Originally Posted by
Lee Chowaniec
Board bonds $485,000 to build dog shelter
Monday night the town board by 4-1 vote approved a $485,000 Capital Improvement Project bond to construct a dog control facility at 525 Pavement Road. Supervisor Ronald Ruffino cast the lone ‘no’ vote.
As there are no design details in the language of the resolution and unable to attend the meeting, I asked resident Kevin Lemaster to address the board in my stead - to ask questions for clarification. I thank him for honoring my request.
From the questions the following was revealed by Councilmember & Dog Control Committee Chair Michael Wozniak:
The lowest construction bid received in June 2021 was $603,000. The Town negotiated with the contractor to have the shelter built for $485,000. The entire project will be constructed by the outside contractor. No town involvement. No contractor change orders.
The building will be larger than the approximately 2,100 sq. ft. designed building in the project submitted for state grant approval.
The project design:
• Includes a garage
• Seven or eight kennels (not nine as designed in state grant application approval and will more likely have six kennels as was being considered in more recent designs)
• It will be A wood and metal building – not a brick & mortar building. Wozniak declared it was never intended to be a brick & mortar. (Not true as grant application and approval will validate)
• Has four-foot concrete kennel separation walls with screening installed above
• Soundproofing insulation only between shelter kennel walls and DCO office Not needed elsewhere according to Wozniak. (No concern for noise impact for neighboring residents or the dogs confined)
Comment
In January 2020, the Town of Lancaster applied for a $305,000 State Ag & Markets Companion Animal Capital Fund grant. There wasn’t anyone that I spoke to at the time of grant application who believed the 2,100 square-foot designed brick & mortar dog shelter could be constructed for anything near $305,000. The Town’s low estimate in project construction cost was inexcusable, especially when $500,000 in Ag & Markets grant funds were available. Had a $500,000 grant fund been awarded, the town’s obligation in the project cost would have been $125,000, instead of the $260,000 cost obligation now imposed.
Considering the deplorable condition of the four-kennel shed shelter, this project is deserving and necessary of moving forward ASAP. The shelter construct should have come about sooner and at less expense to the Lancaster taxpayer. Two years in the making and not a shovel in the ground yet.
Lastly, it would be appropriate for the town to place the project design and details on its website for taxpayers to see and comment on what their tax dollars are being spent on.