07/25/08 Attorney General Sends Message To Greenwich Building Inspectors - Cursory Inspections Won't Cut It Anymore

HEADLINE:

News Channel 8 went to town hall to look at the inspector's certificate.

The Certificate was not available because it's involved in pending litigation.

QUOTE:

"There really needs to be a complete overhaul in the way we inspect, review, establish standards and then make sure they're followed," Attorney General Blumenthal said. "Because, obviously human lives are at stake."

STORY:

Attorney general says overhaul needed for pool inspections

WTNH

Engineers and inspectors signed-off on the safety of a Greenwich pool that claimed a young boy's life. This leaves many to wonder if the pool company president should be the only person held legally accountable for the child's death.

Checks and balances are supposed to make sure that what happened in a Greenwich pool doesn't happen. The system failed and a young boy died as a result. Now, one man is facing manslaughter charges and his defense attorney is speaking out saying, his client didn't knowingly ignore safety codes. And, there were many others involved, including the town of Greenwich.

"You think of the thousands of swimming pools that have been built in Connecticut, prior to September 1, of 2004, that did not have these devices. And, I don't know of another entrapment death in Connecticut," Defense Attorney Richard Meehan said.

Meehan is fighting back for his client, Shoreline Pool President David Lionetti. Lionetti has been charged with manslaughter in the death of a young Greenwich boy who drowned after being sucked into the drain of his family's pool.

Meehan admits, the pool was not up to the safety standards but, he claims, it was not clear that the state law had changed.

"There was a great deal of confusion in the industry about whether there had been changes and when the changes became effective," Meehan said.

In fact, the pool was signed-off on by both an engineer and a town inspector.

The state law went into effect in 2004. The town of Greenwich issued a permit for the construction in June of 2005. A town inspector signed off on a Certificate of Occupance in August of 2006.

News Channel 8 went to town hall to look at the inspector's certificate. In turn, it was not available because it's involved in pending litigation.

The First Selectman did not return the station's call for comment. But, sources inside the industry, who did not want to go on camera, tell News Channel 8 that those inspections are often only cursory. And, building inspectors are often not aware of all the code changes.

Attorney General Richard Blumenthal says the fact that this pool went through so many levels, without anyone raising red flags, is deeply disturbing to the state.

All of those people are involved in a civil suit, but only Lionetti has been criminally charged with manslaughters. He will be arraigned in Stamford Superior Court on Monday.

Please see yesterday's article:

07/24/08 Should Town Building Department Employees Be Charged With Manslaughter In The Death Of Six Year Old Zachary Archer Cohn?

Please Also See:

07/23/08 Insiders Say Lionetti Got Email Alerts About New Laws Covering The Safety Vacuum Release System Required For Pool Construction

AND:

07/23/08 Is Frank Mazza A Nut Case? The School's Building Committee Wants Town Employees To Approve 112 Inspections In Less Than 4 Business Days

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