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Editorials
Like Phoenix rising from the ashes, the 3949 Walden Avenue warehouse building purchased in March of 2003 to house the merged Lancaster Town and Village police forces, and dubbed the “white elephant” by the “you guys” (regular board attendees), will undergo another feasibility study to determine whether renovation costs to house the police and courts is fiscally responsible.
The resolution sponsored by Councilmember Ron Ruffino continues to “evaluate the feasibility of converting the Walden Avenue warehouse property into a police and courts facility and commissions the Town to receive qualification submittals from qualified firms for the provision of architectural and engineering services in relation to the renovation. Town officials are authorized to do all things necessary to effectuate the intent and purpose of the resolution.”
Councilman Dan Amatura cast the lone dissenting vote declaring that the resolution leaves out a feasibly study for alternatives – namely, a new facility at the current Pavement Road site.
For the past year, it had been suggested by some town officials and numerous residents that the Walden Avenue building was a poor investment that should be sold and a new one built. In recent months, the board was one in favoring having the building appraised, put up for bid and sold. What changed?
Town Board work session minutes
Supervisor Robert Giza declared that some people have accused the board of dragging its feet on putting up a police building. “These same people will be complaining about the taxes going up if we do something.”
Whoa, big fella! These same “you guys” (labeled regulars, obstructionists, cave dwellers, etc.) accepted the fact years ago that a new police facility was needed for the newly combined town and village police forces. The “you guys” objected to the manner in which the Walden Avenue Colecraft warehouse building was purchased, the condition and aesthetics of the building and the initial grossly underestimated renovation costs projected by the Supervisor.
The “you guys” have favored building a smaller, state of the art police building on town-owned property on Pavement Road. The “you guys” are as equally disturbed as Amatura that the town is not going to consider a feasibility study for another option.
Supervisor Giza pointed out that he wanted to do the water line project (now in progress), but was hesitant in doing it because he didn’t want to raise taxes. But wanting to protect our homes and businesses (firefighting with low water pressure) he did it. Well, truth be told the supervisor and the former Town Engineer told residents complaining about home low water pressure issues and firefighting low water pressure issues were told they didn’t know what they were talking about.
Thanks to councilmember Amatura and present Town Engineer Robert Harris those water line issues are being addressed and in a manner and over time where the taxpayers are not seeing a noticeable tax increase.
Amatura asked why the resolution was not written to include a new build as well as the renovation to the Walden Avenue building? Ruffino responded that the building had been purchased with the intent to renovate it. He added that they thought they could sell it at one time and look at another option, but the sale didn’t take place. “If we would have sold it, a new build would have been an option.”
Amatura replied, “I thought we all agreed to put the building up for bid. We now have probably $2.5 million stuck in this building. Giza interjected that they paid $1.6 million for the building and we put some roof repairs... “Yeah but the last study say we need a new roof on the building and that would be another $500,000 and we have been paying on the debt, $90,000 per year. I think in total it’s going to cost us more money than to erect a new police building. We need a new building, but we only need to build a 30,000 square foot building and we need to go cheaper (not with all the bells and whistles).
Amatura could have added into that cost the heating / energy / maintenance costs for the building since 2003 and lost tax revenues once the town took ownership (approximately $50,000 per year times 5 years).
Ruffino (and later Giza) claimed that there were parties interested in purchasing the building, but then “they walked away”.
Amatura responded that they did not follow through on their assurance to the public that they would get the building appraised, have it put up for bid, and build a new one on town owned property on Pavement Road for about $7 million. “Do we need a 76,000 square foot building and to throw that kind of money in an old building when we can build a new police station on the same property the court building sits on? I would like to see a proposal that considers both, the renovation of the Walden Avenue building and a new build. (It was never considered and/or voted on)
Ruffino interjected that the Walden Avenue building was purchased with the intent to renovate it. “Why don’t we say we made a mistake and move on,” said Amatura?
Ruffino countered that everyone at the time of purchase thought it was the right thing to do and now board members and the Chief of police say we should go with the original plan. “If we sold it, we could have looked at building a new one. But I’m not going to build a new one and then try to sell the old one.”
“But we haven’t tried to sell the building,” replied Amatura. “That’s the point I’m making.”
Mars to Ruffino, hello, you haven’t made a formal attempt to sell the building. Judge Dwan told the board over a year ago to sell it build a new one and move on. The “you guys” have been bugging the town on this for months.)
"Well, I don’t know who have been talking to about this, but the guys in the police department are all for this," declared Ruffino. "And, since we merged with the Village police, Walden Avenue is a better site,” added Ruffino.
Supervisor Giza interjected that if it doesn’t work out they could always go to plan B.
“Plan B, we should be doing it now and compare apples to apples,” replied Amatura.
Supervisor Giza added that there were a lot of things you could do with this building. “Right now our cars are out in the open. Here, you can bring them inside, deice them and wash them. You can have a pistol range and there’s lots of room to store evidence. They got stolen boats and motorcycles inside, etc.”
Supervisor Giza declared that he believed this was still the right thing to do and the right location for the building. “I guess when I heard the price for the renovation I was scared a little bit and thought maybe we could get something more workable, but...
“The first price we had for renovation was $11.5 million and the next estimate was $7.5 million for less renovation,” said Amatura. If you put the $1.6 million purchase price in with the $7.5 million, that’s $9 million. And, that was 2-3 years ago. So, what will that price be now? And when the bids come in, they will be for labor. The money is usually made on the material costs.”
Ruffino countered that the cost for a new police station years ago was estimated at $13 million.
“Yeah, but that was for a 76,000 square foot building,” said Amatura. We don’t need one that size. That’s what I’m trying to tell you. You guys do what you want. My opinion is that both options should be considered; now.”
Amatura was outvoted 4-1.
NEXT: Part II: “You guys” speak out
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