Groton — Town Manager John Burt said the town recently became aware, through a letter it received, of charges from 2004 involving the developer of a proposed mixed-use village at the Mystic Education Center when he was operating a plumbing company in New York.
Burt said at this point, the misdemeanor incident from more than 15 years ago does not impact the project.
“Of course, we take any known impropriety seriously,” Burt said. “We looked into it. I had a long discussion with Mr. (Jeffrey) Respler. He answered all the questions I had satisfactorily.”
“I have all the faith in Respler Homes and Mr. Respler,” added Burt, who said he wouldn’t want an old misdemeanor to derail the project.
Respler Homes was selected in 2019 as the preferred developer for the state-owned property and proposed a mixed-use village with a commercial hub, housed in the Mystic Oral School building, and apartments. The project has drawn vocal criticism from neighboring residents, as well as support from the Town Council and other supporters.
Recently, a lawyer representing four Mystic residents sent Burt a letter that included an April 2005 news release issued by The City of New York Department of Investigation, which referenced a plea agreement in which Jeffrey Respler, as the owner of Plumbing Solutions, pleaded guilty in New York in 2004 to four counts of fifth-degree conspiracy, a Class A misdemeanor. He agreed to pay a $75,000 fine to the state of New York, pay $300,000…