Mayor gets custom tour of window-door manufacturer

By JOHN HOWELL
Posted 11/1/18

By JOHN HOWELL Like so many of their customers, Mayor Joseph J. Solomon was impressed to learn the 80,000 square-foot building tucked away on Meadow Street in Apponaug is the heart of a manufacturing and sales operation that employs 55 people here and

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Mayor gets custom tour of window-door manufacturer

Posted

Like so many of their customers, Mayor Joseph J. Solomon was impressed to learn the 80,000 square-foot building tucked away on Meadow Street in Apponaug is the heart of a manufacturing and sales operation that employs 55 people here and another 180 in New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts.

As part of his weekly “One-on-One” business program, Solomon visited Custom Built Windows & Doors, getting a tour of its manufacturing operation by David Gardner and his brother Johnny. David is the owner/partner and Johnny is the president of the family-owned business started by their grandfather, Jack Gardner, in 1961 as a storm window manufacturer.

Solomon arrived at the company’s showroom as a couple looked over a selection of window replacements and raised a question that Custom Built expects to have an answer for in the near future. They wanted to know if there is a replacement window offering the insulation and ease of vinyl framed windows with a wood interior.

As it happens, David explained on the tour, Custom Built plans to make such a window in the near future. All Custom Built windows are built to order according to the specifications provided by the buyer.

“So you know they’re going to fit,” said Solomon. He complemented the company on its longevity and the fact it has been based in Warwick since being founded. He said that is a testament to the quality of the product and the satisfaction of its customers.

So far, said David, President Trump’s tariffs have not affected the cost of their products to the customer, although they have had to absorb the increased cost of hardware from China.

“It eats into the margin,” he said.

In addition to storm windows, which are in demand for historic homes where the original windows would not be removed, the company manufactures entry and storm doors, replacement windows, patio enclosures and glass shower enclosures.

They also offer roof replacement and gutter guard services.

They promote a “Be Local” campaign to support the more than 96,000 small businesses that call Rhode Island home, and note that manufacturing has played an important role in the region’s history since the Industrial Revolution. They point to the fact that Rhode Island manufacturers have provided local jobs and are responsible for infusing over $1 billion into the local economy in recent years.

As Solomon walked through the office on the way to the manufacturing end of the business, employees were intrigued by the entourage and questioned what was happening. Solomon introduced himself, shaking hands around.

Those on the production floor didn’t pause as the group watched them work and moved through the building.

On the way out, Solomon asked what the city might do to help the business.

David pointed out that Custom Built has a loyal workforce with many of them having been with the company for decades. He said he believes that in good part is attributable to the company’s high benefit package.

He transitioned to high taxes.

He said, “Lower property taxes wouldn’t be bad.”

“I feel your pain,” responded Solomon, “I get it.”

He said as an accountant and lawyer, he would work to contain taxes. Further, he noted, with more businesses Warwick could possibly lower taxes.

Comments

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  • richardcorrente

    Oh do I want to comment on this.

    OH do I want to comment on this.

    1. - Acting Mayor Joe Solomon needs to know that if he lowered taxes he would increase the number of taxpayers and therefore Warwick would receive MORE TOTAL TAX REVENUE. That was the point David Gardner was making. I agree.

    2. - ALSO, if the appraisal findings were transmitted from Vision Technologies (the appraisal company) to The Warwick Beacon and THEN to the Mayors office, Warwick taxpayers would have a system of checks and balances that would ensure that ALL taxpayers got a fair shake and people like Joe Solomon didn't get extremely beneficial treatment. i.e. he owns a car dealership at 1129 West Shore Rd. that is tax-assessed for less than he paid for it 29 YEARS AGO!! (amongst MANY others). Maybe we need legislation for this. I'm sure I've read that somewhere. That's right. It's in The Corrente Plan. I have done due diligence on this matter and I have checked every political name and have learned that there are very few that have an unfair and artificially lowered tax assessment. Joe Solomon leads this short list. Mark Carruolo and Scott Avedisian are also on it. I encourage all readers to look up these tax assessed values, compare them with the values on "Eppraisal" or "Zillow" and call your council members to get the record straightened. Everyone should pay their fair share of taxes. Don't you agree?

    Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

    Rick Corrente

    The Taxpayers Mayor

    Thursday, November 1, 2018 Report this

  • CrickeeRaven

    "[I]f he lowered taxes he would increase the number of taxpayers and therefore Warwick would receive [more tax revenue]."

    There is no evidence, of any kind, that Warwick could take on the numbers of new property taxpayers it would take to make up for a reduction in tax revenue.

    "That was the point David Gardner was making."

    No, it was not. Mr. Gardner simply said, "Lower property taxes wouldn’t be bad.”

    The two-time election reject has no right to project his own delusional ideas on a successful business owner and actual taxpayer in the city.

    Everything following the "2" in his comment is another series of delusional and false statements.

    There has never been any tampering with the city tax assessments; no law will ever be written to use a local newspaper as "checks and balances" for a city operation that is already contracted to an independent third party vendor; property values on real estate websites are not, and have never been, correlated to municipal property valuations; and none of his claims about anyone else's tax assessments have ever been proven.

    "Everyone should pay their fair share of taxes. Don't you agree?"

    The two-time election reject doesn't. He didn't pay the taxes on his former residence and lost it to tax sale.

    Honest, taxpaying voters will give thanks that they saw through his lies and delusional statements and were 100 percent correct in rejecting his candidacy again this year.

    Thursday, November 1, 2018 Report this

  • CrickeeRaven

    The two-time election reject's conspiracy theories and backwards logic is proof of nothing but his limitless ability to humiliate himself.

    "[M]y taxes are paid."

    This is a lie. City tax records show that the two-time election reject did not pay the taxes on his former residence since 2013, leading to him losing it in a tax sale.

    "This HAS to stop, and I'm going to make sure it does."

    Not by lying or having an unhealthy obsession with the former city chief of staff.

    Honest, taxpaying voters are very happy knowing that they are keeping his far away from affecting anything that happens in Warwick.

    Thursday, November 1, 2018 Report this

  • Scal1024

    Corrente gets more and more delusional with each passing day. I think this is about the 5th different identity he's pinned on CrickeeRaven. He also throws in a new list of accusations claiming others recieved a break on their property assesments. Rick, when you can't be bothered to pay your own property taxes you don't get to tell others they are "under-taxed". You've been "under-taxed" for years. You insist on lying about something that's been a proven fact for almost 2 years, if not more. You are a clown on the local stage. Nothing more than a punchline and the first candidate to lose to 2 different Mayoral candidates, from 2 different political parties in back to back elections in decades. You are the Make Believe Mayor, and the Mayor of the 2% that voted for you.

    I truly hope you get the help you need, as the kind of behavior you have shown this last year is nothing short of unstable, erratic and embarassing. You have no idea what you're talking about, you just ramble the same incoherent points (just like when Councilman Ladoceur had to tell you to sit down and be quiet in public). Your career in Warwick politics was over before it started. You were the candidate nobody needed, and nobody asked for. Rather than getting embarrassed in another election, perhaps you could devote your time to fixing your flaws.

    Thursday, November 1, 2018 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    Dear Idiot,

    Or shall I just call you Richard Corrente? Mayor Dumbness, Feckless, Fake mayor, tax delinquent, substandard fisherman, or any other self inflicted terminology?

    Pertaining to Mr. Carroulo. Your statements clearly indicate that you do NOT know how to read. If you did, you would see that out of 12 properties on Hendricken Court, only 2 properties are assessed at a higher value than Mr. Carroulo's. In fact, if you look at the historical property reval's (which I have) and compare them in terms of percentages, you will see that there is no disparity. I compared those percentages with my own property from the highest to the lowest years of evaluation, and they in line with each other, which proves yet again that you are incapable of disseminating the simplest of mathematical enumerations.

    This only bolsters the fact that your complete ineptness, and mental deficiencies, leads you to believe your own conjured up (possibly drug induced) fantasies. Which leads me to believe that this mental defect was a contributing component to your tax delinquency, 2 years of squatting like a homeless person, and inevitable loss of your WATER FRONT PROPERTY!!

    Can you say - LOSER????????????????????????????????????????????????????

    Thursday, November 1, 2018 Report this

  • Justanidiot

    Mayor Solomon went to this factory to show that he has the most transparent administration going.

    Friday, November 2, 2018 Report this

  • richardcorrente

    Dear Readers,

    Rob Cote lies. I've proven it.

    Rob Cote steals. I've proven it.

    Rob Cote resorts to name calling. I won't enter that discussion except to say that if I am a "substandard fisherman" how come I out fished him three times in a row?

    Please don't listen to Rob Cote. Six years ago he said he was moving out of Warwick. Let's hope he keeps his word...soon.

    Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

    Rick Corrente

    The Taxpayers Mayor

    Friday, November 2, 2018 Report this

  • CrickeeRaven

    "Rob Cote lies. I've proven it."

    No, the two-time election reject has not. Every one of Thecaptain's claims has been backed up by verifiable fact. The came can not be said about the two-time election reject.

    "Rob Cote steals. I've proven it."

    No, the two-time election reject has not. He improperly put his campaign signs up in public places, and Thecaptain and others removed them as allowed by the law.

    "Rob Cote resorts to name calling."

    This is hypocritical from the person who calls others "cowards" for using screen names as allowed by the owners of this website.

    Honest, taxpaying voters should be thankful that we have advocates like Rob Cote uncovering waste in our city like the illegal fire contract side-deals -- and that we collectively rejected the two-time election loser's disgraceful conduct.

    Friday, November 2, 2018 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    Dear Corrente dope,

    The thought of taking you to court and suing you for claiming in public that I steal, actually excites me. You cannot believe how much I would enjoy pummeling you intellectually in public, and adding yet another loss in your column of losses in the court system. Believe me, it would be better than fishing or scuba diving. That kind of stuff lights my fire. Just continue. See if you can prove your claims in court. DOPE

    Friday, November 2, 2018 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    By the way,

    Keep your eyes focused on the news. More side deals about to be made public.

    Friday, November 2, 2018 Report this

  • Cat2222

    Hilarious! Others are commenting on the contents of the article and providing public facts to back their statements up. RC is ranting about fishing of all things and a throw away comment made years ago that has zero impact on the subject matter at hand.

    "This HAS to stop, and I'm going to make sure it does. " Love to see you try. I hope your strategy isn't similar to your Corrente Plan because that was a royal flop.

    "Rob Cote lies. I've proven it. Rob Cote steals. I've proven it." What have you proven? Facts RC, facts. If you have proof, shouldn't you be a good citizen and bring your proof to the police?

    Word of the day - Blowhard: a person who blusters and boasts in an unpleasant way.

    Friday, November 2, 2018 Report this

  • KaptainMorgan

    The best part of all this is that the wack-a-doodle is coming unglued (like even more than he has been) Great entertainment, no need to go to showcase tonight. I find it especially amusing that he thinks justanidiot is his buddy, absolutely no comprehension of sa4casm....

    I'd Dicky boy wasn't such an ass, I could possibly have sympathy for him being as dumb as he is!

    oh well, carry on. I'll grab another drink and enjoy the lampooning

    Friday, November 2, 2018 Report this

  • wwkvoter

    Could someone please post the link to Corrente's star performance before our finance committee?

    Friday, November 2, 2018 Report this