Confusion Caused Permit-Fee Issue

A $26,000 building-permit issue involving Rand-Whitney was characterized on Tuesday by town and corporate officials as a misunderstanding of the complex regulations involving utility companies in Connecticut.

At a Public Safety Commission meeting on Monday, Fire Marshal Ray Occhialini said that when he had been called to Rand-Whitney earlier in the month, following a dye spill, he had noticed that work had been done on the company’s electrical generation plant, and that Rand-Whitney had not paid the building-permit fee in advance of the work.

On Tuesday, Building Inspector Vernon D. Vesey said there had been some confusion when Rand-Whitney approached the town in the summer about the work.

Utility companies in the state do not need to apply or pay for permits to add generating equipment, and the original thought was that that was the category into which Rand-Whitney fell for this project, which was to make improvements to the area of the plant that generates electricity and steam.

After Occhialini’s visit, however, the regulations were reassessed and it was decided that Rand-Whitney did indeed need a town building permit.

On Tuesday, Rand-Whitney Chief Administrative Officer Jim Wood stressed that the company had approached the town about the fee in the summer, but had been told that it fell under the utilities regulations and did not need to pay. As soon as the determination was made otherwise, he said, Rand-Whitney approved the $26,000 payment.