Getting ready for the Grand Opening of "The Mill Ice Cream & Fudge Express" this weekend: http://ping.fm/aRc6Z

Court hearing, and yes the selectmen want to negotiate with Suldenski

David and Noah were at the court hearing yesterday and David was able to talk to the judge, who said he empathized with our situation. We don't know how long it will take till a verdict comes in, but we can confirm from conversations David and Noah had yesterday that regardless of what the court decides,  the five selectmen do indeed want to negotiate with John Suldenski. We find this unbelievable. A web search in court records leaves one in no doubt what kind of a landlord and property owner John Suldenski is. Why the selectmen would want to negotiate with him, while the building remains a health and safety hazard, (The code officer, the fire chief and two structural engineers confirm this) and why they would refuse to even talk to us now, given that we are about to lose our business because of this, is anyone's guess. The selectmen do have a way out of this. They can use the emergency funds to take the building down. They are playing politics, hoping no one is injured in the meantime! We want a lot more than that from them. We want some vision and big thinking! Imagine the down town with several thriving businesses, run by people who actually pay their taxes. Imagine the down town area without that huge slum building? Imagine a garden where people could sit by the river, or a decent building with a decent landlord who won't rent it out to God knows who,  and not keep up with repairs?

Thank you all for following this blog,  according to Google analytics, we have over 400 hits on this blog, so you may not be commenting much, but you are paying attention. 

Minutes bristol board of selectmen meeting Friday May 8

Right now all I can do is post this. I don't think I have ever been so angry in my life!

4. Mica Building

Selectman Van Derven proposed the following motion:  that no meetings be scheduled with the abutters until a final determination is made regarding the manner of demolition of the Mica Building, by either razing it under 155b or under a mutual agreement with the property owner.  Further, there should be no contact with Jay-Mor Enterprises until a final decision is made regarding the demolition of the Mica Building through either razing under 155B or per agreement with the property owner. 

The Board of Selectmen further direct Town Counsel Adele Fulton to negotiate a settlement mutually agreeable to both parties, allowing the property owner to demolish one or two floors per terms agreeable to parties, (but not limited to demolition of one or two floors), weather tight (roof, siding, window openings), weatherproof (exterior stain or paint), structurally safe and sound per applicable regulations and standards.  Selectman Milbrand seconded this motion, which was passed by a 5 – 0 vote in favor. 

Benefit concert this Saturday and update on Mica builing

Looking forward to the benefit concert on Saturday, noon to 5 pm at The Old Town Hall on Summer street on the other side of the square, hope to see you all there. It should be a blast! Great musicians, great food from Pat's seafood and pizza place in Bristol Square, and our ice cream. We can't thank Lil, and The Uncle Steve Band enough for organizing this. 

The situation with the Mica Factory drags on. The Plymouth court ruled in favor of the town being allowed to demolish the building, but Suldenski has a few more weeks to appeal. If he does, I am not hopeful it won't drag on for a few more months, and I am very concerned that if he is given the right to do the demolition, can we be sure he will use a reputable company, so that it is done safely. I still find it hard to believe that there was no quicker way to get an unsafe building down. I saw kids skateboarding right in front of it yesterday, ignoring the police signs that the road is closed. The Reynolds family, (you all know Dawn, our amazing cafe server) lost their tenant who was also going to buy their building on the other side of the Mica factory. They are in a very difficult situation now, with no way to keep up the mortgage, and the insurance company refusing to keep covering their building. So far the selectmen have agreed to help with our extra rent, not by a long shot, the only extra expense that we are incurring. If it wasn't for the Fudge Factory, we would have gone out of business already.

Anyway, it will be great to party on Saturday, I'm going to enjoy it. I'm going to grab my dancing partner and boogie down!