Date: Fri 05-Feb-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

Alexandria-Room-kitchen

Full Text:

The Town Kitchen Where No One Cooks

BY STEVE BIGHAM

It has been 16 years since a meal was cooked in the Alexandria Room's kitchen

at Edmond Town Hall. All cooking, frying, baking and boiling was halted in

1983 after an inspection revealed the facility did not have the proper fire

prevention mechanisms.

Once a year, the town fire marshal's office does allow the Rotary Club to put

on a pancake breakfast using a portable stove outside the kitchen. However,

the absence of a hood over the existing stove has made it a cook-free kitchen.

"The code states that if you have an appliance that has grease-laden vapors,

you need a hood," said Bill Halstead, an assistant fire marshal.

As Mr Halstead explained, if a stove fire ever started, a hood would force the

flames upward rather than spread throughout the kitchen. A hood also serves as

an exhaust system and filters out grease. All restaurants and delis are

required to have hoods above their cooking areas.

Last year, the Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire Company installed a large hood in the

kitchen of its firehouse on Riverside Road for $15,000.

According to building manager Tom Mahoney, the Town Hall Board of Managers has

been aware of the kitchen's shortcomings. It has simply been a question of

money -- or the lack of it. "That's the bottom line," he said.

Those who rent the Alexandria Room usually get around the no-cooking rule by

simply having their events catered. The Board of Managers also hopes to

install a new stove to replace the 40-year-old existing one. The kitchen also

needs a freezer.

The town's municipal space needs committee is currently considering ways to

increase town office space. One option would be an addition to Edmond Town

Hall, while the other calls for the construction of an entirely new facility.

Either way, the board has said it will address the "deferred maintenance"

needs at Edmond Town Hall. Kitchen upgrades are expected to be part of that.

The Alexandria Room serves parties up to 100 people. It can be rented out at a

cost of $175 for four hours.