One Donham Abbey Heads Need To Roll

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   A former city department head continues to have extraordinary clout given the actions of the two most recent city managers and the blessings of city council.  Just think of the generous taxpayers financial subsidies and land give-away's for "downtown" exploits of his over the past number of years!
His handiwork is on the $300,000 bailout of the what little is left of the former Rose Furniture Building.  The same holds true for for the long-lingering Goetz Tower deal.  And, then, consider the $300,000+ city sweetheart deal involving the former city-owned Woodworking Shop (Vail Ave.) plus 1300 block of Central Ave. vacant land.

Out of nowhere, faster than a speeding bullet, the demolition of the Strand-Studio city-owned building became the city's highest priority requiring immediate action.  As taxpayers, I ask you to consider the most recent post of swohio 75 which sums up the sad state of governance involving Doug Adkins, Kyle Fooks and a former city department head.

Posted: 19 hours 7 minutes ago at 3:53pm by swohio75
Whomever at the City authorized this work to commerce WITHOUT City Council approval needs to be fired ASAP. 

Posted: 2 hours 55 minutes ago at 8:05am by swohio75

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. 

Middletown taxpayers shouldn't be at all surprised if the soon-to-be cleared Strand/Studio Theater property is conveyed to Liberty Spirits LLC via another $1.00 city sweetheart transaction.  If this scenario hold true, the city will have "donated" $485,000 more for this demolition thereby furthering the Liberty Spirits LLC proposed Phase II redevelopment of the 1300 block of Central Avenue.
It does pay to have friends in "High Places".  Who needs equity partners (silent or not) when One Donham Abbey doles out taxpayers funds so freely?