Do you want to see a City Hall move?
NORWICH – Since 2004, city officials have been contemplating whether or not they should move City Hall offices to the third floor of the firehouse, and on Tuesday night, the City of Norwich Common Council said they want to get input from the public.
The current City Hall building, located at the old train depot, is in need of repairs. The repairs, including a new roof, heating and electrical upgrades and other items, are estimated at more than $240,000. According to City Department of Public Works Superintendent Carl Ivarson, recent estimates for the roof alone put the project in the $175,000 to $200,000 range.
The possibility of moving City Hall offices to the firehouse was brought up once again at the June meeting of the Public Works / Public Safety Committee and the July Finance / Personnel Committee meeting.
The third floor of the firehouse was never completely finished. To be usable, the space requires the completion of the exterior walls – currently just exposed brick – and the installation of electrical and lighting components. A 2008 cost estimate put the price of the preliminary work at approximately $115,000. City Finance Director William Roberts is working on an updated cost analysis.
On June 7, the Finance / Personnel Committee recommended the city council approve the preparatory work to the firehouse. Although the issue was not on the agenda at Tuesday night’s council meeting, First Ward Alderman Robert Carey brought up the subject. “ I want to know how we can have an open public forum on the options for the third floor of the firehouse,” Carey said. “We need input from the community.”
Carey discussed the possibility of creating a formal committee made up of council members and individuals from the community to investigate the issue. “We want a public discussion. Call us, send letters, tell us how you feel about this,” Carey said.
The First Ward Alderman explained that from a financial stance, the city feels they could save money by consolidating the offices into one building. However, if the community would prefer the convenience of the current building over the cost savings, the council needs to know.
“There are a lot of things that need to be looked at,” said Fourth Ward Alderman Walter Schermerhorn. “From a financial standpoint, I don’t see things getting any better in the short term. These low tax increases that we’ve seen the last few years may not continue to happen.” Previous cost estimates showed a savings in maintenance, utilities and other expenses by moving offices to the firehouse.
Carey said options such as grant funding for the repairs at the current city hall building should continue to be investigated.
The current City Hall building, located at the old train depot, is in need of repairs. The repairs, including a new roof, heating and electrical upgrades and other items, are estimated at more than $240,000. According to City Department of Public Works Superintendent Carl Ivarson, recent estimates for the roof alone put the project in the $175,000 to $200,000 range.
The possibility of moving City Hall offices to the firehouse was brought up once again at the June meeting of the Public Works / Public Safety Committee and the July Finance / Personnel Committee meeting.
The third floor of the firehouse was never completely finished. To be usable, the space requires the completion of the exterior walls – currently just exposed brick – and the installation of electrical and lighting components. A 2008 cost estimate put the price of the preliminary work at approximately $115,000. City Finance Director William Roberts is working on an updated cost analysis.
On June 7, the Finance / Personnel Committee recommended the city council approve the preparatory work to the firehouse. Although the issue was not on the agenda at Tuesday night’s council meeting, First Ward Alderman Robert Carey brought up the subject. “ I want to know how we can have an open public forum on the options for the third floor of the firehouse,” Carey said. “We need input from the community.”
Carey discussed the possibility of creating a formal committee made up of council members and individuals from the community to investigate the issue. “We want a public discussion. Call us, send letters, tell us how you feel about this,” Carey said.
The First Ward Alderman explained that from a financial stance, the city feels they could save money by consolidating the offices into one building. However, if the community would prefer the convenience of the current building over the cost savings, the council needs to know.
“There are a lot of things that need to be looked at,” said Fourth Ward Alderman Walter Schermerhorn. “From a financial standpoint, I don’t see things getting any better in the short term. These low tax increases that we’ve seen the last few years may not continue to happen.” Previous cost estimates showed a savings in maintenance, utilities and other expenses by moving offices to the firehouse.
Carey said options such as grant funding for the repairs at the current city hall building should continue to be investigated.
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