Preston balks at demolition contract

Preston- The Preston Redevelopment Agency failed to approve a contract for the salvage, demolition and abatement of the Norwich Hospital site Wednesday after most of its members were uncomfortable with the contract language.

In the contract's newest version, Manafort Brothers Inc. of Plainville has agreed to demolish four buildings on the hospital site at no cost. It would have cost $250,000 to demolish the Kettle, Lodge, Ribicoff and Seymour buildings, according to Kent Borner, the chairman of the Preston Redevelopment Agency.

Manafort said it would also demolish the other 28 buildings on the site at no cost as long as there are no unforeseen structural problems.

Previously, agency members thought Manafort had agreed to demolish all of the buildings for free.

"Cost neutrality was not a guarantee; they guaranteed the four but not all 32," Borner said. "It comes down to what's presented to us in the final document."

Borner said Manafort is taking a big risk in waiving the demolition costs.

The apparent change in contract language made agency member Sean Nugent uneasy.

"I'm not trustworthy of a person who has an issue with demolition to address it at the eleventh hour. Why did it take them so long and until the eleventh or so version to bring it up?" Nugent said.

Agency member Michael Clancy agreed with Nugent saying, "The contract has changed at least three times. If we're starting off like this in a marriage, I think it would end in divorce."

After an hour and a half debate, the agency voted 6-2 to postpone the approval of the contract until the agency's negotiation committee can review the additional changes this evening.

The vote caused Borner, who wanted to approve the contract Wednesday night, to walk out of the meeting.

The agency is now scheduled to meet at 5:30 p.m. tonight in Town Hall to approve the contract.

j.hanckel@theday.com