Stonington forgives $32,000 in fines on Pawcatuck property

Stonington — The Board of Selectmen has voted to forgive more than half of the $60,000 in blight fines that had accumulated on the property at 2-4 Mechanic St. in Pawcatuck before and after Best Energy owner Jim Lathrop bought the building this spring.

Since then, Lathrop has begun renovating both the interior and exterior of the long-vacant building that had become an eyesore at the very visible intersection of Route 1 and Mechanic Street. A real estate firm and mortgage company plan to move in when the work is complete.

In addition, Lathrop has paid $13,000 in back town and fire district taxes and sewer use fees that had accumulated on the property.

Last month, the Board of Selectmen agreed to forgive $6,000 in blight fines that had accumulated on the property since Lathrop acquired it in April. Then last week, the selectmen agree to forgive an additional $26,000 in blight fines.

The selectmen did this by giving Lathrop a 2 for 1 credit for his payment of the back taxes and sewer fees. About $28,000 in blight fines remain.

First Selectman Rob Simmons said that the selectmen are establishing a standard operating procedure about deal with blight fines, something that had not existed.

“We’re providing a reward for good behavior as it unfolds,” he said.

Simmons said that forgiving blight fines for new owners who invest in their property will provide a further incentive to help spur the redevelopment of downtown Pawcatuck.