Swampscott officials deny knowledge of ZBA request

SWAMPSCOTT – The Board of Selectmen and Town Administrator Andrew Maylor have stated they had no connection with a Zoning Board of Appeals’ request that developers of condos at Cap’n Jack’s Inn provide $50,000 to benefit Humphrey Street, but said they will look into the matter after a heated conversation with local attorney William DiMento.”You need to say, ?What is going on?'” DiMento said at the selectmen meeting Tuesday night. “It is an embarrassment for that fee to be paid ? Did any (officials) have any conversations with regards to the $50,000?On Wednesday, Aug. 24, the zoning board approved a 15-unit condo development by Bruce Paradise Construction and Barry Turkanis to replace the three buildings on Humphrey Street that make up Cap’n Jack’s Inn. But before the approval was given, Zoning Board Chair Marc Kornitsky requested that developers Turkanis and Paradise pay an “extraction” fee of $50,000 to the town.DiMento told selectmen that Kornitsky said, “In paraphrase ? get me to yes by giving the $50,000.”He equated that – both at the zoning board meeting and before the selectmen – as extortion as he said that the proposed fee did not meet the guidelines established by state law.Each of the selectmen as well as Maylor said they had nothing to do with the request. But the conversation was heated as Maylor said that he objected to DiMento implying that town officials had some part of the request.”You’re indicating that (the request) came from somewhere, which is presumptuous,” Maylor said.DiMento insisted that he brought the matter to the board’s attention because they were the “chief officers” of the town and he wanted to ensure that the issue was examined.”All I want is to hear you have concern,” he said.Maylor said that he would review the written decision by the Zoning Board of Appeals once it is submitted.Selectmen Jill Sullivan and Chair Matthew Strauss assured DiMento that they would investigate the matter.”We will do our due diligence and we will look into it,” Strauss said.