Following discussion at a September 17 session, Legislative Council members, in an 8-2 vote, approved spending $29,000 in public funds to demolish a house and related structures at 31 Great Hill Road, which were heavily damaged in a 2011 fire of suspicious origin.

In the action, council members approved spending up to $29,000 by transferring the money from a contingency account to a contractual services account.

At the outset of the session, resident Loree Ogan of 140 Castle Hill Road, which is adjacent to the fire-damaged property, urged council members to approve the demolition work.

The appearance of 31 Great Hill Road is detrimental to the neighborhood, she said, adding that the ruins, which include an in-ground swimming pool, pose both physical hazards and health hazards to people in the area.

In a discussion on the matter before the council’s vote, George Benson, town director of planning, said the June 2011 fire has been “deemed suspicious” by fire officials.

Mr Benson described the various legal measures which the town has pursued in seeking to get the structure at the property demolished, but explained that none of those efforts have succeeded, resulting in a need for the town to cover the demolition costs.

The town has obtained a court-sanctioned settlement which would allow it to do the demolition, he said.

Mr Benson termed the property’s condition “a safety hazard to the public.”

Town Attorney David Grogins added, “It’s just a very bad situation, all around.”

Mr Grogins said that the property currently has about $734,000 of liability against it.

“There is a health and safety issue,” Mr Benson said, noting that the circumstances are out of the ordinary in that none of various parties with interests in the property have been willing to pay for demolition.

Council member Neil Chaudhary asked what work the $29,000 appropriation would cover.

Such spending would cover structural demolition, the removal of debris form the site, and regrading the land, Mr Benson said.

“This is a terrible situation,” Mr Chaudhary said, noting that he has problems with using public funds for work on a privately-owned property.

“This is a public safety issue,” Mr Benson stressed.

 Council member Ryan Knapp suggested that the town install a fence around the fire-damaged area.

The situation requires demolition, Mr Benson responded.

Council member Paul Lundquist asked whether the town’s demolition of the site would result in any future town liability.

That is unclear, Mr Grogins responded.

Council member George Ferguson noted that if anyone were to be injured at the hazardous site, it likely would be children.

Council Chair Mary Ann Jacob said that the public safety issue overrides the public spending issue.

In their vote on whether to spend $29,000 for the demolition and related work, Mr Knapp and council member Phil Carroll voted No.

Voting in favor were Mr Ferguson, Joe Girgasky, Mr Lundquist, Robert Merola, Mr Chaudhary, Ms Jacob, Daniel Amaral, and Anthony Filiato. Absent from the meeting were members Lisa Romano and Daniel Honan.