Public Service Committee ratifies emergency demolitions, authorizes payment to Butcher & Sons

The Public Service Committee voted to place on the consent agenda an ordinance ratifying actions by the director of public service to contract with Butcher & Sons, Inc., for the emergency demolition of six structures deemed unsafe.

Chris Leto, the city's director of public service, told the committee the city contracted for demolition of six structures, most damaged by fire and judged to be at imminent risk of failure or collapse. "We have 6 structures that we entered into contract with Butcher and Sons to take down these structures," Leto said. He said the structures were located across wards including two in Ward 9, one in Ward 3 and two in Ward 5.

Councilman Lombardo asked whether the demolitions had already taken place; Leto replied, "Yes. They're all down, sir." Lombardo noted the contract costs appeared higher than the usual demolition notices he receives that are often under $10,000; Leto said some structures required disposal at different landfills because asbestos was not abated and that he would provide particulars on costs.

Leto also noted a separate vacant-building case at Saint Paul's Church, which "just went to a hearing last week"; the board gave the property an additional month after the property owner produced a plan and an investor had stepped forward to propose rehabilitation.

Committee members voted to suspend rules and place the ordinance on the consent agenda so the city can pay the contractor for completed work. The ordinance as read ratifies director authority to contract for emergency demolition and declares the matter an emergency; the transcript shows committee approval but does not record final council passage.