Historic Cupola Neglected For 5 Years
The cupola from the demolished New Lebanon Union Free School, which sits forlorn and forgotten in the weeds where the historic building once stood, is now facing its own demise.[Private]
Councilman Kevin Smith said at the New Lebanon Town Board meeting on Tuesday June 13 that the New Lebanon School District plans to “just throw it out.”
Just before the demolition of the building in February 2012, the School District said that the cupola would be saved and preserved. The plan was to display the cupola as a monument to the building, which was listed on the National Historic Register before it became a parking lot for a soccer field. It was reported at that the time that the State had mandated the cupola be saved. Extra money was spent to safely remove the structure from the building’s roof.
“The gig was that they were going to redo the cupola,” said Smith.
That might have been the gig before anyone looked into how much the gig would cost. According to Town Supervisor Colleen Teal, “in order to restore it with today’s products, it’s about $35,000 to $40,000. To do historic preservation of it….we are probably looking closer to $75,000 to $80,000.”
Instead of the cupola, the School District might put up “an education story board” in its place, said Teal.
Residents attending the Town Board meeting were largely aghast at the news.
“Thank the school for the twelve point something million dollar budget, and $35,000 isn’t worth any of our history,” said Smith, alluding to the recently approved $11.9 million renovation projects at the elementary and junior/senior high schools. “They are going to throw it out.”
Smith offered to store the cupola himself until funds could be found to restore it. “Even if it is just parts of it,” he said.
Resident Timothy Laraway, who said he has thirty year of slate repair experience, also offered his help.
“I hate to see this history go down the tubes, said Laraway, who added that he would go down and get the cupola to make sure it wasn’t destroyed by the School District before anyone could agree on what should be done.
“It could be in a dumpster down there tomorrow,” said Highway Superintendent Jeff Winestock.
Supervisor Teal said she would follow up with the School District the next day and make it clear that the Town will now take over the safeguarding of the structure.
“In the next two weeks,” added Smith, “that thing will be moved.”
Another crumbling structure in the Town was also a topic of discussion. A brick house owned by Fred Munch Jr., located next to the Walter B. Howard Elementary school, was recently boarded up and surrounded in snow fence by the Town after Munch failed to show up at a hearing on various property violations at last month’s Town Board meeting. According to the Town’s Code & Zoning Enforcement Officer, Cissy Hernandez, the building’s porch roof is in a state of collapse.
Supervisor Teal reported that Munch currently owes Columbia County $6,220 in back taxes on the property. As this is only the second year of unpaid taxes, foreclosure is not expected within the next twelve months.
In the interest of further securing the structure, the Board received estimates on demolition of the porch and erecting a six foot high chain link fence around the property. Fencing would run from around $2,770 to $3,990. Demolition estimates of just the porch ran from an hourly rate by D&J Excavating at $90 (estimated to be around $1,200 with the dumpster rental) to $2,650.
The possible problem with demolition of the porch is that the rest of the building might come with it.
“Nobody knows what will happen,” said Councilman Dan Evans.
It was decided not to find out what would happen. The building will be enclosed in the chain link fence until such a time that the County takes it back, Munch does repairs, or it falls down on its own. In the meantime, Supervisor Teal will proceed with the paperwork to add New Lebanon’s costs to Munch’s 2018 property tax bill.
All voted in favor of this except Councilman Mark Baumli who was against spending any of the Town’s money at all securing the scofflaw’s property.
Baumli was also the most outspoken when it came to discussion on the upcoming June 24 block party being hosted by M&M Tap and Tavern.
“I’m concerned that this could turn into a disaster,” said Baumli. “I do not see this being done properly.”
To date the Town still does not have the money from M&M which will be used to pay the Sherriff’s deputies to direct traffic whilst partygoers go to and from the party by crossing over Routes 20 and 22 to the planned parking at Valley Plaza. That is if there is parking at Valley Plaza. Baumli says it can’t be assured because nobody can show a contract that says the parking is all set. What might have helped, pointed out Baumli, was if the event planners had attended that night’s meeting to answer the Town’s question.
“This gentleman doesn’t even show up at a Town Board meeting to answer my questions,” said Baumli. “He should have been here, knowing he doesn’t have all his ducks in a row.” (It was not stated if the gentlemen from M&M were asked to attend the meeting.)
Greg Gilliland, Assistant Chief with the Fire Department, added that nobody had bothered to let them know officially that anything was happening that day either.
What’s pretty much certain is the outcome of this event will affect future events.
“What are the rules?” said Supervisor Teal. “Unless you have an event with an excess of one thousand people, there are no rules.”
“There’s nothing on the books,” agreed Councilman Smith. But such legislation might just be on its way. “Maybe we should look at large events, that they will have to come before this Board before we allow them,” Smith added.
Partygoers were also warned against parking in Shatford Park if they want to attend the M&M event. And they will soon be asked to permanently refrain from smoking in certain Park areas. The park was made “smoke free” in 2012 but signs were never put up stating exactly what the rules were. New signs will now instruct smokers to smoke away from the ball field and the pavilion.
Winestock said he doubted putting signs up would accomplish anything. He noted that in his experience working on the roads, a large part of the population seem to have trouble comprehending any sort of signage.
“They literally don’t know what signs mean,” said the Highway Superintendent.
Resident Johanna Johnson-Smith made the point that smokers are taxpayers as well as non-smokers, and that the Town should “protect the rights of all the taxpayers.”
The night began with a public hearing on a local law which will amends the Town Code in regard to publishing the complete text of new local laws and amendments in the Town’s chosen newspaper. The belief is that with the internet, most people can easily access new laws on the Town’s website. Publishing entire texts of amendments and laws is expensive and it is doubtful many residents were reading them in the back of the paper anyway. All were in favor of this new change.
And finally, as the Eastwick Press will cease to exist as of this weekend, the Board made the decision, with all in favor, that the Columbia Paper will now be the official newspaper of Town of New Lebanon.
News of the Eastwick Press’ closing was met with sadness and disbelief by many in attendance.
It will be missed. [/Private]