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.