Mayor Crushed by Brownstone Resolution

A controversy which erupted a an Economic Development Committee meeting a few weeks ago, flared again at the Common Council meeting Monday night.

Council member Ron Klattenberg again challenged the Mayor Sebastian Giuliano who gave permission for Ron Borrelli, a Republican member of the Planning and Zoning Commission to enter city property on Bow Lane to remove brownstone on the property where Buckeye Pipeline was demolishing houses as part of deal for an easement through the property.

Klattenberg read from an email from the Long Hill Estate written this month, claiming they could put the brownstone to good use at the estate.

Klattenberg then offered a resolution to have the brownstone returned by Borelli and donated to the Long Hill estate or be offered to the public in open bidding.

“The brownstone was irresponsibly given to a fellow party member,” Klattenberg charged.

The mayor, for his part, insisted that the brownstone was under the control of Buckeye Pipeline, from who Borrelli reportedly got permission to remove the brownstone.

Council member Gerry Daley entered the fray by accusing the mayor of giving permission to Borrelli to remove surplus property.

“I don’t know why you can’t just say it was a mistake,” Daley asked the mayor.

“Because it wasn’t. The brownstone was not in city control. Our agreement with Buckeye called for the demolition of the property at no cost of the city, with no reservation. If they wanted to let people pull shingles from the roof or go in and take plumbing out, that’s Buckeye’s prerogative.”

Borrelli himself asked to speak, and was allowed to, insisting that he went through all appropriate channels, and that if the city wanted the brownstone back, he would deliver it if they would pay for his labor.

“I’ll drop it on your doorstep,” he said, addressing Klattenberg.

When the question was called the ultimate vote of 7-5 requires the mayor to request that Borrelli return the brownstone.

“The Long Hill estate voted tonight. They don’t want the brownstone,” Borrelli informed the Council.

After the meeting Borrelli argued that the Council had made a mistake.

“They’ll pay for my labor, and in the end they’ll find that it’s going to cost them more than the brownstone is worth.”

Daley Authors EDC letter to Mayor Over Brownstone

This is the letter Economic Development Committee Chair Gerry Daley has sent to Mayor Sebastian Giuliano over allegations that the mayor allowed Republican Planning and Zoning commission member Ron Borrelli to take city-owned brownstone.

Mayor Giuliano:

As you are aware, at last night’s Economic Development Committee (EDC) meeting, questions were raised concerning your apparent action in giving City property (i.e. a brownstone wall) to an individual without following the provisions of §78-9 of the Middletown Code of Ordinances that require disposition of City property in the open market. Your action may actually violate other City ordinances or State laws since the brownstone that you gave away had value.

Documentation concerning this matter is attached.

I am troubled by your dismissive remarks in today’s Middletown Press, “You want my comment? They need to get a life.” The beneficiary of your actions, Mr. Borrelli, goes on to justify your actions by saying he knows of other City property that has been given away. Please be reminded that it is your responsibility, and your pledge in your oath of office, to uphold City ordinances. Mr. Borrelli acknowledges that he sought the brownstone wall because, “I’m fixing a problem at a rental property.” This comment indicates that he realized a personal financial gain from your actions.

I am writing because members of the EDC asked that I request an explanation from you about the process that you followed for disposing of the brownstone wall and how you reconcile your actions with the provisions of the Middletown Code of Ordinances and Connecticut General Statutes. Please provide such an explanation, or demonstrate how you will remedy your error by ensuring that the City receives fair market value for the property you gave away.

Very truly yours,

Gerald E. Daley

Chair, Economic Development Committee

Common Council

Kasper Mines Brownstone Query; Mayor Sees No Need to Stonewall

In a sign that the campaign is underway, and that political "silly season" is here, at Monday's Economic Development Committee meeting, committee member, and City Council member Hope Kasper revealed a letter authored by Mayor Sebastian Giuliano authorizing Planning and Zoning Commission member Ron Borrelli, to remove brownstone from a wall on property given to the city by the state of Connecticut on Bow Lane.

Mayoral candidate, and Common Council member Ron Klattenberg, who remained at the unusually long EDC meeting until this item was addressed in the "Other" category, appeared shocked and dismayed by the brownstone conveyance.

"What's particularly disturbing is that there was not a procedure followed," Klattenberg said at the meeting. "I believe this raises a serious ethical issue. In a unilateral decision, this brownstone was given by the mayor to a political ally. This brownstone has a value, on the low end, of $1,000 and at the high end of $5,000." Klattenberg indicated he had contacted the local brownstone quarry to determine the value of the stone.

Kasper indicated that the brownstone should be considered surplus property. As such, Kasper claims that the brownstone should have been distributed through competitive bidding.

"When there's surplus property," Kasper said to fellow committee members. "The purchasing agent must be contacted. I know there are ordinances, I used to work for the city."

"There's a difference between surplus property and garbage," Mayor Sebastian Giuliano said in a phone inteview late Monday evening. "This is just a pile of rocks. The property, including the wall was going to be demolished and hauled away by O&G. We weren't going to get a penny for it."

Giuliano said that Borrelli had indeed requested the brownstone. Borrelli insists that his wife Stephanie made the original request, but that he and his wife followed the mayor's advice and contacted the city's legal department and the planning department. According to Borrelli and the mayor, both departments insisted on nothing more than a certificate of insurance to prevent exposure by the city to liability.

Borrelli insists that the acquisition of the brownstone is on the up-and-up.

"I'm not hiding anything," he said Monday evening. "It took me, and another person four days, a dump truck and a backhoe to move 45 pieces of brownstone. That's $3,000 to $4,000 just to remove the stone."

When Council member Earle Roberts, who lives on Bow Lane, stopped by as Borrelli was removing the stone, Borrelli says Roberts asked if he had permission to remove the stone. Borrelli produced the letter from the mayor, and the certificate of insurance.

Borrelli is using the stone in a wall at a property he owns at 109 Tollgate Road.

"I will recuse myself from the vote on the Buckeye Pipeline which will run through the property," Borrelli insisted. "So that no one can claim there was a conflict of interest."

"I would have said, 'Just fine' to anyone who asked me for material on a site scheduled for demolition," Giuliano said. "All that stuff was going to be hauled away."

At the EDC meeting, Giuliano's mayoral opponent Klattenberg outlined the letter of the law.

"If the value is over $7500, the sale of the surplus property must be advertised," Klattenberg said. "Under $7500, the sale must be competitively bid and the purchasing agent would handle it."

"If Ron (Klattenberg) is accusing me of an ethical violation," Giuliano countered. "Then so much for his pledge to keep the campaign focused on the issues. I guess all bets are off. If they think I didn't seek the advice of the legal department, they're mistaken."

EDC chair Gerry Daley told the committee he would author a letter to the mayor asking for an explanation of the situation.