BVFD trustee objects to ‘unreasonable delay’
A disagreement over the disposition of a historic building in Burton Village, smoldering since September, burst into flames Feb. 20 and ended with the arrival of a village police officer.
Voices were raised when the Burton Volunteer Fire Department trustees and the Burton Historic District Architectural Review Board met to discuss the department’s application to raze the Briggs/Domadia house at 13810 Spring Street next to an empty lot adjacent to the fire station.
Department trustee Kevin Luoma said the house, which is in the village’s historic district, had been advertised for sale on Craig’s List and a Jewish newspaper in Cleveland, as required by the board, and efforts to list with a local Realtor have been unsuccessful.
Trustee John Dabrowski said the board is required to issue a demolition permit per the board’s own regulations.
“You guys have actually violated your own ordinance,” Dabrowski said, adding the department has done its due diligence and the board only has authority over the exterior of a building.
“That’s not true of historic buildings,” said board member Jim Croup. “We want to make sure everything is done legally.”
Dabrowski said the department has lived up to its end of the agreement and the purpose of the ordinance 15901 is to eliminate unreasonable delays in the application and approval process.
“There is no exception to this,” he said loudly.
“You are removing a building. We have a say-so” Croup said.
Dabrowski repeated the board had violated its own ordinance by delaying a vote and recommended the board seek legal counsel on the matter.
“We’ve played by your rules, done everything you asked us to do, and then some. This will be the last meeting. All we want is an answer,” he said.
Croup said the board will consult with attorney Todd Hicks, who was not at the meeting, adding the board would not vote on the application until then.
“You can’t tear down that building until you get the okay from the historical review board,” he said.
Board member Joe Hernandez said the building was not listed for sale properly.
Board secretary Lisa Hernandez, formerly a board member, was taking minutes during the meeting. She said the department was asked to advertise the building for sale on a website and Hicks was not able to find the ad there.
When the conversation became loud, she went into the hallway with her cell phone and, shortly thereafter, a village police officer came into the village office where the meeting was being held.
“You’re kidding,” Dabrowski said, adding he was in uniform and being threatened by a police officer. “This meeting is over.”
He and the other trustees, Loma and Austin Grube, gathered up their copies of the ordinance and left the office with Tom Clark, who had bought the property in question to donate to the fire department.
“I just didn’t appreciate their demeanor and shouting. I hoped if they saw (a police officer) here they would behave,” Hernandez said to the board.
Joe Hernandez, who is also a village council member, said he thought the conversation would last longer.
“I wanted to offer to take it before council. I didn’t get a chance because they up and left,” he said.
The board agreed to consult with Hicks and probably vote on the demolition at the March 6 meeting.
Minutes from previous meetings show the fire department first brought the idea of demolishing the house to the board in August 2016 and presented details of the building’s condition submitted by Kenny Hoar Construction.
The following month the request for a permit to demolish was continued following a discussion in which the fire department said it will cost about $19,000 to demolish it and $50,000 to $60,000 to rehabilitate the structure. The board asked for proof of the estimates. A local contractor reported to the board the building is in good structural condition. Hicks said the trustees need to state a cause for demolition.
At the Oct. 13 meeting, a quote was submitted for demolition and the board requested additional proposals and that the department see if Century Village was interested in moving the house to the complex. The board also asked trustees to advertise the house for sale on a national historic homes-for-sale website for two months.
Minutes from the Nov. 10 meeting say the property was listed on Preservation Nation website, but received no bids. Hicks said he could not find the listing and Croup said both parties should revisit the matter in two months.
At that meeting, Clark said the department needs the space on which the house sets for parking, maneuvering equipment and an alternate exit, and Ben Berkowicz, who apparently spoke for the trustees, said there were no plans to expand the fire station.
Monday, Croup said the building was erected in 1860 and has served as a residence and an art studio over the years. The Geauga County Historical Society said the house is not suited for Century Village and it would cost too much to move it across Burton Square. Croup, who is a restorer of historical buildings, estimated it would cost more than $60,000 to move the structure.
Tuesday, Croup said he was surprised at the tone of Monday’s meeting and was just expecting an update on the department’s progress in selling the building.
Part of the board’s concern stems from a few years ago when the department bought the historic school buildings next to the fire station and tore it down without going through the board, he said.
If there are no plans to expand the fire station, Croup said he questions the wisdom of having two empty lots in the middle of town.
