The Public Comment period opened at 7:00 p.m.with about 25 people in attendance in addition to those from council and the borough.
Public Comments:
Missed an opportunity on the 70th Anniversary of the Nazareth Borough Park on three levels, Main Street Initiative, Cultural, and Historical.
Question if the Mayor was in his office between 9 and 5 on most days or if it is advisable to call ahead for an appointment. When mayor keller noted it is a part-time position and that it was best to call, it was stated that it seemed like many of the offices in the new government center proposal were occupied on a part time basis.
It was noted that the newspaper reported there were concerns regarding the feasibility of the plan presented by the Citizen's committee, but no such comments were relayed to them. Tim Harper of the committee handed out some papers to the council. He noted it was a concept plan and the fuction would be refined. He requested that the Borough's architect work with the firm if the Council chose that direction. He noted in response to comments criticizing the plan that there were no differentials on walls, solid, roof will be redone and the building may be on bedrock as a nearby property is. The original cost has increased due to structural changes, roof, etc. and is now anticipated to be 1.054,000 and if prevailing wage were used it would be 1.23 million. There are two approaches one is to bid it out at prevailing wage, the time frame tends to be extended or to use a management firm and in that case you sell it to them, they fix the building without restrictions of government, and you then lease back with option to own. It would take between 90 and 120 days and the borough workers would be relocated during that period of time.
Argument that the management firm would be skirting the law. Borough solicitor stated it would be more than skirting the law.
I want the board to know that we have an architect here to answer questions, we're still here because we don't want it on this site. To put myself in your shoes, I'm sure you feel its the best thing to do. We feel and your constituency feels very strongly it shouldn't be built here.
Councilman Herbst - Have you done other municipalities?
Architect Metzgar - we did lopatcon and harmony.
Did you use a management firm?
No.
Have you done work in PA?
Yes.
Councilman Samus - question regarding the grade of the building.
Metzger - there will be a grade differential with elevator assembly in break between the building can stop at any point. There are things to be worked out now to the final plan. There is enough area, we need to work the bugs out.
Councilwoman Werner - The whole time this is taking place the solicitor and engineer are talking. How could you answer if you are talking and not listening?
Engineer Keller - we weren't given any materials.
Metzger - work with a lot of people, try to save them money, no crime in saving taxpayers money. You can go prevailing wage, it will put you over budget. Still cost less than the other proposal and it won't be in the park.
Councilman Matz - Is the misc. figure in the budget?
Metzger - there is no contingency figure. 10% over, general conditions are added, put 10% more for contingency if you want.
Councilwoman Werner - Regarding skirting the law, it's not illegal, isn't it good business?
Seems there is little response from council, will the committee give a report? What's next?
Councilman Davis - we were told to do research, give recommendations. We made our recommendation and its up to Council.
Thought you were taking both proposals back to the committee?
Council President Chiavaroli - the committee believes its work is done.
Councilman Bowers - We weren't asked to go back on it.
The numbers given were generous, we knew you wouldn't believe them. We don't want the police thinking they won't be able to work well there. But we live by our means and we felt we were doing everything we could to live within our means for this proposal.
Phase 2, Option 2, In January 2006 approved 600,000 for chamber and 400,000 police (30 Belvidere). Matz made motion and approved unanimous vote. Came back with a a plan 3x the budget. Is it legal?
Solicitor Pierce - public discussion is saying and thinking, so far that is all that has been done.
How can the committee come back with one option?
Councilmen Samus, Bowers, and Stoudt - we gave a proposal.
Council President Chiavarolli - they made a proposal, must vote on that proposal.
Should be given an option. Feel very strongly to keep it in business district. In the last few hours a bank was robbed. Things can happen. But out of sight is often out of mind. Moving the police to this location will make them even less of a deterent.
I'm confused about one thing, Mr. Davis said committee is finished. Yet you did have another option from your architects, so what are they voting on? In newsletter said considering options. What are we being presented with? 1st plan? 2nd plan?
Councilman Bowers - wait for the committee recommendation.
Brought up the fact a month or so ago that say 10,000, come back to 5,000 and say you won. That's what you did. Are we saying a 40% mistake was made with first set of plans?
Councilman Davis: No one made a mistake. Nine or ten options reviewing over one and a half years. We responded to what the people were saying.
Thought we were getting what we needed in the first plan, not putting everything we wanted in it.
Council President Chiavaroli - tryting to meet what people said. I sense we are trying to get closer to what people want.
It's public funds, 1st plans should have been what needed, not 40% more than what we needed.
Mr. Davis said work is done. Mr. Bowers said ready to mae a recomendation. Mr. Pierce said thinking out loud. Mr. Davis considered nine or ten plans and responding to public concerns. Point I want to make is it is impossible for a committee to meet the needs of the people when don't meet with them. It is a violation of the PA State Sunshine Law.
If recommendations have been made, must be 1st proposal.
Council President Chiavaroli - if noting occurs to give direction I will assign it to a committee.
If move forward on this site our public will feel you didn't listen.
Any infringement on the ball field is a violation of trust. Borough made a committment to this space.
What is the recommendation?
Councilman Davis - I have no answer.
Council President Chiavaroli - See where the discussion goes. There was a presentation, not neccessarily a recommendation.
So there is no vote tonight to build?
Councilman Bowers - There is a proposal other than adding a bathroom, there is no motion.
It was voted on 9-0 for group to meet two budgets, went out, came back, significantly over budget. If didn't meet their responsibility, how can their job be done? Second, are you all going to be here to help pay for it with us over the next 20 to 30 years?
Solicitor Pierce - read legal statment regarding the earlier question on skirting the law indicating severe penalties.
Why are you so particular with this issue of skirting the law, while you ignore the sunshine law?
Councilman Kopach - how'd we come up with 10,00 sq. ft.? Did the architect get direction from the committee to make it that big?
Engineer Keller - Spoke iwth all parties and got their needs.
Councilman Samus - the lower level dictatses upper level, so space eliminate came from both.
Councilman Kopach - why not get good cost first time around. Then had to redo the workm must have cost money, anyone know how much?
Councilman Davis - Function precedes form. What do you want in building? Go from there. Like a school, you have the architect look at specs, requirements, then talk to people get information. We were uncomfortable with form, we went back to him.
Has council considered the recommendations made at last meeting? Have any of you talked about it?
Councilman Samus - I reviewed it, didn't talk to anyone.
Anyone? Has anyone talked to anyone about these plans? Its been a month. Anyone?
Councilman Bowers - What part of no don't you understand?
Don't you think...
Councilman Bowers - May I finish...
Regardless of anyone's interpretation of the sunshine law, if you had made these meetings public, you wouldn't have these questions. But because you don't announce them they have to be asked.
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