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| Official: Conn. Mayor Stopped Juvenile Detention Center |
| By Associated Press |
| Published: 03/18/2003 |
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A state official testified February 24 that Bridgeport Mayor Joseph Ganim stopped a proposed juvenile detention center from being built on a property, a move that a former associate of the mayor said stemmed from a kickback scheme. Terry Supple, supervising project manager for the state Department of Public Works, testified at Ganim's trial on federal corruption charges. She said Bridgeport officials had initially supported the proposed juvenile detention center on the property after an exhaustive search. The federal government had ordered the state to build a new detention center for 88 detainees to alleviate a juvenile jail crowding problem so severe that youths were sleeping on floors. City officials planned to acquire a property owned by B.C. Sand and Gravel Co. through eminent domain to build the center. ''They suggested that particular location and they supported it wholeheartedly,'' Supple said. Ganim was among the city officials who supported the project on the site, Supple said. Paul Pinto, a close associate of Ganim's, testified earlier that he was hired by B.C. Sand and Gravel to get Ganim to oppose the project on the property. Pinto said he agreed to share half the $120,000 in consulting fees he received from the company with Ganim in return for stopping the project on that site. Ganim, a 43-year-old Democrat, has pleaded innocent to 24 corruption charges. He is accused of steering contracts to his associates in return for cash, expensive wine and clothing, home improvements and other benefits. Pinto said Ganim directed him to have the company that owned and occupied the property clean up the site and create a ''big public show'' by bringing out its employees to a public hearing to protest the loss of jobs. That move would give the mayor ''cover,'' Pinto said. Supple described a meeting in April 1999 before a redevelopment agency as ''packed'' with strong opposition to the proposal by business owners affected by the plan and their employees. A month later, the state was told Ganim was ceasing efforts to acquire the property by eminent domain, Supple said. State officials then took the lead role in acquiring the site, Supple said, describing extensive efforts to prepare for the land acquisition. But at a meeting between state and local officials in September 1999, Ganim urged the state to put the detention center on a different site nearby, Supple said. The state agreed to look elsewhere, she said. ''I believe it was an important factor,'' Supple said of Ganim's role in convincing the state to consider another site. The detention center still has not been built, Supple said. Bruce Maffeo, Ganim's attorney, pressed Supple on whether the alternative site was considered because lawsuits by the business owners threatened to delay the urgently needed project. He also said a state official raised objections to the original site. Andrew Abate, general manager of the city's Water Pollution Control Authority, testified earlier Monday that Pinto directed him not to send out sewer assessments to Ganim and other property owners in the mayor's neighborhood. Ganim's assessment to cover the cost of a new sewer hookup was nearly $15,000, Abate said. ''He told me to hold off,'' Abate said. ''He said since nobody is asking you any questions, so why are you in such a hurry to send this out.'' Pinto said he was acting at Ganim's direction. Abate said he followed Pinto's direction because he was worried about repercussions from Ganim if he did not. He said his job was jeopardized earlier after he opposed the privatization of the sewage treatment operation that Ganim favored. Abate said the assessments were not sent out until around the time authorities subpoenaed sewer records as part of a federal investigation. Ganim is accused of trying to disguise his interest at the time in the property where he was building a new home. He signed a resolution approving a sewer hookup for his property after the request was made to the City Council under the previous property's owner's firm, Abate said. Abate acknowledged under cross examination that his agency did not follow a state law that required a public hearing before sewer assessments were levied. Richard Meehan, Ganim's attorney, said nearly all the assessments were ultimately waived. U.S. District Court Janet Bond Arterton said testimony in the trial is expected to end this week, followed by closing arguments next week. The schedule suggests the defense is only expected to take a few days. Meehan would not say whether Ganim will take the stand. |
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