Bristol Downtown Development Corp. board member Jennifer Janelle managed tonight to do something nobody else did: she voted against both of the firms competing to win approval as the preferred developer of the former downtown mall.
She first refused to go along with picking D'Amato Realty for the position, joining three others to kill that motion on a 4-2 vote.
But when Renaissance, the Long Island-based alternative, was put up for a vote, Janelle sided with the two people who preferred D'Amato. That created a 3-3 vote.
With John Leone abstaining and Janelle refusing to back either side, it effectively left the decision up to just five of the seven members, three of whom supported Renaissance and two of whom backed D'Amato, the hometown company.
Janelle told colleagues she wanted more time and more choices before making such a crucial decision.
Since it's hardly been a secret that Bristol wants a developer -- the first round of bids last year drew out only one, with a questionable background -- it's not clear why Janelle thinks there may be more choices later. But she may know more than we do. In fact, that's a safe bet.
Anyway, it's all odd.
Update at 10 p.m. --
Janelle wrote a response that I'm reposting here:
Steve, to be perfectly clear for the record, I do not believe that we (the BDDC, as a Board) have done adequate due diligence on the two perspective developers. As a Board member with a duty to the citizens of Bristol, I do not feel that I have enough information to place my eggs in the basket of either party. I have made clear from the beginning that I wanted to encourage robust competition among developers for the right to develop our Downtown. I would like to spend a little more time investigating why the parties who had previously expressed interest chose not to submit. Is it the economy? The process? Is there a chance that we could get more robust competition by waiting until later, when the economy improves? Additionally, based on the information we have been given, neither developer has experience with this type or size of development project. That gives me great pause. Jackie reported that Nashua engaged in an 8-month due diligence process prior to choosing Renaissance. We have had these proposals for approximately 60 days. There has been no follow up due diligence by the Board. I feel that before I can cast a vote to award this project to a developer (a project that we all expect to flourish and last for 50, 75 or 100 years) we should spend a little time doing some more investigation. I understand the desire to get something moving and put that property back on the tax rolls. But I am hard pressed to believe that anyone would make a personal decision of this magnitude based on the dearth of information we have. I also have concerns about Renaissance's numerous similar proposals to other communities, including Nashua and Waterbury. How many others are there? How much attention will we get? I want to achieve success downtown, as does every member of the Board, each of whom is a hard-working individual with the best interests of Bristol at heart. However, I feel compelled to make sure that every rock is overturned, every "i" dotted and every "t" crossed before we move forward. I have never believed that in a competitive solicitation two responses is enough to choose from and I do not see the harm that would arise from some extra due diligence to find out why we did not have more responses. That was the reason for my "no" votes on both. My vote was actually a vote to take a little more time and do a little more homework before making a decision, an option which was a perfectly viable option. The Board is not required to pick between the two, and our own solicitation states that we have the flexibility to choose neither. I hope this clarifies and leaves you less puzzled as to why I voted why I did. I also hopes this clarifies for the folks in attendance and those reading the news story why I did what I did.
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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
19 comments:
Attorney Jannelle is a very intelligent woman and a person who thinks for herself.
She probably is the least political or politically connected person on the board.
Ceratinly as the economic climate improves, more developers might come forward.
But ironically, her position was consistent with her involvement during the past three years.
Maybe others might listen to her a little more now (until Ward takes her off).
I guess the fact she did not voice this objection prior to tonight is her right. However the rumors of her taking the Tom Conlin spot should be investigated.
Huh?
Ward wantsD'Amato, so her action didn't help.
Steve, to be perfectly clear for the record, I do not believe that we (the BDDC, as a Board) have done adequate due diligence on the two perspective developers. As a Board member with a duty to the citizens of Bristol, I do not feel that I have enough information to place my eggs in the basket of either party. I have made clear from the beginning that I wanted to encourage robust competition among developers for the right to develop our Downtown. I would like to spend a little more time investigating why the parties who had previously expressed interest chose not to submit. Is it the economy? The process? Is there a chance that we could get more robust competition by waiting until later, when the economy improves? Additionally, based on the information we have been given, neither developer has experience with this type or size of development project. That gives me great pause. Jackie reported that Nashua engaged in an 8-month due diligence process prior to choosing Renaissance. We have had these proposals for approximately 60 days. There has been no follow up due diligence by the Board. I feel that before I can cast a vote to award this project to a developer (a project that we all expect to flourish and last for 50, 75 or 100 years) we should spend a little time doing some more investigation. I understand the desire to get something moving and put that property back on the tax rolls. But I am hard pressed to believe that anyone would make a personal decision of this magnitude based on the dearth of information we have. I also have concerns about Renaissance's numerous similar proposals to other communities, including Nashua and Waterbury. How many others are there? How much attention will we get? I want to achieve success downtown, as does every member of the Board, each of whom is a hard-working individual with the best interests of Bristol at heart. However, I feel compelled to make sure that every rock is overturned, every "i" dotted and every "t" crossed before we move forward. I have never believed that in a competitive solicitation two responses is enough to choose from and I do not see the harm that would arise from some extra due diligence to find out why we did not have more responses. That was the reason for my "no" votes on both. My vote was actually a vote to take a little more time and do a little more homework before making a decision, an option which was a perfectly viable option. The Board is not required to pick between the two, and our own solicitation states that we have the flexibility to choose neither. I hope this clarifies and leaves you less puzzled as to why I voted why I did. I also hopes this clarifies for the folks in attendance and those reading the news story why I did what I did.
To the first poster ... WE DON'T HAVE AN INFINITE AMOUNT OF TIME!!! This whole thing is disgusting!! If she was so intelligent, she would realize that we need to do something now and not hope to get someone down the road. We waited how long to finally get two bidders and she wants to just throw them away and start anew. In a bad economy we don't get anyone and we may not even in a good one.
Damato is not the way to go!!! Again, the people of this town want an outside company to put this town back on the right track and renaisance clearly has the best proposal and the money to do it with and once again another appointed group can't make the hard choices and make the decision to go with Renisance. Once again we will be left in the dust!!! Plainville is petitioning to do what we have been in the process of doing and so is Southington. If we don't do something now, we will never get out of this rut we are in and be taken seriously. We will become a bridgeport or worse!!!!
Wake up, BDDC!!! Stop letting those who are influenced by damato make decisions for you! This was your one chance to finally let we, the citizens, know that you are not biased; that you can think for yourselves and not be influenced by outside sources.
Please, please, we beg of you, do the right thing for this city and stop trying to please a select few that have a limited vision for this town and nothing more. We deserve better!
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T
F
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Ms. Janelle,
You never expressed this sentiment the times you folks had meetings and NOW you want to look into it further? I don't buy it and neither does the rest of this town. We're sick of looking at that empty lot and not reaping the benefits of what could be a wonderful development especially down the road in a couple years when the economy turns around. If other developers were interested, they would have put their bids in in the beginning. If you're so intelligent, why in God's name would you say you don't know why they haven't come forward? Of course it's the economy not to mention the fact that in this economy putting this up in Bristol is a big risk. Anyone with half a brain knows that! At this point, we will have nothing in place when the economy DOES turn around. We'll still be planning and, as usual, behind the 8 ball!!! What don't you people understand about the fact that we are sick and tired of indecisiveness? You have had enough time! GET IT DONE!
It's time for an investigation.
Niccolo Machiavelli's words apply to this situation:
"There are three different kinds of brains, the one understands things unassisted, the other understands things when shown by others, and the third understands neither alone nor with the explanations of others. The first kind is most excellent, the second kind also excellent, but the third useless."
Collectively, the BDDC has a useless brain!
Ms. Janelle, next Monday I'm begging you to stay in your office and hide under your desk while the adults make the decision! In a good economy or a bad one this project is marginally profitable for any developer. No Donald Trump or Steve Winn is going to ride in on a chrome plated bulldozer and do this thing! IT HAS BEEN YEARS! PLEASE SOMEBODY PICK SOMEBODY!! PS... Ms. Janelle, life has winners and losers.....that's life!
It's time to do some due diligence - replace Janelle immediately for this disgusting "representation" of the citizens of Bristol. Secondly Leone now has to be replaced or should step down due to this "conflict".
Kallenbach's reasoning doesn't make much sense either. Just because you are a local company who pays taxes does not qualify your company to do a project that is bigger than your available capital and development expertise.
Yet again a qualified out of town firm is cast aside by some really unqualified board members. Apparently some members did not understand the objective - choice either Company A or B based on their plan and financial capabilities.
How you come up with any other company but Renaissance is beyond me. Let's hope this company stays interested and some of the board members get enough pressure from the public to do the right thing.
I'm disappointed in you, Jennifer. You really blew it this time! You knew you were the swing vote and you refused to step up to the plate. Someone got to you and you bought it line, hook and sinker! I actually thought you would have a mind of your own. All you have for us is some pathetic excuse as to why you chose not to do the right thing. Why would you bring it so far if you were just waiting for other bids? Why would you waste the board's time and the time of we, the citizens not to mention Renaissance's time?
You talk about duty to the citizens. Your duty was to do what was right was this town and vote to move things along. Instead you chose to hide your head in the sand and prolong this torture ad nauseum! You don't have enough information? Oh, pleeeeeeeeezzzz!!!!!!!!!!!!! What more do you what?!!!! There will be no "robust" competition in this poor economy and this is what we needed to get the ball rolling in this town and for the citizens to get back its pride in our town and you have thrown that all in the Pequabuck River!!! Stop wasting our time and everyone else's and resign from this board.
Jennifer, DO NOT resign.
We need your voice on the board.
For way too long Bristol accepted what was put on the table. We must seek the best.
For a result that will be with us for many many year, another 6-10 months is not the end of the world.
Hang in there Jennifer. I am proud of you.
Extremely disappointed in the BDDC as a whole for this community. While I do understand the logic presented at the 11th hour to defend her actions, I am unsure as to how plausible of a sell it is even though it seems such a tailored explanation. Ms. Janelle chose to wait until the last minute to let citizens know that the BDDC after all of this time still has not done due diligence? If her sworn duty is to serve the people how did watching and participaiting the BDDC's waste of time and tax payer's money accomplish that? For someone who claims to have the best interests of this town in mind, her actions are puzzling at best. In the minute histories of the meetings prior to this, has Ms. Janelle stated her opinion as such previously or presented this logic as a reason to hold off on holding the vote at this time and this was just not covered by the Press while they strive to serve the public as well? There is no doubt she is book smart but there is doubt on my behalf that she understands how to facilitate progress as opposed to taking the role of obstacle.
Perhaps we should make the board members live and work in downtown as well as move their children to the school in that area. Maybe then they will have the impetus to make a decision or at least the motivation to do due dilligence.
And yet another great opportunity for Bristol will ride off into the sunset thanks to our board appointed participatory style of government individuals. How long has John Leone felt he had this "conflict of interest" with Renaissance? Why didn't he say something sooner or resign from the board? I think he just didn't want to vote against D'Amato which is what his gut was probably telling him.
9:16 post:
I wouldn't give Jennifer Janelle too much credit for intelligence. If you really knew Janelle you would know she has a myriad of personal problems and a past history of storied issues to include having recently been married to a local motorcycle gang president. A motorcycle gang that she represented and fought hard for at a council meeting during the Couture years. I'm not sure she always makes the best decisions and choices in regards to our city and community, just because she is an attorney. She did a disservice to our community by not voting. THIS is the decision she will be most known for in the future. Her instructions were to vote for one or the other, period. This is the most rediculous thing I have ever heard of.
While no fan of Ms. Janelle in the least, she hardly needs to be maligned due to her past marital choices. Shall we drag up all the other board member's and thier respective family's collective colorful pasts in the city? That might be quite the interesting side project.
IF you knew anything about what she went in front of the city and fought for you would know that the Chief of Police was ridiculously in the wrong for what he attempted to do and that she did so based on the law. If the city or thought it was correct, it would have backed him 100% without fear of the impending ACLU tornado that would have brought. Knowing someone's right to assemble and protecting a group of people's rights from being violated hardly makes one fit to make any decisions which Ms. Janelle resoundly proved by her demonstration of inability to do so. If you are going to attack her, do so on her ability or lack there of for the job's requirements. Not her ex-husband's, children's, sister's, parent's; boyfriend's, grandmother's lifestyle; etc. After all, they don't sit on the BDDC. Very poor decorum ...
poster 7:35: What will another six to ten months make? It'll make a huge difference! The state will not give us any money because we can't seem to get it together; secondly, the time to strike is now because the economy is not great and we can put something in place so when the economy does become good, people will come to Bristol spend their money; thirdly, there are two other towns next door that are looking to do the same thing. If we wait, they will get it done and we will be left with a 21st century dust bowl! Please, Jennifer, take a hike!
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