COMMON COUNCIL City of Middletown ‘CONNECTICUT 06457 a February 25, 2011 Honorable Sebastian N. Giuliano Mayor of the City of Middletown P.O Box 1300 245 deKoven Drive Middletown, CT 06457 a Dear Mayor Giuliano, I recently learned thatthe closing transaction for the former St. Sebastian Schoo! and future Middletown Senior Center is scheduled to take place on Friday, March 4%. I am writing to respectfully request that you delay the closing by two weeks to provide enough time for a licensed & insured, independent inspector with knowledge of asbestos abatement procedures to examine the facility’s basement and determine whether the structure incurred damages that will require abatement following the flooding that occurred sometime between Jan. 27 - 28. ‘A two-week postponement is a critically-important step in performing our due diligence. It would enable us to: 1, Give an inspector time to examine the building for any damage. 2. Negotiate a lower purchase price in the event that serious damage is discovered. 3. Enable us to find any damage before we are responsible for making major structural repairs. Thave received several reports that there was up to 5 feet of standing water in the basement level at the time the flood was discovered. I am aware that you have said there was minimal flooding and damage, However, the Hartford Courant reported on Jan. 28 that neighbors said they discovered the flood because water was gushing out the building’s doors. Despite the conflicting reports about the level of water in the building, any standing water can be highly destructive, particularly because the presence of asbestos in that part of the building is significant. Architect Thomas Arcari has said that the renovations would be much more expensive if we were required to conduct full asbestos abatement but that such a step would be unnecessary because asbestos would be contained by the renovations. It currently exists in Municipal Building, 245 deKoven Drive, Telephone: (860) 344-3442, Fax: (860) 344-3560Honorable Sebastian N. Giuliano February 25, 2011 Page 2 basement vinyl floor tile, window caulk, boiler gasket, and flue cement, according to the Phase I site assessment, ‘It is my understanding that the City’s building inspector found damage to a lower-level carpet. ‘However, were any inspections of asbestos materials or structural integrity performed? A more detailed inspection of the premises should be conducted to ensure that we do not burden City finances with cost-prohibitive asbestos abatement. The City of Middletown has a financial interest to negotiate the lowest possible sale price and must ensure that the City will not incur additional abatement and renovation costs or purchase at an originally-negotiated rate an asset which may have since incurred significant damage. Conducting an independent inspection will also help us safeguard the $800,000 the City has already allocated for the purchase of this building, the $1.7 million that will be needed for its renovation, and the yet-undetermined cost of building or renovating parking lots for the site. ‘The City of Middletown has committed to making a major investment in this project in a time of economic austerity. Neither of us would close on a home that had been flooded without first conducting a formal inspection; we shouldn’t expect the public to, either. Waiting two weeks will give us the knowledge we need to make these investments responsibly on behalf of the residents of our City. ‘Thank you for your consideration, Sincerely yours, Tho aniel T. Drew ~ ee