Renovation effort now back on track

Thursday, January 26, 2012

MILFORD – Town officials told builder Richard LaBonte that the building inspector is acting appropriately when he insists on the need for building permits.

LaBonte, who is refurbishing the building at 1 Nashua St., long known as the Boston Shoe Store, told selectmen on Monday, Jan. 23, that he objects to correspondence from commercial code enforcement officer William McKinney, which he described as threatening.

LaBonte also said he objected to McKinney sending a letter to his private financier, that said the builder might abandon the project. The letter, LaBonte said, was “unethical” and “offensive.”

But Town Administrator Guy Scaife and selectmen told LaBonte that McKinney’s actions were all appropriate and professional.

The correspondence consists of standard form letters from the town to a developer, Scaife said.

He also reminded LaBonte that at one point, in a letter to the town, he had mentioned demolishing the building.

“Bill (McKinney) is following (standard) procedures,” said Scaife, who asked LaBonte to “step back” and look at the situation clearly.

“You were continuing to do the work” without keeping building permits up to date, he said. “Bill can’t allow someone to do work without a permit.”

Now that LaBonte has the proper permits, everything is back on track, Scaife said, and “I’m glad to see progress.”

Board Chairman Nate Carmen told LaBonte it is not uncommon for a municipality to notify a lender when there are problems.

This is “just like a tax lien. The lien-holder is notified,” he said.

Carmen also sympathized with LaBonte’s struggles to rehab the building.

“I know it is difficult. We want to see your project move along,” he said.

LaBonte also objected to building permit fees.

“I just scraped up $15,000 to finish the windows,” and then he was faced with the fees. “This project brings in no money, and I’m trying to feed my two children,” he said.

In November selectmen told LaBonte they wanted to see more progress in renovating the 19th century building to make it weather tight. New windows were recently put in and he is about to put siding on the building.

Kathy Cleveland can be reached at 673-3100, ext. 304, or kcleveland@nashuatelegraph.com.