Government Waste
When the Town of Lancaster purchased the 3949 Walden Avenue (Colecraft) building to house the merged Town and Village police forces, residents were told the total purchase and renovation costs would fall somewhere between $4 to $5 million. Not even close!
In Part 5 of this series, hired consultants Clough Harbour & Associates (CHA) performed an “evaluation” study on the Trautman Associates schematic design study and lowered the estimated build out costs from $9.7 million to $5.2 million. That cost lowering was attributable in large part because only 42,631 square feet of the building, 55 percent, was to be utilized.
It was mentioned in Part 4 that Trautman had unsuccessfully suggested on several occasions opportunities to reduce build out costs:
* To lower build out costs, the courts should remain at the present Pavement Road location. Trautman stated that Supervisor Giza did not take that recommendation very well. He believed the courts needed to be moved because of their condition.
* Although it was agreed that the facilities at the Pavement Road site were not adequate to meet the needs of the court, the discussion with no cut back to the schematic design size and costs for the 3949 Walden Avenue build out.
* At another meeting, there was also discussion to move the police firing range and/or keep the courts where they were. Trautman stated that, “Everyone wanted to see the project come down to seven million ($7 million) and with the options we explored; nobody said that looked okay to get the initial cost down. We were just stuck at what was shown.”
* After the schematic design was completed, Trautman reps conducted discussions with Town Board members on an individual basis attempting to convince them on cost reduction. Trautman declares they all had “sticker shock”. Yet every body on the Town Board was committed to utilization of the building.
* When asked whether anyone from the Town Board or other Town officials were seriously considering reducing size or costs, Trautman declared that the Town hired Clough Harbour & Associates to study their schematic design study and attempt what measures were required to lower costs.
The Town has been reticent in coming before the taxpayers to bond more money for building renovation (already bonded $1.9 million for the purchase) because even the $5.2 million far exceeds the $2 to $3 million the Town declared would have to be spent.
Lobbying for funding
The Town began looking elsewhere to get funding to offset the extraordinary costs. At two work sessions in late spring and early summer of 2005, the Board met with ex-Deputy County Executive Carl Calabrese, now a partner in a lobbying firm. The discussions centered on Calabrese’s connections in Albany and Washington and how this firm could lobby for money to assist in funding the police facility – looking especially into Homeland Security funding avenues.
On July 5, 2005, by resolution, the Town “AWARDED CONTRACT FOR CONSULTING AND LOBBYING SERVICES TO GOVERNMENT ACTION PROFESSIONALS.” The cost of the contract set at $20,000.
Mr. Giza goes to Washington
On July 27, 2005 Supervisor Robert Giza sent the following letter to the Town Board:
Dear Councilmembers: This letter is to request permission from the Town Board to travel to Washington, D.C. on August 16-17, to meet with a representative from the Department of Housing and Urban Development for the purpose of seeking funding for the new police-court building. I am also requesting reimbursement of my expenses. The cost of the trip should not exceed $700.
Giza did make the trip, but whatever resulted from that meeting has not been passed on to the public.
Extraordinary costs
Rightfully so, much focus has been placed on the improper purchase process of the 3949 Walden Avenue (Colecraft) building and build out costs associated with it. What also needs consideration is the monies spent on studies and other avenues to formulate a plan to move forward on this project.
Thus far, the Town has spent:
April 15, 2003 - Clough Harbour & Associates retained at $1,500 to perform a minimal structural review of the building. At the time he signs the contract, he has no authority to do so.
May 15, 2003 – Town and Village participate in a feasibility study to examine the feasibility and costs of three building options that could be used for a police headquarters and/or court facility. Trautman Associates hired at $15,000.
January 21, 2004 – Town hires Trautman Associates for the purpose of preparing a schematic design for the police / court facility at 3949 Walden Avenue. The study cost $49,500.
January 2005 – Clough Harbour & Associates was hired at $15,000 to evaluate the findings of the Trautman report and determine the feasibility of providing an appropriate police and court facility for lower estimated construction cost than identified in the Trautman report - $11,358,000.
July 5, 2005 - the Town awards $20,000 contract to Government Action Professionals.
August 16-17, 2005 – Giza’s trip to Washington, $700.
Excluding purchase of building, other expenses totaled: $101,700.
Next: Double-speak, selective amnesia and denial
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