Since entering its first lease for 366 Main Street, Terryville over 40 years ago, ARF has strived to own and rehab the property. Even while the buildings deteriorated, countless dogs and cats were sheltered and found homes. The devastating fire in November 2008, caused by the degraded electrical system, halted our life-saving work, but did provide the first serious opportunity for ARF to own its own shelter.
ARF, a mere tenant of the burnt out property, was not entitled to any proceeds from fire insurance covering the property. However, thanks to the nest egg of over $350,000.00 amassed by the shrewd management of then Treasurer, Margot Palma and the fortuitous bequest of over $238,000.00 left by a good-hearted recluse named Winifred Milne (who had been befriended by long-time member, Cheryl Waldron), Treasurer, Jonathan Gilbode, was able to engage in what turned into protracted negotiations with the property's rapacious owners. His tireless efforts resulted in the successful purchase of the property on June 25, 2009 for a $50,000.00 down payment and a $200,000.00 purchase money mortgage. Our future monthly mortgage payment would be $235.00 per month less than the rent for the old decrepit kennel.
Chairwoman Kathy Johnson and the Board were then immediately confronted with obtaining the myriad of municipal permits and approvals necessary to rebuild the kennel within the diminishing window of time existing under changed zoning rules. This unforgiving time table proved too much for the first architect retained. Although he was not going to complete his plan on time, our dedicated surveyor, Robert Green, stubbornly kept the process alive. Alphonse Kuncas dropped all of his other architectural work and completed the plans. Those essential professional services, engineering costs, and the required municipal licenses and fees cost ARF over $65,000.00. Finally, on March 4, 2010, the town issued our provisional building permit allowing us to begin work, but only under the continual strict supervision of Planning and Zoning, the Fire Marshal, Public Works, and Sewer and Water Departments.
ARF was then blessed when Boulder Ridge Construction, LLC agreed to act as our project manager. With its steadfast counsel, we have and continue to successfully navigate this project around countless natural and man-made obstacles. Initial interest by outside trade people to volunteer their talent and to provide materials free of charge quickly waned with the passage of time. OSHA laws and insurance regulations prevented us from accepting our dedicated volunteers' offers of assistance. ARF was compelled to obtain competitive bid prices from reliable contractors for each stage of the project. Further, we faced escalating material costs driven upward by the lagging construction industry. These costs to date have amounted to over $420,000.00 and have allowed ARF to complete the exterior façade of the building as mandated by the Planning and Zoning Commission. The building is now weatherized and secure. The heating system is operational and will keep the building sufficiently warm to prevent damage to existing utilities and (in contradiction to rumors to the contrary), will allow continued work to be performed to the interior of the building during the winter.
Many hurdles were encountered during the duration of the project. Concerns by the Sewer, Water and Public Works departments dramatically increased the complexity of the sanitation system, which coupled with the discovery of unforeseen rock during excavation, vastly inflated the cost of that portion of the project. Planning and Zoning's desire to have the shelter fit into a new "colonial town look" required the installation of palladium windows, a pillared porch and weathervanes all of which will be entirely ignored by our hopefully soon new resident strays. The Fire Marshal's preoccupation with preventing any future fires and protecting responding firemen imposed numerous fire preventions, suppressions and safety edicts shattering all prior estimates of those anticipated costs. Many other difficulties and factors conspired to increase the cost and to delay the project; all too numerous to list here.
While thanks for the progress made to date goes to many of our volunteers, town officials and other members of the community, special thanks are given by this writer to two. Mayor Vincent Festa, Jr. has been one of our most enthusiastic supporters; and Building Official Clarence B. Atkinson has zealously championed our cause while never compromising his responsibilities to the citizens of Terryville to ensure that our shelter is being constructed in compliance with all existing laws.
Boulder Ridge Construction, to whom we are grateful for all of its free materials and labor, has submitted a proposed budget for $250,000.00 necessary to complete the kennel in compliance with all code requirements, as well as the desires of many of our Directors. Only, approximately $150,000.00 to $180,000.00 of that sum is needed to obtain a Certificate of Occupancy that would enable us to reopen.
I would welcome member's thoughts on priorities and suggestions on future expenditures, as well as any financial and volunteer assistance necessary to complete the project and begin to save the dogs and cats that have been patiently waiting for their new home.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED
BY________________________________
RENE GERARD MARTINEAU, CHAIRMAN
OF THE BUILDING COMMITTEE
