NAUGATUCK — The demolition of a home on Walnut Street may cost more than originally planned.
The borough has deemed the rundown home at 146 Walnut St. a safety hazard and plans to tear it down. Ocean Trace Demolition Hauling of Watertown was awarded a $19,440 contract last June to raze the house.
Public Works Director James Stewart told the Board of Mayor and Burgesses last week that the house was slated to be demolished in mid-November. But, he said, no work has been done and he hasn’t been able to get a hold of the company.
“The contract gives them 60 days to complete the demolition. Also, it required them to start work within 10 days after the notice was received,” Stewart said.
According to Stewart, the company’s contract runs out on Saturday.
“Recently, I have not been able to get in contact with them over the last three weeks. I sent numerous emails. I called them numerous times and the phone calls go to voicemail,” Stewart said. “They still have until Jan. 17 to complete the work, but I don’t have any confidence they will actually do that.”
Stewart asked the board for more money so he can award the contract to the next lowest bidder, which is Bridgeport-based Connecticut Dismantling.
Connecticut Dismantling’s bid is $34,800, about $15,000 more than Ocean Trace’s price.
Stewart said he had some discussions with Connecticut Dismantling, which said it could start and finish work in the next couple of months.
Since the budget included $19,440 for demolishing the home the extra funds would have to be taken out of the borough’s contingency fund. The borough will put a lien on the property to recover the money spent demolishing the house.
The board voted in favor of allowing Stewart to use Connecticut Dismantling if Ocean Trace does not come through on its end of the contract.
The house in question is one the borough has been eyeing for some time.
The home, owned by former burgess and tax collector Lois Ackerman, has been described by officials as having debris stacked at least five feet high inside. They say it attracts rodents, raccoons and other animals. It has a hole in the roof and walls collapsing inwards, said Building Inspector William Herzman, who has deemed the house uninhabitable because it is a health and fire hazard. He ordered it torn down in 2007.
Ackerman claims borough officials are unfairly targeting her for personal and political reasons. She has tried unsuccessfully to have a contractor fix the house. She also attempted to save the home through the court system several times but lost her last appeal.
The Republican-American contributed to this article.
