the staff’s” wishes by not reappointing him.

And like Conklin, Sosensky said he was shocked.

“I was shocked and disappointed with the mayor and I was disappointed with the town government,” said Sosensky, who served on IWW for seven years and was chair for six. He’s a partner of the New Haven firm Shipman, Sosensky, Randich & Marks, and has been a land-use attorney for 22 years.

“The mayor said that the commission needed a change,” said Sosensky. “He said that he doesn’t go to the [IWW] meetings and had to accept recommendations from the [Planning Department] staff. And they advised him that the commission would be better off with a change.”

Henrici and Town Planner Leslie Creane do not return calls from the HDN.

At the April 28 meeting in the mayor's office, Sosensky said he told Henrici that the staff’s recommendations “were misguided and asked him to reconsider. He said he’d give it some more thought.” Two days later, Sosensky said he heard from the mayor: “He confirmed that he made up his mind and I would not be reappointed.”

In the March 5 HDN story about Conklin, Sosensky had defended his peer. He said: “I was never told why Michael was not reappointed. We do not have a soil scientist on the commission. Mike was a dedicated and enthusiastic commissioner. The commission was dealt a blow by his not being reappointed.”

Politically motivated?

Folks have gone to bat for Sosensky since learning of his demise on the commission. Some e-mailed letters of protest to Henrici this week. One such person is Bill Burns, president of the Dunbar Hill Civic Association.

"At a time when your administration is under fire for having the wrong people in the wrong positions it seem to me that someone of Mr. Sosensky high standards and qualifications is a person your administration would want to keep ..." Burns wrote. (Click here to read his entire letter.)

IWW Commissioner Bob Gnida also sent the mayor a letter. (Click here to read it.)

In it he wrote: "We will also be wondering who is going to be the next one not reappointed.  We will also be wondering if we are acting appropriately, and doing a good enough job, to merit reappointment."

“I’m shocked and I’m extremely disappointed,” said Gnida, a senior gear inspector at Sikorsky, during a phone interview. Henrici appointed him to the commission in June 2006. Next June, Gnida will need the mayor’s approval for another term.

“I think it’s politically motivated. I think that maybe Steven stepped on some toes with somebody who’s friends with the mayor,” said Gnida.

He also said Sosensky’s published comments about Conklin “definitely could have gotten the mayor upset.”

“I think he’s a good director for the meetings. His leadership qualities are great. He’s very eloquent. He’s trained in law and environmental issues. He’s going to sorely be missed,” Gnida said of Sosensky.

Sosensky was asked if he thinks his comments might have influenced the mayor’s decision. “Who knows?” he said. “I believe the public appreciated my hard work and the work of the commission in doing the town’s work. I expected to serve for years in the light of that.”

But Sosensky said he’s not giving up. Just waiting until after the 2009 mayoral election, when Hamden is likely to have a new chief executive officer.

“I feel like the luckiest person in town because I have received numerous telephone calls and letters about the situation from individuals, neighborhood associations expressing their unhappiness with the mayor’s decision,” Sosensky said. “And I want to thank everyone who has taken an interest in the matter and reached out to me and the mayor on my behalf. Hamden has truly the best townspeople in the state of Connecticut.”

From Burns to Henrici

May 1st 2008
The Honorable Craig Henrici, Mayor
TOWN OF HAMDEN
Hamden Government Center
2750 Dixwell Avenue
Hamden, CT 06518

Dear Craig,

It has come to my attention that your will not be renewing Mr. Steven C. Sosensky to his post on the Inland, Wetlands and Watercourses Commission for the Town of Hamden effective May 1st 2008.  I request that you reconsider your decision regarding Mr. Sosensky’s reappointment.
 
I have had the good fortune to interact with Mr. Sosensky in his capacity as Chairman of the Inland, Wetlands and Watercourses Commission on two different maters as President of the Dunbar Hill Civic Association.  In both instances I found him to be of the highest integrity and to be extremely diligent in the maters put before him.
 
He has served this town, pro bono, with distinction and honor for many years.  At a time when your administration is under fire for having the wrong people in the wrong positions it seem to me that someone of Mr. Sosensky high standards and qualifications is a person your administration would want to keep and point to as an example of the highest quality public servant the Town of Hamden has to offer.
 
Respectfully,
 
Bill
 
William F. Burns, President
Dunbar Hill Civic Association

From Gnida to Henrici (e-mailed May 3)

To the Honorable Mayor of the Town of Hamden

Mr. Henrici,
       I am honored to have been appointed by you to the Town's Inland Wetland Commission (IWC) just about two years ago.  I have enjoyed doing my my duty as a commissioner for the last two years.  I am proud of this town, and the people that represent it, from the mayor, the fire and police force, all the administrators, and volunteers.  I have lived here 22 years and now finally have some time to give back to my community, and love doing it.
       I understand that Steven Sosensky may not be reappointed to the IWC.  As an active member, and a citizen, I do not understand why.  He loves this town, the citizens, and the natural resources this town is blessed with.  He has a degree of knowledge, expertise, and understanding about the scope and purpose of the IWC that no other commissioner has.  I respect Steve a great deal, and I think the entire commission feels the same.
       If you are considering not reappointing Steve to the IWC, I personally feel it will cause stress and unhappiness among myself and my fellow commissioners.  He has done a fantastic job guiding us through these long agendas, I wonder who you might have in mind to do this job as well as Steve has.  He also goes to most of the sight inspections, which is many times a dirty, strenuous undertaking.  He manages the time at the IWC meetings and site inspections better than anyone else can that is on the commission.
       I hope you will take the time to think about how Steve's work, serving on the IWC, is an extremely valuable asset to the Town of Hamden.  All of our spare time is precious to us.  As mayor, you know better than anyone.  You undoubtedly give up much of your spare time gratis, as we all do on Hamden's various commissions.  Steve does so with enthusiasm, and with a sense of what is good for the Town of Hamden.  He is thorough, which the chairman of this most important commission must be.  If a new chairman is elected, and not thorough, the town could very well be liable for bad decisions forged by this commission.  
       I think I can speak for the entire commission in saying that we will all be unhappy if Steve does not get reappointed.  That doesn't make long hours of volunteer work for the Town any easier if we are always contemplating why Steve was removed from the commission.  We will also be wondering who is going to be the next one not reappointed.  We will also be wondering if we are acting appropriately, and doing a good enough job, to merit reappointment.
       I hope and pray that you approve Steve Sosensky as a Hamden Inland Commissioner for another full term.

Sincerly,
Robert Gnida
Tel 203-248-4650
20 Norton Ave
Email  bsgnida@earthlink.net

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Budget Deliberations, Day 7

Mayor Gets Car Allowance
Schools Get $300K Chop
Kennelly Tries to Give Riccitelli a Raise
Leng Tries to Give Jackson a Raise

’08-’09 Budget Scorecard

Mayor’s Proposal: $177,302,411
Council’s to date: TBA, later today

By Sharon Bass

Well, Mayor Craig Henrici won’t have to fill out those pesky mileage logs come July 1. Last night, on a 6-5-2 vote, the Council gave the mayor a $250 monthly business-travel allowance. No questions asked.

The discussion was quick and heated. Some councilmembers favored giving Henrici a used car from the fleet instead of cash because of revelations that the mayor was paying himself a $587 monthly stipend without charter-mandated Council approval.

But Councilman Matt Fitch found the idea of putting the mayor in a used car unthinkable. He said the mayor has been very tolerant of the criticism he’s been getting. “I do support the idea of an allowance opposed to a town car,” he said.

“I disagree,” said Councilman Mike Colaiacovo. “I mean we beat this thing to death. He got a car allowance no one knew about. I’ve totally lost trust. What’s so hard about putting him in a town car?”

Fitch told Colaiacovo that he was “acting” like he did when Colaiacovo wanted to put some of the animal control officer’s salary in a separate account because of the current investigation into the dog dumping at the transfer station.

The public inside Council Chambers moaned at Fitch's accusation.

There was a sudden crescendo of anger between the two councilmen and then the vote was taken. Voting for the $250 allowance were Fitch, Carol Noble, Ozzie Brown, Gretchen Callahan, Kath Schomaker and Al Gorman. Voting nay were Colaiacovo, John DeRosa, Gabe Lupo, Craig Cesare and Jim Pascarella. Jack Kennelly and Curt Leng abstained. Jim Leddy and Betty Wetmore were absent.

School money

The Council can play with just one thing in the school budget: the bottom line. This year, the Board of Education asked for $77,736,335. Education Committee Chair Pascarella proposed a $275,000 cut. Kennelly raised him $25,000. Only Pascarella and Callahan opposed the $300,000 reduction.

School Superintendent Fran Rabinowitz said she was more or less expecting it. “I was hoping for $250,000. It will be hard but I think we can do it without directly impacting kids,” she said after the vote.

Assistant Superintendent Portia Bonner will be leaving at the end of the school year, which gives Rabinowitz a place to cut. She said she’s thinking of hiring a “part-time, retired administrator” in place of Bonner.

Riccitelli rage

Tuesday councilmembers tabled the controversial raise/job upgrade for Finance employee Pat Riccitelli. They wanted to see the stipulated agreement for the upgrade. Her current salary is $63,773 and title is “data control supervisor.” In the mayor’s budget, Riccitelli is listed as “operation manager” for $73,161.

Noble particularly voiced harsh critical words about the raise, and last night got into a little tussle with Kennelly.

At Tuesday’s budget deliberations, Kennelly said he didn’t care what Riccitelli’s title is. The salary, he said, was too high.

Last night when the item came off the table, he motioned to approve the upgrade but with a smaller pay hike, about $4,000. Kennelly maintained that since the council had tabled this item last year and didn’t act on it within 60 days, it automatically went into effect.

“They went through all the proper procedures. We shouldn’t second guess the administration,” he said.

Fitch disagreed. He said the job upgrade, a stipulated labor agreement, did not go into effect. The 60-day rule is only for commission appointments. Also, the Council learned last night that the agreement requires its approval, which it hasn’t gotten.

Kennelly’s motion failed.

Noble motioned to keep the salary the same and change the job title back. Kennelly argued that the title can’t be reversed.

And Noble raised her voice. “This was put in here without our authority!” she said to Kennelly, who sits next to her. “In fact, the Finance director should be reporting to us!”

Noble’s motion passed.

180

In a highly uncharacteristic move, Leng advocated giving Chief Administrative Officer Scott Jackson a raise. The finance chair rarely if ever sees an opportunity to cut that he doesn’t seize.

Though Jackson did not ask for more money, said Leng, or even want the motion brought up, Leng said Jackson was someone who really deserved a raise.

The CAO currently earns $66,950. The same amount is in the mayor’s ’08-’09 proposal. Leng suggested $70,000.

“Sorry,” said Fitch. “I wasn’t expecting this.” And asked for a caucus.

When they came out, Leng withdrew his motion. Instead, the Council approved putting $30,000 in its E&C account for raises for department heads and other nonunion employees.

Fitch said a committee of councilmembers and town administrators would decide who got raises based on job performance.

“It’s the most equitable way to deal with it,” said Leng. “Not just throw out 2 percent [raises].”

Kennelly didn’t like it. “I don’t see how this is a fair and equitable way,” he said. “A committee doesn’t have a scintilla of what that department head does.”

Pascarella said it is “nearly impossible” for the Council to determine who deserves a raise because of “personalities and politics.”

The $30,000 motion passed with just Lupo and Kennelly in opposition.

The final vote on the budget is scheduled for May 6. Meeting begins at 6:30 p.m., Memorial Town Hall.
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AG Asked For a 'Wiley' Opinion

Wiley.

By Sharon Bass

The state wants Hamden rezzie Wiley to go to North Haven. To the animal shelter. For seven days. If no one claims him, his new owner Gabrielle Scirocco can then “legally” adopt the 2-year-old pup, said Maureen Griffin, supervisor of the Connecticut Animal Control Division.

Griffin said that’s the law. And though the state can’t confiscate Wiley, it can put pressure on local animal control to do so. She said she sent a request Wednesday to Attorney General Dick Blumenthal for clarification on the canine impoundment statute. Griffin said his response will guide her in getting Wiley to the shelter. (The HDN and Blumenthal played a little phone tag yesterday.)

“What else do they want?” said Scirocco of the state’s position. “In seven days this dog would have been traumatized. I am so livid you can’t even imagine.”

Scirocco has been put through the ringer since she took custody of Wiley April 25. Even though she’s had him vaccinated and examined by a vet and has registered him with the town -- making her, at least locally, the dog’s legal owner -- the state maintains she’s in the wrong. Scirocco runs Hot Diggity Dog, a Whitney Avenue groomer.

Police Chief Tom Wydra disagrees with the state’s interpretation of the impoundment law that says animal control officers “may” seize roaming dogs. May, not must. He said discretion can be used.

“We’re operating within the confines of the law,” said Wydra. “And we believe we have interpreted the impoundment statute in the spirit of how it is written. It allows great discretion. I don’t see it as a problem. This is a unique situation because we believe we know of this dog’s activity since it was a puppy and we don’t believe there was ever a legitimate owner.”

But Griffin offered a different interpretation of the dog law. “The ‘may’ is if the animal control officer can’t catch an animal so he’s not breaking the law,” she said.

Asked what he’d do if the state puts an ultimatum on Hamden to take Wiley to the shelter, Wydra said, “That would create further dialog between us and the state.”

Pooh-pooh

“I would recommend that people follow the law and impound the dog,” said Griffin. “That way nobody can legally challenge Gabrielle. And I don’t think it’s going to traumatize the dog, either.

“The state’s position is the dog should be turned over to local animal control and should be taken to the shelter and advertised. And held for seven days past the date of advertising,” she said. “At the end of the time period, if Gabrielle wants to adopt the dog, that’s fine.”

Wydra said Scirocco already legally owns Wiley, but Griffin said it’s not for sure -- although highly likely -- that the mixed husky was a stray. So he could have an owner.

“It is not only to protect the person who has custody of the stray dog, but protects the owner, if there is an owner,” said Griffin. “We’re not going to seize the dog and nobody ever said we were. And that’s why we’re not happy about how this has unfolded. People are making erroneous statements and some are doing it on purpose. I do think there are ulterior motives and personality conflicts.”

Dog lovers and lawyers have come to Scirocco’s aid in this dog tale. One of her clients who’s a lawyer offered his help as have others, she said.

“I’m shaking, I’m so pissed off,” said Scirocco. “I have a bunch of people and lawyers who want to help me. The responsibility of an animal control officer is to protect a community. But they couldn’t protect the community because they couldn’t catch the dog. So I’m doing both jobs, protecting the community and rehabilitating the dog. I got him to walk on a leash in a half-hour.”

Scirocco said she advertised Wiley in the local daily this week. But it's highly unlikely that one small ad would draw all the attention Wiley has gotten from the media since last Saturday. And no one's stepped forward to claim him.

“Why can’t I advertise it on my own? If someone’s going to claim it they can claim just as easy with me as they can with [the shelter],” said Scirocco. “And all that would have been done is an ad would have been in the paper. I did 10 times more than the shelter would have done. They have no time to work with the dogs.”

Much ado about nuttin’

Griffin said the situation has been “a whole lot of hoopla about not much.” Yet the town of Hamden has made peace with Wiley and Scirocco after an initial dispute. The state is not letting it go.

Griffin said her department has been unfairly attacked for its stance.

“I don’t understand this attitude that everything we do is wrong. We go by the law. If people don’t like the law, let them change it,” she said. “I was told this dog was the friendliest of all of them [the wild pack Wiley used to run with by the transfer station] so that could indicate that he had an owner.”

Asked why no one has tried to claim him, Griffin said, “A lot of people drive by the [North Haven] animal shelter and take a look [at the outdoor runs for the dogs], and if they don’t see their dog, they don’t go in. Some people wait until they see the dog advertised. A lot of people think their dogs wandered off into the woods when it knows it’s going to die.”
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Who Will Buy?

By Sharon Bass

The idea to sell the old middle school wasn’t news to councilmembers after all. They had OK’d a request for proposal earlier this year for developers interested in either leasing or buying the old building, said Economic Development Director Dale Kroop.

At Tuesday’s budget meeting, Finance Director Mike Betz said nearly $1 million was included in a revenue line item for the sale. Some councilmembers said they knew nothing about it and also asked why the selling price was so low. Vision Appraisal has the former Newhall Street school appraised at $10.4 million.

But Kroop said the town is not asking for $1 million. He said he didn’t know what the price tag would be and, yes, there are interested parties.

“You cannot set a price based on normal real-estate standards,” he said. “Looking at Vision Appraisal doesn’t tell you the whole story.”

He said it will take $10 million to $20 million to get the neglected building up to code.  “It will cost considerably more than its value to rehab it,” said Kroop. The old Newhall Community Center is included in the package deal, bringing the total square footage to 162,000.

Initially, the town tried to lease the school to various tenants, such as a cooking school. It paid Regional Growth Partnership $39,000 to conduct a reuse study of the building. RGP held several public meetings to get neighbors’ wish lists for the property and gave recommendations to the Council last summer.

“We were having a very difficult time leasing it and getting the police substation in there,” said Kroop. “So the administration made a decision, based on the fact that it’s going to cost a lot of money to renovate the building, to see what kind of interest there would be from the development community.”

In addition to the hefty price to rehab the property, Kroop said it costs about $250,000 a year for heat, electricity and maintenance.

“We have a lot of great ideas [from the community] but who has the money to do that?” said Kroop. At the RGP meetings, residents asked for stuff like continuing education classes, a swimming pool, condominiums with rooftop gardens, community space and a theater program in the old auditorium.

Now that the town might sell the building, Kroop was asked if the $39,000 study was a waste of money.

“No,” he said, “because we got a chance to see what the overall cost implications were for the wish list that was generated. If you didn’t have the study and just put it out there the neighborhood would say what about what the community wants? The amount of money spent was worth it.”

Also, he said he hopes the ideas in the RGP study would be considered.

“We said in the RFP, to the extent possible interested parties should and may take into account the study attached to the extent that they could achieve as many of the goals in the study as possible,” said Kroop. But the buyer can scrap it all.

Four of the developers who responded to the RFP took a “mandatory walkthrough” of the school earlier this year, said Kroop. “We wanted people to take it seriously and wanted to see who’s looking at the property,” he said.

Not all four submitted a proposal. Kroop wouldn’t say how many did and if they want to buy or lease.

If sold, he said the Middle School Reuse Steering Committee would meet with the developer. “Ultimately the town makes the decision, obviously,” said Kroop.