Crane Hoists Roof Panels Into Place At Town Hall South

By Andrew Gorosko

Workers on Wednesday used a towering hydraulic crane at Town Hall South to hoist into place massive concrete slabs that will serve as roof panels for a building expansion project underway there.

Slowly and methodically, the crane operator lifted the broad concrete slabs off a flatbed truck, swung them above the steel framework of the building expansion area, and then carefully lowered them into place.

The 3,200-square-foot addition to the southern end of Town Hall South will be used for the storage of town voting machines and also as a vehicle impoundment area by town police. The project is slated for completion by Labor Day. The construction project will cost the town approximately $300,000.

The building addition will have storm drainage installed to divert flowing water away from the structure. The stormwater will be channeled to a wetland lying west of the building.

The area to be used for voting machine storage will be enclosed, heated, and supplied with electricity. The area to be used for vehicle storage will be open to the elements.

One-third of the new area will be voting machine storage space, with the remaining two-thirds of area to be used for the vehicle impoundment.

The area where the expansion project is underway formerly held a parking deck.

Hawley Construction Corporation is building the addition.

The town bought the building at 3 Main Street, which is now known as Town Hall South, about 25 years ago from an agricultural equipment dealer. The upper level of the building holds the police station. The lower level contains the town’s social services department, the parks and recreation department, and the borough government’s office.