The meeting opened with a pair of resolutions by Mayor Keller recognizing PIAA State Silver Medalist in swimming, Tim DeMarco, and the PIAA Wrestling Champion Nazareth Blue Eagles, who placed eight in the individual tournament, including now two-time champion Tim Darling.
DeMarco was accompanied by coach Gary Trigiani, and the wrestlers by coach Dave Crowell.
Public comment began thereafter and was cut-off at 8:15 p.m. so the meeting could begin.
Comments from the audience included:
- Baseball and Softball teams should be considered for recognition given their winning District XI Championships this season (they also both won first round of state playoffs in huge offensive performances today).
- Encouragement that no matter what is done regarding the building, that accoustics are taken into consideration. The ability to hear is very challenging in the current hall especially when the air conditioner is running.
- Question as to whether or not the tree to the south of existing chambers would be removed if option 2 was exercised.
- Question regarding the ability of the Council to properly maintain properties. While current police building may be a case of "planned obsolescense" the Chamber has spots on the roof. If they can't care for what they have, how can we trust they'll take care of anything new?
- One complaint of 30 Belvidere (current police building) is the fact that a bathroom is shared for those in holding and staff, yet new plan doesn't appear to correct it.
- What is the cost to date for plans that were drawn? Answered that it was $100.00 per hour, but don't know the number of hours.
- Hope the Committee will be practical in its vision.
- Remind council that Nazareth is landlocked community with many retirees and fixed income is a reality.
- Building addition will degrade beauty of the land and natural historic integrity of area.
- The dairy building across from the fire station is not fully utilized and could serve as a good location.
- Encourage more public meetings before moving forward.
- Question regarding the cost of zoning today vs. two years ago - answer was 10,000 vs. 14,000, equated to three and two years ago.
- Question regarding the hours of operation for the zoning office.
- June 6 the dumpster ordinance goes into effect, $180.00 per day fine for those not in compliance. Chief Ruch noted its on his list for tonights meeting.
- If planning and zoning is subcontracted why does the new plan have office space allocated for it?
- Suggestion to put plans up for bid only after scaling them down.
- How can 30 Belvidere be sold if it isn't fit for workers?
- Need to keep project within our means and to date there's been no explanation of why this is needed.
- Skateboarders are excited about the opportunity to have a place at the park.
- Question regarding the rules of decorum of board members during meetings.
- Since Chamber was build environmental laws have changed quite a bit. Have studies been done to ensure don't get unknown costs? The area was filled in during late 40s, laws changed since then and we need to be compliant now. Be sure a comprehensive study is done before proceeding.
- Is it a foregone conclusion that 30 Belvidere is unusable? Answer - No.
- Can you let contractors have a look? Save some money and renovate.
- What happens to the surrounding property value when you plow the park and put a 10,000 square foot municipal building in?
- If a skatepark will give kids a place to go other than infront of my home, I'll chip in with other local businesses to help make it happen.
- ALot of us would rather have residential, rather than governmental buildings next door. Its our neighborhood and you should remember, we don't work for you, you work for us.
- It is important for the neighborhood to preserve green space. If 50 buildings are vacant at any given time in town, utilize existing ones.
- Mainstreet program, which Council has given lip-service to, show your support by staying in downtown. Lead others by giving your support not abandoning it.
- If this building (Chambers) wasn't located here, would you be considering it?
- A few years back talking about 4-5,000. Now its 10,000 square feet. Ongoing maintenance, additional heat, a/c, everything will cost more and yes, the property value for two surrounding blocks will go down. Once you build this you can't take it back. Don't think you're coming away with a victory if this project is scaled back to 5,000. You still lose.
- Don't like the Borough walking out of downtown. Maybe 30 Belvidere isn't ideal, but somewhere downtown must be good. Figure out what you really need.
- Thought you were working with Main Street and Downtown improvement and this, where we are now, is not downtown.
- The junior high was called unfit for children, it was turned into 54 apartment units, don't believe 30 Belvidere can't be fixed.
- In the end, you have not proven a need for this space, this enormous building. It is not needed.
No comments:
Post a Comment