City Hall move back on the drawing board?
NORWICH – Months after city officials decided to keep the City Hall offices in their present location at the old train depot, a possible move to the third floor of the firehouse is being discussed once again.
In June, city officials passed a resolution authorizing Community Development Specialist Todd Dreyer to apply for a grant for funds to repair the current City Hall building. Announcement of the grant recipients was expected in December.
Now, with the December announcement looming closer, city officials have said they do not expect to receive the grant funding and the plans to move the city offices need to be looked at once again.
“In these times, you have to find ways to save money and cut costs,” said City of Norwich Mayor Joseph Maiurano. “[The current city hall] building is a luxury.”
City Public Works Superintendent Carl Ivarson presented a possible floor plan for the third floor offices, which utilized movable partitions for some walls to reduce the costs of construction. Ivarson said the plan would cost around $280,000.
When the move was last discussed in June, city officials had said it would cost more to stay in the current city hall than to convert the third floor of the firehouse. They cited several reasons, including repairs that would have to be made to the current city hall building and renovations that need to be made to the firehouse, whether it is converted to office space or not.
When the matter was previously discussed, some community members spoke out against the proposed move, saying it would be more difficult for older city residents to make the trip to a third-floor city hall. “If we can come to a compromise with public opinion and save the taxpayers money, it would be good for all,” Maiurano said.
If the city decides to move forward with the plan to move the offices, the money for the project would come out of Building-Capital Projects and Capital Reserves. The two accounts hold a total of approximately $400,000, according to City Finance Director William Roberts.
If the offices were moved, the current city hall building would be leased or sold.
First Ward Alderman Robert Carey asked Roberts to rework the cost comparison he compiled earlier in the year. The possible floor plans are being forwarded to the Finance / Personnel Committee for discussion at their December meeting.
In June, city officials passed a resolution authorizing Community Development Specialist Todd Dreyer to apply for a grant for funds to repair the current City Hall building. Announcement of the grant recipients was expected in December.
Now, with the December announcement looming closer, city officials have said they do not expect to receive the grant funding and the plans to move the city offices need to be looked at once again.
“In these times, you have to find ways to save money and cut costs,” said City of Norwich Mayor Joseph Maiurano. “[The current city hall] building is a luxury.”
City Public Works Superintendent Carl Ivarson presented a possible floor plan for the third floor offices, which utilized movable partitions for some walls to reduce the costs of construction. Ivarson said the plan would cost around $280,000.
When the move was last discussed in June, city officials had said it would cost more to stay in the current city hall than to convert the third floor of the firehouse. They cited several reasons, including repairs that would have to be made to the current city hall building and renovations that need to be made to the firehouse, whether it is converted to office space or not.
When the matter was previously discussed, some community members spoke out against the proposed move, saying it would be more difficult for older city residents to make the trip to a third-floor city hall. “If we can come to a compromise with public opinion and save the taxpayers money, it would be good for all,” Maiurano said.
If the city decides to move forward with the plan to move the offices, the money for the project would come out of Building-Capital Projects and Capital Reserves. The two accounts hold a total of approximately $400,000, according to City Finance Director William Roberts.
If the offices were moved, the current city hall building would be leased or sold.
First Ward Alderman Robert Carey asked Roberts to rework the cost comparison he compiled earlier in the year. The possible floor plans are being forwarded to the Finance / Personnel Committee for discussion at their December meeting.
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