by Phillip Zema
Although the Town Hall referendum failed, Town Officials are far from giving up on the project. On Monday, July 26, members of the Town Council and Town Hall Committee held a public informational meeting at the New Lebanon Firehouse. The meeting served as a question-and-answer forum where community members had the opportunity to express their concerns about the project.
The vote, which was held on June 29, came much earlier than originally anticipated. The Town had an opportunity to receive a $75k grant, and, to do so, it needed to pass a referendum by July 1. The $815k referendum did not pass, even though Town Officials believed the project would be considerably cheaper, perhaps somewhere between $500-600k. In the wake of the failed referendum, officials had to decide whether to pursue the project further.
The Search For A New Town Hall
The meeting started with a presentation from Tony Murad, a Town Hall Committee member. He was in favor of continuing with the project and said the Town Hall Committee is “convinced we’re on the right path” and “committed to not raising taxes.”
Murad said that the Committee originally considered a number of sites for a new Town Hall. Many of these places, however, were either too expensive or required too much renovation. For example, some people considered having the Protective Association and the Town government share a new building. A number of logistical and time issues, however, made this option unfeasible. For one, the project could cost anywhere between $1m-1.5m, and it would not get underway for several years.
Another option was to purchase the old CeramTec building. While this site has the room to fit the Town’s government, court and fire department, the building costs $900k and needs a new $125k roof. Several bargaining attempts were made with the company, but the price did not budge.
Ultimately, it was decided that renovating the old Town Hall building was the Town’s best option. At a previous Town Hall meeting, a reputable architect said the entire project would cost roughly $344k. While the estimate seemed low to the Committee (several estimates have fallen between $500k-600k), they were confident the renovation project was the most cost-effective route to pursue.
Funding The Project
As mentioned by Town Board Member Doug Clark and Murad, the project’s cost will remain uncertain until it is put out to bid. There was optimism that the project could be put out to bid relatively soon, once the architect’s drawings are finalized. The Committee was confident that, due to the struggling economy, contractors would submit cheaper bids. Current interest rates are low as well, so if the Town needed to finance part of the project, it could do so at a favorable rate.
The Committee was also confident that the project would not increase local taxes. Even if the Town needed a loan, it could use part of its reserves to avoid a tax hike. The project could be funded through grant money and Town reserves. It was stated that the project would likely receive an annual $30k NY State grant for the Town Court. The length of this grant is indefinite. The seniors would also receive a $5k grant for the Hall’s kitchen. The Town might be eligible for a number of other lucrative grants as well.
Public Concerns
It was also asked whether the building would have enough space to meet the Town’s needs, especially in the long run. Murad replied that over the years the Town’s population has stayed relatively consistent; moreover, he, along with other officials, does not foresee a substantial population boom. It was also mentioned that, at least in recent memory, the Town Hall always had enough space to fit those wishing to attend a public meeting. And when the Hall was filled to maximum capacity, the Town could always hold some meetings at the firehouse or school. Furthermore, the building will have more parking spaces than originally expected.
There was also concern about the long term sustainability of the building. The Committee, in response, was optimistic that the building’s structure would endure over time. Reportedly, the building has a strong foundation, and when it is renovated, it will be well repaired and more energy efficient. Murad was adamant that maintaining the roof was instrumental towards increasing the building’s longevity. Roof issues would only catalyze other structural problems, but a good roof would go a long way towards preserving the building.
It was mentioned that the depressed economy might be an issue. People simply are not willing to spend a lot of Town money on such a project. Instead of spending Town money – especially reserves – on a Town Hall, the money should be put towards tax relief, especially since many residents are struggling. There was also concern that the Town was trying to force through an expensive referendum.
Doug Banker thought that the Committee needed more time to advertise the referendum to the public and residents needed more time and information before they could decide on the $815k referendum. This position was seconded by several Committee members, and it was agreed that a marketing strategy should be employed.
Committee members also stressed that the project would be in the community’s best interest. It would not serve any particular official’s agenda. The Town Hall would provide a permanent location for the Town’s government and court – the Town is currently renting the American Legion Hall for court and meeting space, and it would serve a number of community functions (e.g. as a senior center) as well.
Murad added that, in June, the Town was stuck between a rock and a hard place. Unless the Town passed the 815k referendum by July 1, the project would not receive a $75k rural development grant. The $815k was a worst case scenario figure, and most officials believed the project would be considerably cheaper. Yet Federal regulations mandated that the referendum be set at $815k. The Town, with too little time, had to sell the project to the public.
By the end of the meeting, most of the audience was on board with the project. It was stated that while a renovated Town Hall may not be the optimal choice (it was mentioned that the CeramTec building would have been a good fit), it is still the best current option for the Town.
The Town Hall Committee intends to hold more informational meetings. It was agreed that such meetings are invaluable, as they clarify the facts and serve as a venue for public input.