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After questions and executive session, Torrington council approves up to $40,000 to TDC for Yankee Pedlar litigation
Summary
The Council tabled an initial $100,000 TDC blight-fund request for the Yankee Pedlar, held an executive session to discuss expenses, and later amended the allocation to approve up to $40,000 for litigation costs to be disbursed only on documented expense review and secured by lien.
The Torrington City Council considered a request April 6 from the Torrington Development Corporation (TDC) for up to $100,000 from the City Blight Fund to support work tied to properties at 93 Main Street and 30 Maiden Lane (the Yankee Pedlar matter).
TDC President Gregg Perosino and Treasurer Lesa Vanotti presented to the Council. Perosino said the funds would be used to cover ongoing litigation costs, not rehabilitation, and provided a slide overview. "The funds would be used to cover ongoing litigation costs," Perosino said. Treasurer Lesa Vanotti described other TDC activities, including a downtown parking study funded by the organization and ongoing coordination with the mayor to form a Parking Committee.
Councilor Chris Beyus said the presentation remained "too broad" and pressed for more detail on how the money would be spent. Councilor Paul Cavagnero joined in asking for clarification of the bulk of funds' use. Councilor Anne Ruwet disclosed that she is a member of the TDC and characterized the request as a partnership between the City and the TDC.
On a motion by Councilor Ruwet the Council voted to table the original request and later voted to add and hold an executive session to discuss the requested expenses; attendees invited into that session included Corporation Counsel Tomasz Kalinowski, Mr. Perosino and Ms. Vanotti. After returning to open session the Council amended the allocation: on motion by Councilor Ruwet the Council approved an allocation reduced from up to $100,000 to up to $40,000 to the TDC, to be used for litigation costs as permitted under Conn. Gen. Stat. Sec. 8-169aa et seq. The minutes state that disbursement will occur from the Blight Fund only upon satisfactory review of documented proof of expenses and that any drawn funds will be secured by a lien as permitted by C.G.S. Sec. 8-169aa(c)(6)(B).
During public comment earlier in the meeting, Glenn Royals questioned the city's use of outside counsel related to an Inland Wetlands enforcement matter at the Yankee Pedlar; the minutes do not record an explicit response to that question during the public portion.
The motion to amend and approve up to $40,000 carried by the vote recorded in the meeting minutes; the minutes do not list individual vote tallies for that motion beyond recording it passed.
