More from CT Post reporter Hugh Bailey:
Bridgeport officials say they’re confident that architectural firm Fletcher Thompson can survive its current troubles. But its legal problem with the federal government is just one of a number of ongoing complaints against the firm for apparently not paying its bills.
· Zurich American Insurance Co. says the firm failed to pay $99,794 it was owed for coverage.
· Landmark Facilities Group, of Norwalk, sued the company over $29,555 it says it was owed.
· The company was ordered to pay $408,245 to Cisco Systems Capital Corp.
· Kamco Supply Corp. of New England claimed it was owed $41,938.
· MGRE Co. says the company provided a report that was “materially deficient” and sued for $10,617.
· McLaren Engineering Group sued over $223,924 it says it was owed.
· Also, Prudential Annuities Information Services and Technology Corp. sued over $627,954.25 it said it was owed in a disagreement over a sublease at Fletcher Thompson’s former Shelton headquarters.Some of these cases have been settled, but most have not, and in at least one case the terms of the settlement appear to have been breached. They all date to the past few years, when the company returned to Bridgeport, and some have continued even as the firm has been celebrated for its new downtown home.
Full story here.
Only in Bridgeport can this be considered better. I can see the ad now. Finch standing in front of their office building bragging about how businesses are leaving the suburbs and coming back to Bridgeport. Back to the future. Then you see a sheriff walking up behind Finch slapping a bad-ass padlock on the door and slapping a notice to evict on the door as a somewhat shaken Finch is mumbling Bridgeport is getting better every day.
Are these the types of businesses Mayor Finch has spent $250,000 in taxpayer $ to encourage them to relocate back to Bridgeport?
Deadbeats R Us.
Hey Brandon Hall, have you gotten this month’s rent from these guys?
Sidebar. Who thinks it is a good idea to allow Tisdale school to be used as a temporary home for Newfield library? Does Sauda Baraka really think this is a smart move? To me it sounds insane with serious security issues. Bad bad bad idea.
Steven Auerbach, I have attended two of the committee meetings where this temporary location was discussed. Once with the Chair of the Library Board, the BBOE attorney, and Scott Hughes, and last week at Tisdale School. The original concept was introduced by Scott Hughes, not Sauda.
There were 12 parents present according to the Tisdale Principal. All the rest were BEA members, and a couple were NAGE members. The vast majority of these union members do not reside in Bridgeport, none reside in the East End community, and none of them have children who attend Tisdale School.
This was all organized and fueled by Rob Traitor from the BEA. I was literally watching him while the room became chaotic and he was standing near his members grinning from ear to ear. You see his media specialist didn’t want outsiders in “her” library.
The library would only be open to the public from 3:30-9:00 p.m. Monday-Friday and regular hours on weekends. The BPL was going to pay to install additional computers (there are only four there now), books, staff and two security guards. It would be for approximately one year until a permanent location could be found.
After most of the crowd exited, I walked into the hallway to speak to some of the parents to see why they were so upset. They had concerns about the Lighthouse Program that utilizes the library from 3:30-5:30, and there is night recreation from 6:00-9:00 p.m. Monday thru Thursday. They were concerned about outside adults sharing the same restrooms with the children. All valid concerns.
While I was having a great conversation with two Hispanic parents, Rob Traitor walks over and starts interjecting inflammatory comments. I said to the two parents “Let’s move over here. I don’t speak with this gentleman.” As we began to shift over he started yelling “you are just telling lies and you are a liar.” I didn’t have to respond because he made himself look bad, and both parents commented on his poor behavior.
The Newfield Library is the last tenant in a strip mall and there are significant maintenance issues. This concept is not an unusual concept and has been implemented successfully in other schools. All three schools in the East End are in need of improvement, however both Dunbar and Harding High School are ranked in the bottom 5% in performance in all of CT.
The goal was to make sure students and the community had no interruption in library services while a permanent location was being finalized. The vast majority of East End households do not have access to laptops, desktop computers or printers. It is referred to as the “digital divide.”
The principal also sent a flyer and issued phone blasts about the potential library, and informed parents they would be allowed to speak, which was incorrect. Sauda did recognize and allow the principal, media specialist and the vice president to speak, however she couldn’t allow another 20 speakers. There were five more agenda items. She offered to schedule a Public Hearing and/or invited everyone to attend the next Regular BBOE meeting to sign up to speak.
I just don’t understand how anyone can be hostile against a library. You would have thought they were making the school library into the clubhouse for the Hell’s Angels.
Sorry Maria, I absolutely think this is totally unacceptable. It would be unacceptable at Tisdale, which happens to be one of my favorite schools to attend as well as Winthrop and Blackham in the North End. It gives me the creeps to have students from other schools as well as adults in this school. It is an awful idea. Get a storefront like the Mill Hill library on Boston has.
Steve Auerbach, spending a significant amount of money to retrofit a storefront for a library that would be there for approximately one year would be a complete waste of taxpayer money. Installing book shelves, bathrooms, making sure the storefront is ADA compliant, wiring for technology, etc. is not cheap.
Neighborhood Schools are meant to be a key component of any community, therefore members of the community should be able to utilize them. I have no idea why it gives you the “creeps” to have children from Dunbar and Harding utilize a library in Tisdale School.
By the way, the Mill Hill Library is a disgrace. I visited it three months ago, and spoke with one of the librarians who shared some troubling information about the library.
Sorry. But I’ve got to agree with Steve here. It doesn’t make sense. You are asking for too many problems. AND temporary quickly becomes permanent in this city.
The library has their own mil tax. Spend your money wisely and don’t try taking over school facilities.
Wow, thanks Bob.
Bob Walsh, of course you would be opposed to the library. After all, both you and Rob Traitor are friendly, and you are both MJF supporters.
What does MJF have to do with this? I think it’s Joe Ganim’s fault.
Maria, what does MJF have to do with the very bad idea of using Tisdale school as a library? Need a library? For a year use one of the many great libraries in our city and save any money used to retrofit Tisdale.
Steve, leaving a community with two of the worst performing schools in CT without a library is completely inappropriate. In addition, the majority of these households do not have access to technology so students can research projects, print out documents or type up a report. The vast majority of employers now require job applications to be filled out online. Adults in the community need access to computers also.
Maria Pereira, I like Rob Trabor but what does that have to do with me and you?
I was just trying to point out both share a common viewpoint regarding MJF running for mayor. They have been attending her meetings together, therefore they are highly likely to have each others’ back.
Please Maria,
Give ma a day, date and time I was at a meeting with Rob Traber discussing Mary-Jane Foster.
Do so or take back that comment. Your comment is totally inaccurate.
Bob Walsh, both you and Rob Traitor are supporting MJF for Mayor. You have both attended her recent meetings, including those held in her home. Someone who has been in those meetings shared with me both of you have been present for those meetings. If the word “together” is what is troubling you, tough. Are you denying both you and Rob Traitor have attended meetings in support of her candidacy?
It is both your and Rob Traitor’s right to support whomever you so choose to support. That was not the point I was trying to make. I was trying to point out you were both part of an inner-circle group supporting her, therefore you were likely to support Rob Traitor’s position on the library. When I lived up in Lakeside I saw you, Rob and Ed having dinner together on several occasions. Let’s not pretend there is a personal friendship between the both of you based on your mutual friendships with Ed is nonexistent.
I believe you wrote on this blog I was supporting Tom Foley for Governor at least five times, which was an absolute and complete lie. Do you ever retract or apologize for your completely false assertions? No, you repeatedly perpetuated that ridiculous lie.
No, Maria. You are either lying here or someone is lying to you. So I repeat. Give me a day, date and time I was at a meeting with Rob Traber discussing Mary-Jane Foster.
Do so or take back that comment or tell me who it was who saw me at this meeting I never attended.
Your comment is totally inaccurate.
If I am being misled, it is by someone whom you are friendly with. Are you mincing my words? Either you and Rob Traitor have had meetings with MJF regarding her potential candidacy, or you have not. It may have been in separate meetings, group meetings, personal meetings, etc. The BEA endorsed MJF for Mayor in 2010, and Rob Traitor was the VP of the BEA then. He is now the president of the BEA.
Why don’t you respond to my comments about your repeated comments on this blog that I was supporting Tom Foley?
Finch’s next new law he wants passed. No business can talk about financial problems or move out ’til after the elections!
Now getting back to Fletcher Thompson, where the flock was the city council when this deal was done? Were they so excited by the great news no one asked, no one checked on the company?
I am sure every city employee just sat on their hands and kept their mouths shut and repeated the mantra Bridgeport is getting Bitter Every Day and Every Way.
Where’s Tate George?
Prison.
Paging Doug Wade. Paging Doug Wade. Is this the greatness you were talking about? A bankrupt business relocating to the city because of a tax break on personal property. Thank you Mayor Finch but I guess Fletcher Thompson didn’t realize businesses don’t have to pay personal property taxes in Bridgeport. Just ask Ricky DeJesus how to qualify. Bridgeport is getting Better Every Day and Every Way. Where you don’t have to pay to play. Just don’t pay, stupid.
This is a very sad situation at what was once a very respected engineering firm. It sounds like they had some principal partners who thought they were owed the high life, no matter what else was happening with the economy. I hope anyone who works there now or in the past, who broke the law gets punished accordingly. One can only hope the current partners of Fletcher Thompson work diligently to restore their once-stellar reputation The city of Bridgeport and the state of CT should keep a wary eye on them for the criminal actions that apparently took place.
There is strong, real, economic activity taking place in Bridgeport that will mean more jobs. More than I’ve witnessed in the 23 years my business has been here. Yes! I’m up on Bridgeport!
So Milkman, shouldn’t the Finch administration be shouldering some of this blame rather than being shocked and disappointed by the news?
They were either fully aware of the financial problem facing this company and went ahead and gave them a tax break or they failed to perform their due diligence.
I would not be surprised if there were not liens already filed on the assets we are giving tax breaks for.
But I agree with you 100%, much more needs to be done to the individuals who knowing stole from the employees to finance business operations.
Guess they never heard of a Google search!
Bob, are you inferring the city council does research? They’re too busy dreaming up citations to present and ways to spend their stipends ($120,000 in FY2014). The Finch administration probably thought this would not be exposed ’til after the election.
Let’s forget about FT’s problems in the last few years. It’s April 14, 2015. One hundred fifty years ago today, John Wilkes Booth put a bullet behind the head of President Abraham Lincoln as the President watched a play. We’ve come a long way the past 150 years. Back then a politician was made to pay as he watch a play. Today, all one has to do is pay to play.
We totally need FT Downtown and they did a great job restoring this building. Let’s stop pointing fingers, deal with this issue and move onto the next building. M&F sat vacant and moldy for 20 years.
And to the sidebar of Tisdale, I totally support the enlightened idea of the synergy between two entities, the library and the school.
Let’s also point out we have to analyze what went wrong with that strip mall that was such a renaissance moment 20 years ago with a ton of grant money and tax breaks. Mon Dieu!
Really, Bob.
Fletcher Thompson did not do a thing with that building. They are just a tenant.
You find it perfectly acceptable the city of Bridgeport gave a tax break to a company that stole from its employees?
You find it perfectly acceptable the city of Bridgeport gave a tax break to a business that may not make it ’til the end of this year?
Sorry Bob, but you are totally off base with this attitude.
This is corporate welfare at its worst. We do not need businesses like this in Bridgeport. Especially if they need to use my tax dollars to come here.
I suppose people will support it until there is theft, violence and child molestation and then of course it will be the Mayor’s fault. Bob Halstead, it is a very bad idea. Close the library and utilize another library for a year and stop creating anxiety for the parents and teachers. Do you think students from Tisdale and Dunbar as well as others will not go walking through the entire school up the stairs using all bathrooms scribbling graffiti etc.? Bad bad bad idea. Who thought of this bad idea?
Steve, the library is about 15 feet from the front entrance and two security guards were going to be stationed in the hallway outside the library. How are these thefts and the wandering around the school going to occur? There are Tisdale students there every day after school. Why hasn’t this violence and graffiti already occurred? Both Dunbar and Tisdale currently share the existing Newfield Library. Why hasn’t violence, theft, molestation and graffiti occurred there?
Maria,
If having public libraries are so important then why hasn’t this concept been included in every new school we are building?
This is an accommodation to Mayor Finch because he is looking for another press hit to claim he is doing something for the East End.
And I am guessing if this same proposal were made for a charter school you would be up in arms, wouldn’t you.
This has absolutely nothing to do with Mayor Finch or allowing him to take credit for anything. If it did, do you really believe I would be defending it?
Charter Schools are not BPS. They are governed and controlled by the SBOE, not a local school board or municipality. Therefore I would totally be against utilizing municipal taxpayer dollars in a non-municipal school building.
Maria,
Why is the library moving from its present non-municipal leased location? Is the city going to be paying the BOW money to lease the library at Tisdale School?
If the subject is on libraries, one source of “knowledge” in that capacity is the City Council liaison to the Library Board, Sue Brannelly.
When the City voters approved the new funding system for the Library, neither the Mayor nor most Council persons admitted to being pleased. The Library Board had created a plan of funding for library facilities in the East End and East Side to raise them to the standards offered by the Black Rock Branch. The funding has been available. The planning has taken time, that most precious commodity. Meanwhile those communities have not received equal service.
Ask those who may know your questions? Find where the blocks are located? Push for action. Time will tell.
Maria,
Just because I am friends with Rob Traber and Ed Gomes, it does not means we march lockstep together on every issue.
That would be like me saying because you and Carmen and Sauda are friends, you blindly follow each other … never mind.
Bob, I believe the city does own the building where Newfield Library is located. They are the last tenant in the building and there are significant maintenance issues.
And that is Finch’s PR hit you are facilitating.
What Finch “PR” are you referencing?
Hello Bob,
I wasn’t aware the city of Bridgeport had given Fletcher Thompson any tax breaks to move back to Bridgeport. I don’t believe any of FT’s financial problems were public knowledge in December of 2011 when Bridgeport announced their return. I read Forstone Capital (FT’s landlord) was awarded $3.3 million for the renovation project from the state through the Competitive Housing Assistance for Multifamily Properties initiative.
Brandon “Monty” Hall of Foreskin Capital is no fool. His group has plenty of empty retail space because they bought the property on the come. They are retarding retail growth in Downtown because of this economic strategy. They can afford to wait for the square footage price to catch up to them.
Mike Marcinek of FT is a Cheap Suit!
Forstone capitalized it but FT designed and managed the project and it is a great great restoration right down to the marble and the board room they named after John Phelan. Bob, I appreciate your candor and can see your point too. Thing is, we have to keep supporting FT even though their management seemed not to have fallen from grace. At the same time I do not know the whole story, but a lot of jobs are at stake here and the future of Downtown. Look ahead. See the big picture. We have problems? You bet! FIX THEM.