New Elevators Celebrated At Surfside, Prete

Written by Michael P. Walsh

(City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

West Haven, CT - Holding a pair of oversize scissors, Mayor Edward M. O’Brien and U.S. Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro, D-3, cut the ribbon July 19 to celebrate the completion of the two new elevators at the 12-story Surfside public housing complex at 200 Oak St.

From left, Suzanne Piacentini, director of the Hartford field office of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; Councilman Nicholas W. Ruickoldt, D-2; City Clerk Deborah Collins; state Rep. Stephen D. Dargan, D-West Haven; West Haven Housing Authority Executive Director John Counter; and Housing Authority Board of Commissioners Vice Chairman John R. O’Connor.

After the ceremony, officials held another ribbon-cutting to mark the completion of the two new elevators at the eight-story John Prete complex at 1187 Campbell Ave. The Surfside and Prete elevators were many years past their life expectancy and in need of maintenance, Counter said.

Technicians from Schindler Service installed the elevators under the same $1.16 million budget.

With help from DeLauro and Dargan, O’Brien and Counter have been working to improve living conditions for the hundreds of elderly and disabled residents at both complexes ever since the Housing Authority’s maintenance budget was left depleted by former Executive Director Michael Siwek, who embezzled the money. Counter took over the authority in March 2014 after Siwek, of North Haven, was arrested by the FBI.