The City Hall Annex at 104 East Percy Street stands as a symbol of local democracy and perhaps municipal neglect.
The roof of the building where the mayor and board of aldermen meet at least twice a month is missing shingles, leaving a gaping hole that exposes the building to rain and the elements. Ceilings inside feature open cavities with visible wiring and insulation. Walls are cracked, peeling and swollen from moisture, with plaster crumbling to the floor and baseboards rotting.
The building also serves as the municipal courtroom where dozens gather for trials and hearings each week.
Windowpanes have been broken for years, with wood around those frames apparently rotting.
The subject of the building’s disrepair came up during this past Monday night’s board of aldermen meeting, as the board debated on whether to allow a public adjuster company to file a massive insurance claim on behalf of the city for wind and hail damage to multiple buildings.
The annex building was not central to that proposed claim, but much of the discussion centered around whether some damage to the city’s buildings was from specific occurrences or years of wear and tear.
Ward 1 Alderman Gary Fratesi pointed to a hole in the ceiling at the center of the main meeting room as an example of wear and tear and also neglect of maintenance.
Upon review, there appears to be damage throughout the building.
Sheetrock hangs from large holes. Windows are shattered and frames are rotting, allowing drafts and insects to move freely indoors.
Paint outside flakes away, and fire safety equipment sits among the ruins.
It does not appear to be isolated damage from a recent storm.
Basic maintenance has been denied, according to Fratesi, who last year asked multiple times during the winter for the window behind his seat to be replaced.
The board eventually voted on Monday night to file its own claims with its carrier, Traveler’s Insurance, rather than using the public adjusters.
It is not clear whether any of the damage in the annex building would qualify for a claim, but repairs, like recent work done at city hall to replace the roof, may be in order.
