Bridgeport-based Mark IV Construction whose owner Manny Moutinho is attracting the interest of federal investigators has operated an illegal dumping operation that has turned portions of the East End into a dusty mess. Moutinho has been a major contributor through the years to Democratic candidates in Bridgeport and Trumbull where town authorities are suing him for work related to a sewer project.
For more on Mark IV’s East End rock crushing operation see here.
Mayor Bill Finch issued a news release today extolling closure of the operation–that the city charges is illegal–on Dec. 1. Will this make fuming East End neighbors happy that they must endure six more months? The good news is it appears Moutinho will close the operation. As part of a court agreement all heavy equipment will be removed. Where will he set up a new operation? Connecticut Post story: www.ctpost.com/news/article/Neighbors-win-Company-agrees-to-stop-dumping-1397343.php
From Mayor Finch:
City cites progress in clean up at East End rock crushing operation
The City cited progress today in a decision by Mark IV Construction to drop its appeal of a City cease and desist order regarding its rock crushing and fill operation on Seaview Avenue, which the company now agrees to close by Dec. 1, 2011.
“Today’s decision brings to an end a long, complicated legal process that began when our Zoning officials first issued a cease and desist order in November 2006 to get Mark IV Construction to stop what was viewed by all as an illegal use of their site off Seaview Avenue in the City’s East End,” said Mayor Bill Finch.
“I applaud the neighborhood residents for their persistence in keeping this top of mind. Mark IV’s decision to drop their appeal of the City’s action is a win for the neighborhood and a win for the City,” he added.
In November 2006, the City issued a cease and desist order to Mark IV claiming the operation was in violation of the City’s zoning regulations. In 2007, Mark IV appealed that decision to the Zoning Board of Appeals, which upheld the cease and desist order. Both the ZBA and P&Z decisions were appealed to the Superior Court in 2007.
“The court will continue to have jurisdiction over this case and require the parties involved to give compliance reports to the court,” said Assistant City Attorney Edmund Schmidt. “Had Mark IV decided to continue the appeal, this process could have stretched out for at least six months and up to two years before coming to a resolution. Instead, Mark IV has agreed to immediately begin removing fill and comply with the court order.”
Black Rockers
From Betty Calaway
Hi All–There have been a series of armed robberies in the Ellsworth St area–one at Monroe and Ellsworth, one on Ocean Terrace and two on the north side of Ellsworth one at Davis and one at Hansen–all taking place at night between 10 and 1:30 AM. Captain Baraja has told us that the police will be running a special patrol detail for the next few days to address the issue and that the commander of the Detective Bureau as well as the midnight shift Captain are informed. He also states that since the areas of the robberies are reasonably localized the best precaution is to avoid those areas after 10:30 pm. There are no strong physical descriptions of the suspects other than race with three incidents reportedly involving two black males and one incident a black male and female accomplice. I’ll keep you apprised of any updates. Be Safe and Be Careful!
Betty Calaway
From Jim Fox
And where are our City Council People, out of the loop again, it’s not Lake Ave yet, so who cares? Thanks Betty.
There’s a hole in the Black Rock section of Bridgeport. The police are going to look into it.
Another victory for the people who live in the area of Seaview Ave. My congrats on hanging tough and making the city do what it supposed to do which is to protect a person’s right to a safe and healthy life. The city for whatever reason tried to cut a deal with Manny M that would have allowed him to continue dumping debris at his Seaview Ave site thru Dec 1 2011. The residents were having none of that BS and shouted down the city attorney.
The day of trial a deal was finally made that stops the dumping now and calls for removal of all debris from the property.
Now we have Mayor Finch sounding like he gives a shit when it was his city attorney’s office that tried to broker a deal that screwed the residents and helped the contractor. Here is what Finch said:
“‘Today’s decision brings to an end a long, complicated legal process that began when our Zoning officials first issued a cease and desist order in November 2006 to get Mark IV Construction to stop what was viewed by all as an illegal use of their site off Seaview Avenue in the City’s East End,’ said Mayor Bill Finch.”
This guy kills me; he says viewed by all as an illegal use of their site!!! Yeah, all but your city attorney’s office.
And there are two such sites in violation on Fairfield Avenue in Black Rock that have been cited by Zoning Enforcement yet continue to be in or out of court or find the City Attorney’s office bending over backwards to please the violators. What gives? Do we need new State Law or regulations that put more power in the hands of Zoning Officers or perhaps more penalties, cumulatively, that force all parties to get to rapid agreements or cease and desist? Otherwise neighboring property owner values, or health standards, or quality of life negatives force everyone to pay the price for the violator. That is wrong. Why can’t we get it right, faster?
No, you need a mayor with balls!!!
Or the lack of them, being a her.
I’d like to know where the sites in Black rock are.
Could you please cite those sites?
Mickey’s Towing and Repair at 3104 Fairfield Ave. has been in and out of Zoning process for business activities not in keeping with current Master Plan zoning. How much time (and legal expense paid by taxpayers) and energy has been spent delaying the recognition that towing 18 wheelers from I-95 is a different business from a neighborhood auto repair shop? Zoning enforcement + City Attorney + zoning board hearings + time, time, time, ticking away without results that are agreed to and then reneged. Why?
And across the street SCA Commercial owns a white plastic fenced property formerly (and found to be illegally storing autos) for the past year is housing a contracting business that has heavy equipment and paving materials stored in the same Office Residential zone. With residences abutting the property line, is their quality of life affected? How about the value of their property when they go to sell? Why is our City response so limited in terms of teeth that years can pass with lawbreakers pursuing their interests while taxpaying law abiders have their financial and personal interests negatively affected? What’s the answer?
Thank you for your insight.
Once again another great job by Mayor Finch in showing his true feelings by NOT speaking out AGAINST Mark IV Construction regarding its rock crushing and fill operation on Seaview Avenue. This mayor did NOTHING to support the voters, residents and taxpayers of East End neighbors to fight Mark IV Construction rock crushing and fill operation. But he will at some point and time at those black churches in the East End tell them all of the great things he has done for their neighborhood but he won’t mention rock crushing and fill operation.
Let’s get this bird out of office … he’s more of a menace than any other mayor in recent memory.
In November 2006, the City issued a cease and desist order to Mark IV claiming the operation was in violation of the City’s zoning regulations.
The company now agrees to close by Dec. 1, 2011.
Five f’n years!!!
And Finch is congratulating himself and his posse.
What a joke!
“I applaud the neighborhood residents for their persistence in keeping this top of mind.” In other words it never would have happened if we could have gotten away with it.
OIB.
On December 2, 2011 (right after the election), Mark IV will reopen as a construction debris recycling plant. Or a wood slitting operation. Same thing, different name.
How much money has Manny given Finch over the years?
Mark IV will be there ’til next spring.
The city is full of schmidt! Did our legal beagles at least negotiate a penalty payment from Mark IV for illegal use? I guess that Beccaro and Maley don’t do this type of lawyering.
It might create a conflict of interest for their fundraisng for the mayor.
This is another example of our fearless leaders kowtowing to the very many political contributors. A complaint should be handled like the wrath of God. These people operate with impunity regardless of the feelings of citizens of the afflicted communities. This is a prime example of the need for change. An order of termination of operations from the City should resound like the voice of God. These few politically connected contractors must realize the people rule Bridgeport.
My comments are still moderated? I don’t take it personally any longer. P.S. I will be going to the cleaners on Monday and I will pick up your Waffen SS uniforms for you.
The next time Finch tries to attend (campaign) services at Prayer Tabernacle Church in the East End, Reverend Moales should have him thrown out on his skinny white ass. A large percentage of children in the East End are suffering from asthma and other upper respiratory problems because of people like Manny M. Yet Finch gives him a six-month reprieve until after the election when we all know he will cut another deal. This continues while those poor kids in the East End can’t even come out of their houses this summer. Finch should be strung up on a rope and stoned.
Five years ago the City declared a termination of operation order that they have flagrantly ignored. Does this prove the arrogance of these political contributors to the voters? If we don’t reverse this practice we will be responsible for our very own demise.
Manny Moutinho’s M.O. is he and his firm Mark IV Construction operate within the City Of Bridgeport with complete impunity and arrogance. His motto seems to be, “If you don’t like it, sue me!!!” And no one has taken him up on that as they are afraid of the “consequences.”
I am sick and tired of seeing the little people in this city stepped on and the big shots getting away with murder. The citizens/taxpayers of Bridgeport need a hero or heroine, a champion who truly cares about them. Mary-Jane, Johnny Gomes get your act together before it’s too late.
tc in a previous post mentioned a number of contractors who have been hired to clean up vacant lots. He questioned the cost, how many are MBE’s, did it go out to bid, and why regular workers and seasonals weren’t used. Someone please investigate this. There is sneaky shit like this going on all over the city. These people must be exposed for the phony pieces of shit they are.
*** More to come on this story & those involved in past dealings with Mark IV, no? *** HERE WE GO! ***