(Updated) Tempers Flare as Council Postpones Gura Building Decision

There was plenty of support for the Southington Community Cultural Arts proposal on Monday as Councilwoman Dawn Miceli, chair of the Gura Building Use Committee, presented the recommendation that the organization be given 18-months to seek funds to renovate the facility as an arts center.

So much support, in fact, that a decision by the council to delay discussion until August led to a series of outbursts from audience members at who were displeased with what they saw as a potential delay in the process.

“It’s not your business to tell others how to run their business!” Ann Marie Conaty, a resident of Mt. Vernon Road, shouted before leaving the meeting. “You are wasting valuable time for political gain.”

The heated reaction came moments after Cheryl Lounsbury stated she would not support a vote during the July 9 council meeting, requesting further time to review a detailed business plan for the proposal in an effort to make sure the plan is sustainable over the next decade, not just in concept.

The , calls for an 18-month period to be given to the non-profit arts organization, which operates independently from the Southington Arts Council, to find the $1.2 million needed to renovate the building. The building would then be leased for a 20-year period to the organization for $1.

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As part of the lease agreement, Miceli said Monday that the organization would be responsible for all operating costs, maintenance costs and other financial burdens related to the building.

“Testimony and research shows that the arts center will be economic driver for community, act as destination location and promote activity at other businesses in downtown Southington,” Miceli said.

The proposal was largely supported as nearly a dozen people spoke in favor of the plan during a public comment section of the meeting. Conaty said she has reviewed the proposal and fully believes that the plan would work, citing successes in town including renovations to , Marion Schoolhouse and .

Last week, present at the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting and on Monday, Anthony Sheffy announced that the had also discussed the project and was in favor of giving the SCCA time to try and secure funding.

Michael Riccio, who served as a member of the Gura Building Use Committee, asked the council to consider taking action sooner than later.

“The bottom line is the town is moving out of the building and the clock is ticking,” Riccio said. “The state told them to hurry up and they are subject to business plan, done with SBA guidelines. They need to get this thing moving so they can secure funding.”

“If they get the funding and five years down road in collapses, the town will have brand new building to sell, reuse or tear down. And if we tear it down, it will be cheaper because environmental issues already addressed.”

But the nudging wasn’t enough to convince council members.

Democrat Christopher Palmieri, council minority leader, asked for the discussion to be added to the July agenda, but his request was rejected following a 5-4 vote. Miceli, also a Democrat, and Democrat John Barry supported the July 9 discussion along with Republican Louis Martocchio.

Republicans Lounsbury, John Dobbins, Peter Romano, Stephanie Urillo and Al Natelli Jr. voted against the motion for a July 9 discussion.

Martocchio said he understood why the others voted for more time, saying that he believes the proposal is not one that anyone on the council is against, but instead they were looking to make sure it was a plan that could be completely vetted first.

Dobbins, chairman of the council, said there has been conflicting information regarding the project, including a report from November 2008 in which council members were told that fixing the foundation alone would cost upwards of seven figures.

He requested that the SCCA submit the council an in-depth business plan to both renovate and maintain operations of the building over a ten-year period. He said his deadline of Dec. 1, 2012, was specific to the business plan, not the fundraising period.

“What I asked for in my statement, I would like to see a full business plan, not just an abbreviated one,” he said following the meeting. “If you look past the testimony that’s been heard and at the studies on prior councils, the condition of the building was listed as very poor.”

“It is our responsibility, our job to have a fiduciary relationship and to protect the town. We are just making sure the process is vetted out.”

Romano expressed concerns that after Monday’s meeting, however, politics may have made it’s way into the process and said he hopes that will be ironed out before the council makes a final decision.

Urillo, a member of the Gura Use Building Committee who voted in favor of demolishing the building, expressed concerns earlier in the meeting that Miceli and Director John Myers were members of the SCCA Board of Directors.

Miceli defended her vote, saying she stepped down prior to leading the committee and asked both former Town Council Chairman Edward Pocock III, who appointed the committee, and Mark Sciota if there was any concern over conflict of interest before taking the role.

The tow said there wasn’t, especially on a subcommittee level.

“I brought this information up not as a point of debate, but in the interest of full disclosure,” Urillo said.
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