by Bea Peterson
On Monday, December 12, the crowd attending the public hearing on the future of the Armory filled the meeting room in the Armory and overflowed into the hallway. Town Supervisor Keith Cipperly handed out pages of information on the costs of operating the Armory in 2010, including fuel costs, which exceeded $20,000. Cipperly also passed out a sheet explaining that the Town could purchase the building for $1, but if it was not maintained, the State could take it back. Cipperly reiterated his feeling all along that the Armory is too costly to keep.
Town Councilman Mark Surdam said his personal opinion was that it would be a crime to let the Armory go. He admits there needs to be many renovations but concluded that the building is a “great attribute to our community.”
Michael Batcher asked if the Board had a time frame for making a decision and what had been the process to date. Cipperly pointed out they have an agreement to sign with the State to remain in the building until the end of March, paying rent and utility costs. Workshops on the issue have been ongoing for at least four months. The Board hired engineer Bill Cottrell to look at the Armory, the Weeb’s Fishfry building, Patire’s building and the possibility of building a new Town Hall on Town property. Cottrell’s opinion was that the Armory was the best site as it will hold up for many years to come. Councilman Bob Ryan noted that so far the Board has turned its back on Cottrell’s recommendation.
Margaret Casey, Ellen Scott and Christine McCart all spoke encouraging the Board to maintain the Armory as the Town Hall. They all stated that many events and additional uses could be incorporated into the structure. Scott said, “It’s not whether we can afford to keep it but can we afford to lose it.” McCart added she was sick and tired of seeing empty buildings in Town, that it was becoming a ghost town.
Ike Powers said he was told if he wanted to see the Armory remain open he would have to fill the room. “Well,” he said, stretching out his arms. The majority in the room indicated they were in favor of keeping the Armory even if it meant an increase in their taxes. Ryan pointed out that the new Town garage only added pennies a year to individual tax bills. The Armory could be the same. It was noted that no funding had been set aside in the 2012 budget for any Town Hall changes.
Fran Downing said the Armory needs too much work. He noted that being on the Historic Register means jumping through hoops before any changes can be made to the structure. He pointed out that the furnace is in bad shape, there is mold downstairs and the oil tank under the road has no alarm on it.
Kevin O’Malley said he had petitions with over 350 signatures on them to keep the Armory as the Town Hall.
Cipperly wondered why it couldn’t be used as a youth center. HAYC3 Vice President Harold McClellan said he would like the Board to meet with the HAYC3 Board to discuss further the feasibility of working together. “HAYC3 has tremendous resources,” he said.
Committee To Be Formed
Shelly Stiles asked the Board if a committee could be formed to research the possibility of keeping the Armory. Councilmen Surdam and Jeff Wysocki offered to serve on the committee. Fourteen people at the meeting signed up to serve as well. The Board said so far it has had difficulties getting straight information from the Military Affairs office or other government entities. Stiles took up the challenge stating there were resources that could be helpful. Finally, during the regular Board meeting, following the public hearing, Ryan proposed that a committee of volunteers be formed. The committee will give an interim report in three months and a final report in six months. The proposed committee was approved.
When asked their stand on the Armory, Councilmen Louis Schmigel and Wysocki both said they favored either the Armory or a new building. Schmigel said that so far he didn’t feel he had enough information regarding the Armory to make a decision as to which was better. Wysocki felt the same.
