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Editorials
While delivering comments to the Lancaster Town Board resident Roy Schneggenburger asked Town Attorney John Dudziak whether his yawning and indifference was an indication he was bored by the comments being presented.
Dudziak’s reply to Schneggenburger, “You are boring everybody.” Not really. Not all of us were put off by Schneggenburger’s presentation, as once again the wasteful spending to keep the Colecraft police building in town possession and off the tax rolls needs redress.
Schneggenburger directed his comments to the board on the 3949 Walden Avenue Colecraft building that was purchased by the town in 2003 to house the then combined Lancaster Town and Village police forces.
He referred to a correspondence from the Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC), on the Colecraft building and designated by them as U8125. He referred to a public hearing that took place in 2006, in the Village of Lancaster with ESDC present.
Schneggenburger spoke on the cost of the building ($1.6 million), the Bond Anticipation Note for $1.85 million at 3.5% interest over twenty (20) years to pay the loan off, the principal payment of $95,000 per year and an annual interest payment of $60,000.
At this point Schneggenburger asked Dudziak, “Are you bored, sir.”
After referring to ESDC document U815, Schneggenburger asked what happened to the $350,000 grant money that was applied for because of the project. “The town asked for $5,850,000 in total project financing. A grant was approved by the ESDC for $350,000 on completion of the project by September 2009.”
“What happened to the payment of $350,000 to the town, what account did it go to and what purchases were made from the grant,” asked Schneggenburger?
“I would like a respectful answer from you Mr. Town Attorney. After a brief silence, Schneggenburger asked, “No comments?”
“Not for you,” responded Dudziak. “You’re boring everybody.”
It should also be noted that Schneggenburger asked the significance of the TR sign that has been placed on the 3949 Walden Avenue Colecraft building site. No response was given to his question by any board member.
Mixed messages
One would only hope that Town Attorney Dudziak was implying that Schneggenburger’s comments were boring to him and the other Town Board members, the reason being that the purchase of the Walden Avenue building, its limited use, is expense to maintain has been brought up at numerous board meetings, over time.
At the recent September 8th meeting, resident Mike Fronczak asked Supervisor Robert Giza whether there was anything new with the Colecraft building or whether the sale of the building was still at a standstill.
After Supervisor Giza replied that there was nothing new to report, Fronczak asked whether there was anything in the master plan or any documentation that indicated a timetable was in place to sell the building and to build a new police station.
Giza responded that the board was always caught in the middle. “It’s not that we don’t want to build a new police station, it’s that we want to build one for always; to operate out of there for years to come.”
“We didn’t buy the Colecraft building overnight,” Giza continued. “A lot of people went through the building to examine it; residents, police, board members, and others. We saw a perfect building for a police station. The costs to renovate were much higher than we thought. To be honest, we are looking at a site on Pavement Road that we own."
Fronczak asked again whether there were plans to move forward in writing that would indicate that the town would have a new police station by 2010? “I keep getting frustrated when I keep hearing about spending money on a band shelter, more soccer and lacrosse fields and hearing from the police on how decrepit the current police facility is.”
Supervisor Giza replied that a lot of the money for the band shelter was coming from TOPS ($125,000). “Does TOPS want to build a police station? I don’t think so. There is no final plan at the moment.”
Councilman Dan Amatura agreed with Fronczak that the underused Walden Avenue Colecraft building should be put up for sale bid. “We should actively pursue doing this,” said Amatura.
September 15th Town Board meeting
Resident Dan Beutler questioned the board on reasons for spending increases on two town projects. After given credible reasons for the increases, Beutler pointed out that his spending concerns were predicated on the state of the economy on both federal and state levels and the trickle-down adverse impact it will have on local municipalities. “I think we have to hold the line on spending.”
“I agree,” declared Supervisor Giza. “But as usual, the board is always in the middle. People want a brand new police station and they want us to lower taxes. Believe me, unless you can find some miracle to do that, and not raise taxes, show me the way. There is no way. If you’re going to spend money, you have to raise it somewhere.”
“Again, we’re in the middle and trying to give what we can afford. We are looking at our needs now and in the future. I could go out and buy a new police station now. I’m trying to do the right thing, the right building and looking to the future.”
Comments
Well said, Supervisor Giza. However, that is not going to placate residents who believed the purchase of the Colecraft building was ill conceived, not appropriate for the use intended and whose renovation costs were grossly understated by the Supervisor himself.
Five-plus years later the town still owns this building and taxpayers are still funding an underutilized building. In truth, the town is dragging it’s feet on selling this building and building a new facility on Pavement Road – as was suggested by then sitting Town Justice Timothy Dwan over a year ago.
As the economy worsens, the delay has only adversely impacted sale potential.
Supervisor Giza has stated that the town owns land at the Pavement Road Center. That’s one expense out of the way. But as yet, no one is hearing whether there has been any movement to conduct a feasibility study to determine what the costs would be to build a new police facility there, or for that matter, its size and contents.
However, everything is predicated on the sale of the current police facility on Walden Avenue. Five-plus years and counting!
© Copyright 2008 by Speakupwny.com
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