Nazareth Citizens Action Committee Building Proposal

Following the presentation of the Borough Council Committee's Building Proposal, the Business Meeting opened and the floor was given to the Nazareth Citizens Action Committee who presented an alternative building proposal.

Tim Harper noted that the group hired Mark Metzger of Cornerstone Consulting to find a solution that met the needs of Council, the police, and the people that was within budget, not in the park and in the downtown. He stressed that the work to date has cost the group thousands of dollars and raising the money has not been difficult.

John Anderson, who is affiliated with Metzger, noted that the alternative included an expansion of the 2nd floor to gain space and that the Committee presented many issues and they tried to address them.

Metzger stated that the uppler level expansion not only added square footage, but would fix the roof leaks the building has experienced. They resolved the slope floor issue (originally designed in this fashion as it was a fire station) by sloping up in the lobby area and then leveling it off in the office areas of the main floor. An elevator was added and cost was saved by maintaining all load bearing walls. The building was divided into seperate areas for the municipal and police, but the police were on two floors, with their own entrance, and they had two holding cells with a toilet.

The budget came in much lower than $3M at $875,000 and you could still add a 15% contingency and be at or around the $1M budget. The square footage would include 3300 existing first floor, 1900 2nd floor, 1550 in basement, these are all existing now, and an additional 1400 added for 8150 total.

Continue to maintain the existing chambers for council meetings and there would need to be another project for $100,000 for ADA compliance which is not included in this presentation.

Councilman Samus asked where the EMS officer would work.

Metzger noted that the office space as presented would include multiple use space, such as the tax collector or zoning areas, which are currently not offered at 30 Belvidere.

Councilman Herbst asked to distinguish between furniture and equipment, and it was noted that there was a budget for furniture included in the project, but not for equipment (copiers, fax machines etc).

Samus had a question about the roofing.

Metzger noted that they would either strip or cover the existing one to make addition seemless. He also noted that they increased square footage without reducing parking, they fixed the layout of the building and gave it organization and function.

Question period then opened to the public.

• Council removed the break room and evidence room for the police in tonight's presentation, the citizens kept it in. To Council, given everything going on in the world, we really need to look at the budget.
• Tim Harper of the Committee noted we tried to cover all bases, we did talk to Essroc, they had the trolley station (lackawana Freight) and another site that might be feasible, there may also be something to further address parking concerns. We tried to cover all bases. It is realistic. It is within budget.
• What happens during renovation?
• the people would have to move out. they would need to change the process of how they do things (refering to police/holding cells/etc).
• Councilman Herbst - What is the time frame?
• 90 day project in and out with a management firm.
  
• How can you explain the difference in price?
• We are renovating, building a little, but mostly renovating. You typically set your per foot cost, we did a renovation cost.
• Samus - you have no contingency.
• Not in this plan. The refurbish per square foot is $120 compared to $185-200 for building new.
  
• How do we hold you to the cost of $1M? What if it turns out to be $2M?
• Get plans out for pre-bid to verify costs. Management firms will do it for you.
  
• Are you renovating or fixing the building?
• we are renovating, but will fix the roof, mold etc. The 90 days is aggressive and will be slowed if, as anticipated we work closely with the borough throughout as the project progresses.
  
• It can be done. The costs are reasonable quote locally. Most striking is that this accomplishes the goals of saving space, meeting budget, improving safety.
• I believe this plan is doable. I previously worked with a firm that did conceptual budgets and this is very close. Iwould have thought time frame to be about 120 days.
• Samus - what about the west side of the building?
• Didn't do much with it, has a fire escape.
  
• What effect on space during construction?
• Not significant to traffic. We have the parking lot we can use to work from and once inside there is nothing to impact the street.
  
• From the borough's perspective, what is the process now? What happens now?
• Council President Chiavaroli - Since it is new to everyone, let's review them both and come back.
  
• Councilman Davis noted that his committee examined 10 other sites, can we make those plus these available to the public for consideration?
  
• Think this plan is wonderful. Would you be willing to work with the council?
• Metzger - yes.
  
• Council said it couldn't be done, yet met goals - in budget. If you go with other proposal get more taxes than we already have because we borrowed the $1M.
• Mr. Davis you said that property values go up around public buildings. That may be true in blighted area, commercial district, main street, but not in a neighborhood. I understand the borough is exempt from zoning, but the zoning is here for a reason, good reason. You have options, don't go against your own zoning. Give us a win-win, preserve the park and get what you need.
• Councilwoman Werner - looking at plans - zoning, planning, tax offices. When did we decide it was our responsibility (to provide office space)? Always at the home (tax collector). I'm not against it, but as Council we need to determine that.
• Why did Council allow the tax collector to work out of chamber rent free? Never did it before.
• Does the current compensation to tax collector include cost to rent space?
• Did we adjust the compensation because we are giving space and not charging rent?
• Regionalization - some say it will never happen, some it has to happen. If it does and we build Council's plan, go beyond our budget and may not house some of these services any longer.
• Council voted to approve the rent free space for the tax collector. I live across from the high school and I'm told my property value is higher there than anywhere else in town.
• The Council plan is an expansion of government.
• Chiavaroli noted that he wanted solutions to the building problem - and citizens gave him one.
• To the Council Architect, could you clarify the comment that police lost the most in the revision and what "minimalization" means for them (asked by myself)?
• Revised plan provides the minimum to function adequately. Takes from quality not function. There are four spaces for officers, in some areas they each get their own, in others they double up. One holding cell was cut, but have the sully port.
• Respect that the decision is in hands of Council, but when making your choice, do what is right and make sure building we get meets our needs, not that we need to do this again in ten years. What we've done here is minimalized the police area and maximized the administative areas.
  
• Chiavaroli clarified that the decision to provide space for tax collector was partially in response to the challenge of collecting records when had a change of collectors. Same for zoning, as borough functions need to know where everything is and that it is safe and secure. Providing space for them results in centralized records.
• For many years, all I can remember, the tax collector ran own office and had their own rent. Should have announced the change first, before the election, and not after. All tax collectors had their own offices and their own safes, maybe now it depends on who you know.
• Want everyone to have an open mind and work together. I'm impressed that the people have brought a solution. Out of respect for each other, work together with open minds. We all want the right answer.
• I've been studying Nazareth for 7 years as a teacher at Northampton County Community College and I bring students here each year because it is an excellent form of community design. Council suppported main street program, it is the economic strength of town. To take this investment and move it out, it will be a decade to fix. Confidence is shown in our community by staying downtown, the opposite when governments leave. Keep the investment downtown, let it be a centerpiece to launch the Main Street program and revitalize these streets.
  

With this last comment the public comment closed and the meeting began.