City Aldermen trying to deal with long-standing flooding problems on Gilbert Street want to purchase an easement with a property owned by a city official.
Doing so would allow extensive repairs to the drainage system in the area.
Stephen Iacuone, an Alderman elected in November, owns property at 40 – 42 Gilbert Street. A house on the property has been so badly damaged by flooding that it is inhabitable.
Complicating the issue somewhat is the fact that Iacuone has an attorney in the matter — fellow Alderman Barbara DeGennaro.
They’ve recused themselves from voting on the issue, but they’ve been present during executive session meetings on the issue.
Executive sessions are meetings closed to the public and are allowed when public bodies discuss legal strategy, real estate deals and specific employees.
In March, DeGennaro spoke on Iacuone’s behalf from the audience during an Aldermen meeting.
The Aldermen were considering buying Iacuone’s property outright — but have said they don’t have the money.
The debate over what to do with Iacuone’s property ended last Thursday, when the Aldermen voted to pursue purchasing some 14,000 square feet in easements of properties near Gilbert Street in order to install a wider pipe and make repairs.
“I’m glad we’re finally taking steps to address this problem,” Aldermanic President Ken Hughes said after the meeting. “I think this is the right way to do it.”
Board members had discussed the possibility of purchasing Iacuone’s property outright, namely to head off a potential lawsuit by Iacuone.
Hughes and other Aldermen said it would be risky to own it because of liability if someone gets hurt on the property, having to find a new owner for Iacuone’s property, which is about a quarter of an acre — and opening the door for other residents in flood-prone areas to ask for a city purchase.
Flooding problems are common in the city.
“We might be setting a bad precedent if we buy the property,” Hughes said. “Everybody knows we have other water issues in the city. What’s going to stop them from coming up and saying, ‘Hey, you purchased this property. Why not buy mine?’”
Corporation Counsel Joe Coppola said the estimated cost of the easements is about $277,000, though the figure could change through negotiations, while it would cost about $355,000 to buy Iacuone’s land and demolish an existing garage. The city has about $355,000 left in an account they plan to drain to make the purchases.
Mayor Anthony Staffieri said he is also glad to see the city take some action to solving the problem. The city has drained a pond at Witek Park in advance of heavy rains to alleviate some of the flooding along Gilbert Street for several years, he said.
“We’ve always had a problem there and it needs to be taken care of,” Staffieri said.
