Public hearing on Bond Ordinance for Eckersley Hall
Eckersley Hall, originally built as a public school, was purchased from the city by St. Sebastian's Church for use as a school. The City purchased the school back from the church this spring, for use as a Senior Center and for Municipal Offices.
The conceptual design submitted to the city by the architects Quisenberry Acari came with a very preliminary estimate that the total cost would be $1.7M. Tonight's hearing is on a $750,000 bond to cover part of the cost of renovations.
Councilman, and Mayoral candidate, Dan Drew was opposed last fall to the purchase of Eckersley Hall, saying the total cost for renovations was not clear and expressing concern that the reallocation of grant money would deprive other city organizations of funding. Drew told The Eye that since the city now owns the building, he fully supports the $750,000 bond issuance.
Klattenberg said the total cost of the renovations could not be known until the design of the space is finalized, and until then it did not make sense to bond the total cost, "The final number might be higher or lower."
Klattenberg and Drew each said that once the total cost was clear, the Council would likely consider a second bond.
Any bonds greater than $750,000 must be approved by voters in a city-wide referendum, according to the City Charter.
Some of the previous coverage on the Council's decision to purchase Eckersley Hall:
Council Hears Plan For Senior Center at Eckersley Hall
•Buying St. Sebastians School Could Cut Aid To Those in Need (commentary by Dan Drew)
•Council Approves Purchase of St. Sebastian's School
•Planning and Zoning Approves Purchase
Senior Center Grant Sent Back to Committee
5 comments:
This is a great way to dupe the voters and taxpayers. Anything over $750,000 needs to be decided by the voters. Isn't this deceptive to divide the payments in two parts to avoid letting the voters decide if they want to spend that kind of money? Dan Drew wants to be open and honest, but I guess only with the Board of Ed. He disrespects the seniors by saying they are not human beings, he takes the grant money away from this project and now says that because he's not sure what it's going to cost for the building project we should spend just under the threshold for a referendum and then do it again when the true costs are in. I say get the true costs and let the public decide. No smoke and mirrors Dan. Let's see if he's the Mayor if this project even happens. He's been against it from the start!
Seriously, the city is planning on spending 1.7 million on this without going to referendum? VEDRY questionable. Anybody else see something wrong withthis? And, they fired an experienced architect who knew what he was doing because the building committee did not like the truth. In the end this will be Middletown's albatross.
Go to the Bond Hearing and participate in your city government.
The school is a beautiful old building with some historic significance. The city's purchase of the building perhaps saved it from misuse or distruction. It saves the building and gives us a beautiful building put to a good use.
Let us give each other space for deliberating and publicly questioning the actions and activities of our city government and representatives. Let us listen to and reflect on their words as we each determine our own position.
Let us refrain from attributing to their public comments suggestions of intent or derision that are speculative and probably untrue.
Let us not be vindictive. Let's try to be rational, respectful, and cooperative with each other.
Go to common council meetings, express your views respectfully and rationally. Participate in your city government with respect and intelligence.
Sounds a little Pelosi-ish, doesn't it? "Once the bill is passed you can find out what's in it..."
To Anonymous at 7:09am..... must not be awake as Dan Drew has NEVER said that "seniors are not human beings". Shame on you if you are awake... lying is not nice.
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