ITEM PHOTO BY OWEN O’ROURKE
The Swampscott Yacht Club is on the second floor.
By GAYLA CAWLEY
SWAMPSCOTT — Town officials halted ongoing renovation work at the Swampscott Yacht Club, or Fish House, because club leaders did not pull a building permit for the improvements.
“Certainly the town has had a good working relationship with the Yacht Club, but they are required under their lease agreement with the town to pull permits and we’ve issued them a notice of violation,” said Town Administrator Sean Fitzgerald.
“This is a property that’s on the National Historic Register, so we are extremely concerned that any work that happens at that site be consistent with the town’s permitting,” Fitzgerald continued. “We understand that the building needs some significant repairs. We are currently looking at grant applications with the Mass Historic Commission and other funding programs, but we are going to be adamant about the code enforcement responsibilities of the Yacht Club.”
Building inspector Manuel Bettencourt said he became aware of the work early last week, but wasn’t sure how long it had been going on. He referred to their Facebook page, which includes a March 4 post about the “continuing historic renovations of the club by generous volunteers.”
Bettencourt said work includes remodeling, repairing two bathrooms, painting and some ceiling work in the bar area. Fitzgerald said generally, the club leaders appeared to be updating some of the spaces they use for functions.
“Some of the improvements are really repairs, so I think we’ve got to sit down, meet with them and discuss in more detail some of the code enforcement requirements that they are going to have to comply with,” Fitzgerald said. “At this point, we’re still really making some determinations and investigating the extent of the work, but we hope to be meeting with officials from the Yacht Club over the next week to address any of these concerns.”
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An inspection of the property was completed recently and it was found that work was being done without the issuance of a building permit, and there were violations with the fire sprinkler system, according to a March 10 Building Department notice addressed to Ken Hahn, commodore of the Yacht Club.
Town documents show that an order to abate was issued by the building inspector, which required the club to “immediately employ the services of a licensed construction supervisor and submit an application for a building permit.”
“As of right now, there is no work being done, or no work to be done, and until we do further investigation, make sure that the life safety is in working order, then no one is to occupy the building,” said Bettencourt.
Fitzgerald said the issue could be that some people at the club didn’t understand the specifics of the lease.
“They have worked with the town, I think, successfully over the years to make some improvements and to help support a number of fishermen that make their livelihoods out of that property, so it’s an important building, and they have a terrific yacht club that helps the town enjoy the beautiful nautical history,” Fitzgerald said.
Attempts to reach Hahn by phone or email were unsuccessful. A man, who identified himself as the commodore, told The Item at the yacht club late Thursday afternoon that they were a private club and they were closed to members for the time being.
Gayla Cawley can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @GaylaCawley.