Mayor says church spire poses immediate public-safety hazard; city to fence and seek emergency contracts

Mayor Michael Passaro told the council that engineers had identified a collapse zone around the spire of Second Congregational Church and that the city could no longer wait for the owner to make repairs. He said the city will establish a construction fence and detour traffic around a major intersection and that contracts with engineers and masonry firms will be initiated immediately.

"We were not able to be reassured by any of the engineers that have studied the situation," the mayor said, adding that the city would notify local businesses and publish detour routes. An engineer present estimated mobilization and work could begin quickly and take roughly four to six weeks once started. The mayor said no residents or businesses will be displaced but that traffic flow in the intersection will be impacted while the stabilization work proceeds.

Councilors asked for more detail on timeline, cost and the potential for the city to later recover expenses from the property owner. The mayor said he expects to bring contract estimates and an accounting of expected expenses to the next council meeting and that public notices (website and social media) and direct outreach to nearby businesses would follow. The council approved the plan to proceed with emergency measures and asked staff to share contract documents and cost estimates with members in advance of the next meeting.