Robert Finneran, who is sole proprietor the corporation that bought the former Mike's Sub Shop (that tiny building at 42 Merrimac St.) is peeved because DPS won't sign off on his building permit until another property on Plum Island (which is owned by a trust - his family's - and of which he is a trustee) hooks into the water/sewer system.
We all know there are repercussions to not hooking into the new PI water/sewer system. It seems this is one of them. If I remember correctly, the city - or town, in this case, since the property is in Newbury - can also condemn properties whose owners don't hook into the system.
First, I was amazed that the Water Commission took Mr. Finneran out of line - as in, some people in the audience wanted to talk about the Newbury Little Village at River project while the developer was still there, but Commissioner Lawler not only let the guy leave, but let Finneran talk about his issue, which in any case was due to a late file.
The sticking point seems to be this (from the DN):
People seeking building permits from the city must demonstrate that they are up to date on all their other municipal obligations.
Although DPS Director Brendan O'Regan told the commission that this was an executive order, Lawler still expressed skepticism that because Finneran doesn't actually own the PI property (he rents from the family trust), the sub shop property would fall under the order.
Victor Tine pretty much tells the rest of it in the DN story, except for Finneran's mumbled excuses for the PI property being hooked into the system: something about the whole building needing to be re-plumbed, issues with the neighbors and "simply the finances of it."
I know lots of people had problems with "the finances of it."
Finneran wants to add a second floor to the building, which he bought just over a year ago, for an office and run the same type of sub shop as was there before out of the ground floor.
1 comment:
Let me add the following comments to the story reported by Mr. V. Tine of the Daily Snooze that has little bearing on the direct issue of permitting and the processes of an enterprise Department, but will add flavor to the stew anyway.....
Mr. Robert Finneran.......rings a bell? IFG? Plumb Islanders and City of Newburyport rate payers should remember this name on a list of property owners that promised to fight until the last dollar of the City was expended to turn away the mandated Plum Island Water and Sewer Project (the City of Newburyport is still paying attorneys (of which he claims to be a member of some bar) fees in attempts to settle the continuing and on going issues this group have introduced and reintroduced time and time again.......to no avail in the courts to date.
Mr. Finneran.....there was a man by this name that ran for public office and was soundly defeated by one Harriet Stanley, another registered republican that has (had, depending on the direction of the wind at the moment) the full support of the present Water Commission Chair..............Executive Orders exist supporting the payment of obligations easily dating back to Mayor Edward 'Ed' Molin....to the last Mayor to Lisa Mead and on record as Mary Ann Clancy, supporting the theory of obligations being current before processing requests for services. Any Executive Office holder (Mayor) can re issue this order to flavor his/ her preferences in support for his/ her programs (to my present knowledge this present executive Officer has not issued such a retraction or reorder to date). Many do not waiver from the path of responsible attempts at collecting public debt, probably due to the need to request further blood from the voters as a whole (and very seldom from the Business Community singularly) from time to time to balance the budget due to the extravagance of dipping into the bucket to support your own supporters.
Mikes sub was at one time a two purpose building (can you believe this?) and was restricted as to the occupancy limit and use of facilities during it's tenure. The addition of 'space' or 'area' as defined would increase flow usage as measured with the Title 5 method that most reasonable Municipalities use to measure estimated need on environmental usages. a measure that Business owners and Attorneys do not want to recognize due to out of pocket expense to their pet projects.
Interesting web we weave when.....one knows the players. Oh...how I could go on and on, but I have better things to do!
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