Date: Fri 31-Jan-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

council-FHH-town-office-move

Full Text:

Council Clears The Way For Town Office Move

with illustration ????

B Y S TEVE B IGHAM

All that's left is the move on February 8.

First Selectman Bob Cascella officially entered into an agreement with the

state this week to begin the two-year lease of an 8,600-square-foot section of

Canaan House on the Fairfield Hills Hospital campus. The more than 20 Town

Hall South employees will set up shop there beginning February 10. Town Hall

South has been ravaged by flooding and general deterioration in recent years.

Monday night, the Board of Selectmen voted 3-0 to agree to enter into the

agreement with the state, and after a short recess, the Legislative Council

gave the nod, 7-1, to finance the move by transferring $69,500 out of the

town's contingency account.

The lopsided votes, however, may not tell the whole story. The controversy

over this move, which came to a head a week ago, was brought up again by Jack

Rosenthal on Monday. The councilman cast the lone dissenting vote, claiming Mr

Cascella ignored the Charter when he agreed to have renovation work proceed at

Canaan House before he had received approval from both the selectmen and

council.

"He cannot plead the lack of time created an emergency because the problem at

Town Hall South existed before Mr Cascella became first selectman three years

ago," he said. Mr Rosenthal added Mr Cascella knew the results of bidding for

the renovation and had his "hand shake" agreement with the state long before

last week's council meeting.

Mr Rosenthal said he was disturbed only a handful of council members,

primarily Melissa Pilchard, voiced concern over Mr Cascella's disregard for

the Charter.

Mr Rosenthal warned his fellow council members that approval of the resolution

without letting the first selectman know he must follow the spirit, intent and

letter of the Charter could cause future trouble.

"We are leaving ourselves open to more and more abuses of authority," he said.

The first selectman, however, has stated that the state Department of Public

Works (DPW) agreed in good faith to have the renovation work started before

any contract agreement was made. In other words, because the contract was not

signed, the town had no obligation to move into Canaan House or pay the bill.

"Anybody that believes that believes in the tooth fairy," Mr Rosenthal said

later. "Morally, they would have had to pay back that money if the lease

agreement wasn't approved. He committed the town."

Mr Rosenthal said he was shocked no one else spoke up against Mr Cascella's

actions, but figured his fellow council members went along with it because it

was an emergency situation.

"But they could have said, "Hey Bob, look we've got to back you on this, but

for Christ's sake, don't do it again,'" he said.

Mr Cascella was hoping the council would have voted last week on the transfer,

but members said they needed time to consider the resolution. Under normal

circumstances, according to charter provisions, the special appropriation of

$50,000 or more must go to a town meeting. However, Town Attorney David

Grogins found a loophole in the charter, which allowed for the money to be

transferred from one account to another without having to seek permission from

the town.

Mrs Pilchard said she had to speak with three different attorneys before she

could feel comfortable with the action.

"There is a loophole that implies that if you transfer, it's not an

appropriation, it's a transfer," she explained.

The first selectman had originally slated a move to Canaan House this weekend,

but due to the delay was unable to schedule work with the telephone, utility

and moving companies.

Prior to the vote, Selectman Gary Fetzer questioned the idea of foregoing the

town meeting.

"The council's comfortable with that?" he asked.

"We'll know in about five minutes," Mr Cascella replied.

Of the $69,500, $35,000 of it covers renovation work, $5,000 for phone

installation, $10,000 for the move, $1,500 for file locks and $18,000 to cover

the lease for the five remaining months in the fiscal year. Next year's

monthly lease payments ($3,600 per month) have been worked into next year's

budget, which Mr Cascella unveiled Tuesday.