Guilford goes back to the drawing board on building plan
GUILFORD – On Nov. 7, the citizens of the town of Guilford and Mt. Upton voted against the town’s building proposition, 364 to 280. This was the second revision of an original project put together this past April. That original measure was defeated by a vote of 247 to 105.
“I’m disappointed. I understand people’s needs, but we have to do something. The (current) building is falling in,” said committee member Bruce Winsor Wednesday.
The town now has to make the current building last through the winter. Repairs to the current town hall and highway garage could be costly, said Winsor. The cost of upkeep and inflation could run the Guilford taxpayers nearly a million dollars if the town decides the building is in dire need. “To do anything with this one will cost us,” said Winsor.
At an information meeting before the vote, committee member George Seneck warned, “It’s not really an option to keep fixing it. It’ll cost us and it still wouldn’t address our space issues.” Even if repairs are made, the building will still be inadequate and the only thing purchased would be time, Winsor said.
The building plan defeated this week had a price tag of $1.89 million, down from a $2.5 million estimate for the first project. The tax increase for Guilford residents would have been $0.31 per every $1,000 of assessed property value. “We were at the bare ones with this one. We can’t do any more cutting,” said Winsor.
By the time a another plan is expected to be organized, it is projected that the cost of the project could rise up $200,000 more due to inflation, said Seneck. In the interval between the first and second votes, inflation added an extra $200,000 to the project, said Seneck.
It is speculated that the turnout was a result of lower-income and fixed income residents fearing a raise in their taxes. Winsor said one way or another, the Town of Guilford will be forced to spend a great deal of money in either repairing the current building or constructing a new town hall. “We need voter approval before we can move on (with a new building). The state has a process and we have to follow it,” said Winsor. The town has been unable to apply for certain grants and aid until voters approve a project.
The town board will schedule a meeting to decide what steps to take next and will mostly likely hold a board work session, said Winsor. Committee members admitted they are a little unsure on how exactly to proceed.
“I’m disappointed. I understand people’s needs, but we have to do something. The (current) building is falling in,” said committee member Bruce Winsor Wednesday.
The town now has to make the current building last through the winter. Repairs to the current town hall and highway garage could be costly, said Winsor. The cost of upkeep and inflation could run the Guilford taxpayers nearly a million dollars if the town decides the building is in dire need. “To do anything with this one will cost us,” said Winsor.
At an information meeting before the vote, committee member George Seneck warned, “It’s not really an option to keep fixing it. It’ll cost us and it still wouldn’t address our space issues.” Even if repairs are made, the building will still be inadequate and the only thing purchased would be time, Winsor said.
The building plan defeated this week had a price tag of $1.89 million, down from a $2.5 million estimate for the first project. The tax increase for Guilford residents would have been $0.31 per every $1,000 of assessed property value. “We were at the bare ones with this one. We can’t do any more cutting,” said Winsor.
By the time a another plan is expected to be organized, it is projected that the cost of the project could rise up $200,000 more due to inflation, said Seneck. In the interval between the first and second votes, inflation added an extra $200,000 to the project, said Seneck.
It is speculated that the turnout was a result of lower-income and fixed income residents fearing a raise in their taxes. Winsor said one way or another, the Town of Guilford will be forced to spend a great deal of money in either repairing the current building or constructing a new town hall. “We need voter approval before we can move on (with a new building). The state has a process and we have to follow it,” said Winsor. The town has been unable to apply for certain grants and aid until voters approve a project.
The town board will schedule a meeting to decide what steps to take next and will mostly likely hold a board work session, said Winsor. Committee members admitted they are a little unsure on how exactly to proceed.
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