Martocchio’s Ties to Beecher Street Deal 'Not a Factor' in Party Differences

When the Beecher Street property failed to garner a fair offer during a Request For Proposals more than a year and half ago, Louis Martocchio spoke to former clients who were looking for a property of this type. He mentioned the property in passing and nearly a year went by before the two came back and inquired about the property.

William Martin, of Watertown, and Wolcott resident Ralph Monti approached Martocchio to draw up paperwork for a special LLC as they prepared to submit an offer for the 100-year-old building in December and Martocchio then spoke with Southington Town Manager Garry Brumback and Southington Town Attorney Mark Sciota, asking them to consider sending it out to bid a second time.

That was the last that Martocchio, the listed agent of Beecher St., LLC, according to state documents, has had any discussions with the town regarding the former Board of Education property at 49 Beecher St.

“Obviously, they were former clients of mine and they asked me to draw up the paperwork to submit an LLC with the state,” Martocchio said Tuesday. “I didn’t want any appearance of impropriety or wrongdoing here. I want the town to do what’s best for the community.”

Martocchio, a member of the Town Council who was out of town until late Monday night, was not at the meeting Monday as members passed a motion sending an 8-24 referral for the property to the Planning and Zoning Commission. The motion was split, 5-3 along party lines, as was a second that established a hearing for sale of the property on Sept. 9.

Beecher St., LLC, the group that won the bid with a $220,000 bid to purchase the property, is looking to build a 30-unit senior housing complex on the site. The complex would include private affordable housing units for seniors only, nine in all, that would be filled based on a percentage of the senior’s fixed income. It is separate from the Section 8 housing and would not be open to families, developers said.

The two developers have built several senior housing projects already, officials confirmed, and have experience working with the public and state to acquire funding. Martocchio said he receives hourly pay for his work and does not receive a commission on the development, nor is he a partner.

So after bringing the group to town, Martocchio has done what he can to stay void of the deal and any discussions.

“I have recused myself of any involvement, not just in executive session discussions, but in our caucuses as well. I literally walk away from it and leave the room,” Martocchio said. “On Sept. 9, I won’t be at the public hearing, instead removing myself from the meeting at that point.”

It’s something that John Dobbins, chairman of the council, said Martocchio has done from the beginning.

But with the proposed price, $220,000, falling well below the assessed value for the property, Republicans and Democrats are split on whether this is the best deal for the town. The 1.76-acre parcel is assessed at $561,750 in all, including buildings on the property, according to information available through the Southington Town Assessor’s Office.

Dobbins said this number is hard to attribute to a sale price, however, due to remediation needed on the property, including removal of asbestos and a underground oil tank. The town would sell the property as is, so any developer would need to conduct the work and take on the costs upon purchasing the property.

“Originally, there were meetings with a real estate agent and the dollar value came up with really was wishful thinking. We weren’t even close with the eventual bids that came in originally,” Dobbins said. “We turned down the offers and took off the market because those were not anywhere near what would have been acceptable.”

When the town requested bids again, officials said, the offers remained low but more reasonable. There were only two bidders the second time. Dobbins said he and the Republican councilors see the latest move as one that would “put the property back on the tax rolls” and provide income for the town instead of maintaining maintenance costs to keep the building vacant.

Minority leader Christopher Palmieri said, however, that the sale is to a not for profit company and therefore the town should be able to negotiate a higher price for the property.

Palmieri noted that when the building was first returned to the town by the Board of Education, Democrats suggested use of the property as a development space for the Housing Authority and support the concept of senior housing.

“That (difference in) amount is significant. This is a great location close to downtown,” he said. “There are other complications with way they presented their plan for the property.”

“My personal concerns are not with Lou Martocchio’s involvement. I can’t speak for Dawn (Miceli) and John (Barry), but my concerns are on the price for that location.”

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