 |
| Search |
|
|
|
|
Editorials
Near seven years after purchasing the 3949 Walden Avenue Colecraft Building to be used as a home for the newly merged Lancaster Town and Village police forces and the Lancaster Town Courts, the Lancaster Municipal Review Committee agreed there were no potential significant impacts associated with the Unlisted Action and voted unanimously to issue a Negative Declaration (Neg. Dec.) at last night’s SEQR (environmental) review.
At the public comment session of the regular meeting several residents addressed the Board on the implications of the SEQR review, considering a SEQR review took place years ago.
Public Comments/Questions
Resident Lee Chowaniec: “Earlier this evening, the Municipal Review Committee held a SEQR (environmental review) on the 3949 Walden Avenue Building. Council Member (Ronald) Ruffino, does this mean we are finally moving on with renovating the police building to be used for the police and Town courts?”
Council Member Ruffino: “Yes we are.”
Chowaniec: “What will the renovation cost be?”
Ruffino: “I’m not quite sure.”
Chowaniec: “At one time, in the recent past, you estimated the cost to be $8 million.”
Ruffino: “That’s a good ballpark figure, around $8 million.”
Chowaniec: “How much of the 76,000 square-foot building would be renovated?”
Ruffino: “That needs to be determined.”
Chowaniec: “Did the Town get any recent grants or federal stimulus money to offset renovation costs?”
Ruffino: “Still working on that.”
Chowaniec: “Does the Town still have the $300,000 in grant money it received several years ago from the State?”
Ruffino: Yes we do.”
Chowaniec: “In a Town Board meeting held on October 2007, the renovation costs were estimated at $5 million (or at least that was what the town was considering spending), what did that number represent, regarding square footage and was it for police and courts or just police?”
Ruffino: “I don’t recall that but it would have been for police and courts.”
Chowaniec: “I have always favored getting a new police facility from the time the Town and Village police forces merged. For me, it was the process manner and the place that was chosen. So in closing I would like to make the following statement.”
“We could have had a new 33,000 square-foot police facility built on Pavement Road years ago for $7 million. The Town spent 1.9 million for the 3949 Walden Avenue Colecraft Building and some furniture. The Town has paid over $300,000 in debt interest over time since the $1.9 million bonding took place. The Town has spent a few hundred thousand dollars in building repairs, maintenance and energy costs. It took a commercial building off the tax rolls at a cost of $51,000 in property taxes per year, another $350,000. A grand total of over $11 million will be invested into this project and the building will not be fully refurbished. And, we will still have an old building, 50+ years in age.”
“Please tell me why taxpayers should not feel that this Town has acted irresponsibly in spending the money at 3949 Walden Avenue to renovate this facility; that this investment was in the best interest of the community? Since we have been bandying this project along for near seven years, it seems we are still at square one, where we could have spent less money years ago and got this done. And, this is happening two months after election time, when residents have been asking about this police station for a very long time and we are still unable to get any numbers on what this police facility will cost. I am disappointed, to say the least.”
Resident Mike Fronczak: “Councilman Ruffino, is there a contract plan in place on paper on what we are trying to accomplish with the renovation of the Walden Avenue building for police and courts?”
Ruffino: “Yes there is.”
Fronczak: “There were multiple studies done on both projects (Walden Avenue building and a new facility), right?”
Ruffino: “Sure, from building new, renovating Lancaster Village Hall and renovating the Walden Avenue building. It came down to renovating the Walden Avenue building. What you have to realize is that the Walden Avenue building presents is the expansion of the building down the road. You build a new building and what happens if you merge, if Depew shuts down. Now you take on all those police officers. So that’s the real concept that could be out there, some day, some time; ten years down the road, whenever. The facility on Walden Avenue will be able to accommodate all the officers. You build new and you are back at square one. The Walden Avenue building is also centrally located. That facility is smack-dab in the center of the town, and it is in a better location if we take up the Depew police force. This thing was put on hold because of the advice of our former Town Attorney. We are getting back into it, we are moving ahead.”
Fronczak: “Is this a good place to have a police and courts building so close to the nearby railroad track where there could be an accident and a toxic spill?”
Ruffino: “How many years have the train tracks been there and how many accidents have we had, none. I could walk out and get hit by a car.”
Resident Dan Beutler: We have gone through numerous feasibility studies in the past and we are doing another. But you are not saying that this renovation will be for 76,000 square feet, right?”
Ruffino: “No, I am not saying 76,000 square feet.”
Beutler: “This building was purchased seven years ago and over the years statements were made by board members that it was us, the residents that filed a lawsuit that stopped the movement of renovating the building. I am here again to say it was not us. It has been seven long years and over the past few years I have asked Chief Stoldt about this and he responded with “not in my lifetime. I hope it does get done while Gary is in office. Taxes not collected, frustration and you talk about Depew and a merger. We don’t know what’s going on in Depew and won’t know until there is a NYSCM (NYS Conference of Mayors) meeting on February 6, 2010. So, if you assume that Depew is going to eliminate its police force for your benefit that may not happen.”
Ruffino: “I never assumed that.”
Beutler: “You just said that.”
Ruffino: “I said that could happen.”
Comments
Mr. Beutler was incorrect in stating the NYS Conference of Mayor meeting was to take place on February 6th. The meeting is taking place this evening, January 20th, in Orchard Park, on 4040 Barker Road to discuss merging/Village dissolution. The forum being sponsored by the NY Conference of Mayors and Municipal Officials is called: Special Forum in Western New York Local Government Consolidation and Dissolution: Understanding the New York Government Reorganization and Citizens Empowerment Act
As for transparency, residents still are not being told as to building renovation costs, square footage involved, and now whether the Village of Depew is seriously considering consolidating services or considering dissolution.
As an advocate of dissolving the Villages, I would caution the residents of those villages to consider the process that best serves their interests before determining whether they choose to shut down their government or not. It is most important to consider alternate methods and to have their government reps explain that the debt load is not absorbed by the towns they will be incorporated into.
Consolidation does not always bring savings. Village dissolution through abolishment allows the towns to bring in employees as new hires, not merging services and oft times increasing wage and benefit compensation. It is my understanding Cheektowaga is not adverse in considering to take over Depew policing.
Depew has a police Chief, a captain and 29 sworn officers. Some estimate only 17 of the 31 would be needed to fill positions in the Towns of Lancaster and Cheektowaga.
Consolidation would certainly pose a problem. Abolishment would not. No one wants to see anyone lose a job. But isn’t reducing size of government and saving taxpayers money what it’s all about. It will be up to the residents to decide, and that’s the way it should be. You deserve the government you get.
© Copyright 2009 by Speakupwny.com - hosted by Online Media, Inc
Top of Page
|
|
|
Editorials
Latest Headlines
|
|
Buffalo NY Web hosting By OnLineMedia, Inc
www.olm1.com
Part of
www.onlinebuffalo.com
[where: 14206]
|