Heat and tensions rose at the June 5th Council meeting as plans to create a new Nazareth Government Center were again the primary focus of the public comment and drew an interesting exchange during the meeting.
As noted earlier (from Thursday's workshop regarding the Building Project) and in the public comment on Monday (read comments here) many attending the meeting have opposed at the very least the process/path being taken if not the entire project.
During the Business Meeting Michael Davis proposed to send the plans to the Engineer and Architect and prepare them to be sent out for bid in order for Council to gain a better understanding of the actual costs involved in the project.
The only plan being refined or considered is the one that calls for an addition to the Council Chambers, which would result in the sale of the facility at 30 Belvidere now housing the Police Station and Borough Offices.
Following Davis' proposal questions from Council were allowed.
Herbst questioned if it was worth having someone look at this now, if the amount of money is clearly beyond what able to pay and had budgeted to do with the bond issue.
Dan Chiavaroli questioned in light of the cost if this was the right time to have the architect work on this project or if it should only be the engineer.
Davis acknowledged you could put it in the hands of engineer without the architect.
Kopach questioned how you could move forward when people were against it and don't even have the costs spent to date.
Davis said Council was given a guestimation and now they wanted to get something more solid.
Kopach asked the audience how many individuals wanted to build a new building on this site? Not one hand of the roughly 30 in attendance rose their hand. He then asked how many felt it should stay where it is and three quarters or more rose. He noted to Council, don't go against what the people want. You've given no reason why we need it here, don't know the costs, and the people don't want it.
Chiavaroli noted they weren't going behind people's backs, the numbers are very high, but need plans in order to get costs and have options. He recommended again using engineer but not the architect.
Bowers noted you need the architect and the engineer.
A vote was taken and Herbst and Kovach voted no, while all others in attendance voted yes. Councilperson Werner was absent.
The thirty people who attended the Meeting were opposed to the 10,000 square foot addition for a variety of reasons. Some lived nearby and were concerned that their residential area and park was being converted into a public governement building and the impact it would have on their neighborhood. Others were focused on the cost, both to build and maintain a new facility of the size and scope being proposed. And yet others were interested in seeing this development take place in the downtown/Main Street area where it would serve as an anchor around which other business would develop.
It is my personal belief that the frustration on both sides is the result of the path taken by Council to pursue one option, while not considering renovation of the existing site or renovation of another building in a non-residential area.
If Council has considered these options and found the current project to be the only viable one, this information should be shared with the people so they can better understand how we got to where we are. Any time people feel information is being withheld or something is being forced upon them they are going to push back. Once they do lines become drawn and the process becomes significantly more difficult and disruptive.
What do you think? I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on the process, the project, the options, the cost, and what alternatives you may have.
3 comments:
I’m hearing and read why lots of folks want or don’t want this new building. I’m not hearing from the folks that will be using or needing this building. Where is the police chief or building administrators during this debate???
The reason you are not hearing directly from the people who will be using the building, is that they do not have any real data on actual need. They have repeatly ignored questions to give proof for the need of this space. The only answer we had to that question was that the mayor was embarassed when he would have visitors from outside the community come to his office.
This is a project that is being pushed be a select group of councilmen and the mayor. We were told a the workshop meeting that they want to give Nazareth residents a building that we could be proud of. I do not need a building to be proud of, I am proud of that field!!!
This project is a "want" project, not one of "need". Stop spending my money for things that are not necessary and focus on some good improvements and maintenance on buildings we already have. Old buildings can be just as useful as new ones, and they have much more character. Lets use common sense and creativity to get the job done.
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