This is not a criticism of council, they did an honorable thing regarding the Vickers contract.

Nevermind, I found it about 53 minutes into the youtube video.

Matt R, thanks for exposing this example of Doug Adkins and Kyle Fooks "AMATEURISH HANDLING" of the Strand-Studio Theater demolition and the ADDED EXPENSE OF $157,100+ IN CITY FUNDS.  And. Middletown Scouter, thank you for identifying the exact timing of this EMBARRASSING SEGMENT of YouTube's video of last Tuesday's city council meeting.

"Originally posted by swohio75";"swohio75 wrote: Whomever at the City authorized this work to commerce WITHOUT City Council approval needs to be fired ASAP.

This whole fiasco is embarrassing.  

The original council packet posted toward the end of last week did not include this piece of legislation. 

https://www.cityofmiddletown.org/AgendaCenter/PreviousVersions/_05012018-215

Not sure when it was updated, but I can tell you the packet wasn’t uploaded until Friday or Saturday. 

The original article in the J-N with the bid amounts ran back on March 16. There were THREE Council meetings between the article and the last May 1 meeting.  You mean to tell me staff was unable to draw up legislation for council to consider PRIOR to May 1 but staff was able to authorize work to commence?

It’s also worth noting that the repair to the roof to stop the damage was under $100,000.  Yet the city decided to proceed with the demo order.

Also to note:

-         It was under Mike Robinette’s tenure that the city acquired the Studio in a back-door deal with the Finkleman family and property around the train station.

-          The city sat on the property without actively soliciting bids until the last six to nine months

-         The city repeatedly has stated that this building does not qualify for and is not a listing on the NRHP which is a FALSE statement. 

I'd never vote for the "No" candidate.  It's so short-sighted.  

 

I don't disagree with Adkins in every situation.  

 

However, this alone does make me lose confidence. 

 

In a nutshell from what I understand:

 

1.)    Both Mike in his capacity as ED Director and Judy in her role as City Manager thought there was too much obsolete commercial space in the downtown area.  A rough downtown master plan has commercial development focused west of Clinton (I believe) and up near the train station, which was positioned become passenger rail again under Obama’s American Reinvestment Act

2.)    City wanted a piece of property up by train station owned by Finklemans

3.)    Studio Theater was considered blight and obsolete due to lack of maintenance and care by Finkleman family

4.)    Trade was done with the Finklemans—took property off hands in exchange for property near the station

5.)    City anticipated large $ from Neighborhood Stabilization Funds—of which a portion would be used to demo Studio

6.)    City did not receive funding but was stuck with the building

7.)    Robinette acquired building one-level, three storefront building attached the Studio (Liberty Spirits).  This building was not owned by the city and not given to Robinette by the end.

8.)    Studio continued to deteriorate under city ownership to the point where roof and heavy rains are/were damaging Robinette’s property

hey swo75---you remember well the Finkleman/OfficeOutfitter/Clark station/pool hall swap with Duncan-----can you guesstimate how much this failed swindle cost the taxpayer from initial Duncan deal to it's ending(including land swaps, legal hours and city employee wrangling)with exactly what to show for it all.

Amazingly I was contacted back then, inquiring if I would close my Central business location to manage the proposed Duncan strip center(initially planned for the Office Outfitter/Finkleman tracts! Can you iimagine my response, esp considering the possible impact on my business?