GENESEE COUNTY/Stafford/Pontillo said he requested building permits again, Stafford Town supervisor says ‘I don’t know if he did’

File photos/Julie Carasone- James Pontillo (left) at the last Stafford Town Board meeting July 8, 2024 with Town Supervisor Robert Clement(left) and Deputy Supervisor/Councilperson Ron Panek (right)

By Mike Pettinella
For Video News Service

The owner of the former Stafford Trading Post at the corner of Route 237 and Route 5 said he was rebuffed once again by town officials in an effort to obtain building permits to continue working on the structure.

James Pontillo, speaking to Video News Service on Friday afternoon, said he went into the Town of Stafford office on Wednesday – two days after a contentious town board meeting where he cited multiple instances of “roadblocks” such as permit denials and stop work orders since purchasing the building 14 years ago.

Pontillo said he was advised during the Monday meeting by Clement to “stop in and fill out the paperwork to get a permit to be in compliance.”

“So, I did that. I went to Mr. (Gene) Sinclair’s office and let him know that I was requesting building permits,” Pontillo said.  “What Sinclair (code enforcement officer) said was, ‘On this building, we can’t do it.’”

After that brief encounter, Pontillo said he then informed Clement of what Sinclair had told him, asking the supervisor whether the town had hired an attorney to take the building from him?

“I asked him what does the town plan to do if it’s successful in taking the building,” Pontillo said. “Clement said he didn’t know, but then added that they would probably have to tear it down. He then suggested that I could sell it to somebody to ‘get out from under it.’

“I told him my intentions are to finish the building as long as the town was willing to work with me to finish it.”

Pontillo has done extensive work on the inside of the building – which has space carved out for a beauty salon and restaurant on the first floor and has three finished apartments on the second floor. He had tenants until they were evicted by the town, he said.

The town has declared the building abandoned, but Pontillo said that isn’t true.

“I told Clement the utilities have been on and we’re using the building for storage,” he said.

Years ago, Pontillo said, he had to deal with people calling National Grid “over 50 times” to have the building’s electric turned off.

“And somebody was unscrewing the electric meters from the building,” he said. “And they weren’t even smart enough to take the strap with them. They just threw it on the ground and then I would reattach it.”

Supervisor Denies Pontillo Came in for Permit

Video News Service contacted Clement on Friday morning, before talking to Pontillo, and asked the supervisor if the building owner had come into the town office to seek a building permit.

Clement’s response: “I don’t know if he did or not. I don’t know. I don’t know if he did,” which contradicts Pontillo’s claim that he was there and actually talked to Clement.

VNS then asked a series of questions:

What is the town board’s position on that building? Would the board like to see it torn down and something else put there?

“Ultimately, I don’t know what’s going to happen to it,” Clement replied. “But as far as having another building built there, that’s not going to happen because the lot isn’t big enough.”

At one time, wasn’t there talk about a gas station going in there?

“That’s not happened. It’s not big enough.”

Currently, the town considers that as an abandoned building (signs on the building indicate as such). Is this in litigation or is this something that you think you could work with Mr. Pontillo to finish the building?

“It’s still in litigation.”

You had mentioned that you wanted him to finish the outside of the building because it’s an eyesore. Is that still your thought?

“Well, yeah, I mean, it certainly isn’t very attractive the way it is.”

What does Mr. Pontillo need to do to clear this up?

“That will come from our attorney (David M. DiMatteo).”

Three attempts to reach DiMatteo on Friday were unsuccessful.

Pontillo Thinks He’s Being Discriminated Against

“Just by Clement saying that I should sell it to someone else, tells me that they would work with someone else but not with me,” Pontillo said. “And at the last meeting, he said, ‘Well, how much more do you want to spend before it’s no longer worth it to you?

“What kind of comment is that? At this point, you gotta think is this racially motivated? Or is it because of my nationality? At some point, you got to start thinking what’s really motivating this?”

Pontillo said just days after he purchased the building, he was approached by then Code Enforcement Officer Les Mullen “telling me all the things that are wrong with the building and that I can’t have a restaurant here and I don’t have adequate parking.”

Photos from Friday July 12, 2024

He also said the New York State Department of Transportation has refused to take care of issues with an island in front of the building.

“I believe they’re (DOT officials) under the impression that why should they do anything with that island if the building’s going to be torn down,” he said.

Pontillo said he continues to believe the town wants to tear the building down and make the land available to the owners of the Shell’s Post store next door.

“The basement is 10-foot deep so they could tear it down and they would already have a hole to put their (gas) tanks in,” he said. “If you look at his (Shell’s Post) building, it’s on an angle. So the trucks can come in on an angle to the gas pumps and go to (Route) 237 or come from 237, come in and go on (Route) 5. It’s a lot easier for them.”

Pontillo contends that the Shell’s Post building is not in compliance due to parking and setback issues, but it would be if his building was gone.

“Again, it goes back to Clement’s statement about me selling it. They’re saying they would work with someone else, but not with me,” he said. “And after all of the money I’ve spent – over $100,000 and another $75,000 in restaurant equipment — and all the work that has been done.”