Date: Fri 09-Jan-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

selectmen-office-space

Full Text:

Selectmen Create A New Panel To Study Office Space Needs

BY STEVE BIGHAM

The Board of Selectmen voted Monday to create a new committee to study the

town's continuing need for office space.

This is the second such board to be charged with finding a solution to the

town's space woes. The original space needs board, chaired by former selectman

Jim Mooney, wrapped up its work nearly a year ago. However, the new

administration of First Selectman Herb Rosenthal wants to expand its search

for a new home for some town offices. Time is running out, however.

"Clearly we need to get on with this effort," said Selectman Joe Bojnowski.

"ASAP," added Bill Brimmer, who will chair the newly formed board.

Last February, some town employees were moved to Canaan House at Fairfield

Hills after they were forced out of a flooded/deteriorated Town Hall South.

One year remains on the town's lease with the state.

More than a year ago, former first selectman Bob Cascella formed the first

space needs committee, which completed its task in January 1997. After three

months of work, Mr Mooney's board made several observations and general

suggestions. Members agreed that future options for additional space should

include: either adding on to Edmond Town Hall, renovating Town Hall South or

using Watertown Hall.

Mr Mooney spoke at Monday's meeting, saying his panel never took a strong

position on Watertown Hall, but that it was just one of the four options. He

also took exception to recent comments made by Mr Rosenthal, who claimed Mr

Mooney's space needs report was incomplete and that certain town department

heads were not contacted in regard to their own space needs.

"The job of our committee was not to go out and interview everyone and to get

all the specifics. That will be the job of the firm hired to do the study," Mr

Mooney said.

Mr Mooney urged the selectmen to have "foresight in planning for the long-term

now."

Mr Mooney's board also recommended that a professional study be conducted to

determine the proper spatial relationships between departments and to

determine the necessary square footage to meet the town's future needs.

An architectural firm was nearly hired late last year at the end of former

First Selectman Bob Cascella's term of office. However, that firm, Antinozzi

Associates of Stratford, was scratched at the last minute because of the

firm's faulty study for the state ten years earlier, which many believe led

the state to place the Garner Correctional Facility in Newtown.

The main job of Mr Brimmer's board will be to find another firm.