The city has closed on the deal to allow Bristol Hospital to develop a portion of Centre Square, said Mayor Ellen Zoppo-Sassu during Tuesday night’s City Council meeting.
Bristol Hospital announced its intention to construct an Ambulatory Care Center on the corner of Riverside and Main Street during the administration of former Mayor Ken Cockayne. Plans continued to move ahead under Zoppo-Sassu, with contracts signed by the city, hospital and contractor and the deal closed at 5:15 p.m. Tuesday. The deal with the hospital is intended to spur downtown development.
“This process has gone on for quite a bit of time,” Zoppo-Sassu said. She then thanked Tom Conlin, assistant to the Corporation Council, for helping the city through the legal process including “thousands of easements.”
“Hopefully this building will be the beginning of many more developments downtown,” said Zoppo-Sassu.
The council also voted to establish a City Arts and Culture Commission. There is currently one vacancy on this seven-person committee. Members appointed Tuesday night include Jesse Gallagher, Lindsay Vigue, Samantha Cloutier, Bill Stortz, Kim Valenti and Juliet Norton.
Just prior to the meeting, Zoppo-Sassu participated in a flag raising ceremony for a Donate Life Flag outside of City Hall. The flag is intended to raise awareness that organ donation saves lives and to recognize April as the 15th Annual National Donate Life Month.
“We seek to commemorate the families that have benefited from donation and encourage others to donate as well,” she said.
Recipients and family members of donors stood with her and shared their stories.
One speaker, Angela, donated a portion of her liver to save her husband.
Another speaker, Pam, said her daughter Ashley donated her heart, kidneys and liver after she died in 2009. Her heart went to a woman in Boston and her kidneys saved the life of a 14-year-old boy who was then able to graduate high school and go to college.
Councilor Mary Fortier mentioned the flag raising at the council meeting. She encouraged those who wish to sign up for organ donation to visit registerme.org.
Brian M. Johnson can be reached at 860-973-1806 or bjohnson@bristolpress.com.