Date: Fri 10-Jan-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

office-space-Edmond-Town-Hall

Full Text:

Panel Concludes Administrative Offices Should Remain On Main Street

B Y S TEVE B IGHAM

It appears the seat of government in Newtown will remain on Main Street. That

would put a smile on the face of Newtown's benefactress Mary Hawley.

The Municipal Space Needs Advisory Committee was back at work Tuesday night,

assessing how best to meeting the town's need for office space in the future.

Instead of brainstorming for ideas, which the panel has done at previous

meetings, the committee decided to assert some preliminary guiding principals

that should guide its work from here on out.

First and foremost, the committee concluded that administrative offices of the

first selectman, town clerk, finance department, tax assesor and tax collector

remain at Edmond Town Hall. The seat of Newtown's government should stay on

Main Street, the panel members agreed.

"Newtown, the flagpole, Edmond Town Hall, it all goes together," said

committee member Jack Rosenthal.

Also, members are in favor of pursuing an agreement with the state that would

allow Watertown Hall on the campus of Fairfield Hills to house those offices

currently located in the deteriorating Town Hall South and some offices from

Edmond Town Hall. They will also suggest the police department remain at Town

Hall South.

The committee has not ruled out the possibility of leasing space from Bee

publisher R. Scudder Smith, who has proposed a 26,000-square-foot building for

town office at the corner of Route 302 and Main Street, though members are

split on the idea.

Mr Rosenthal said he's not crazy about the idea of leasing office space. "I

don't think municipalities should be renting from here to eternity," he said.

Ron Bolmer agreed, saying he's not in favor of renting from a private

individual.

However, Jim Mooney, Carole Ross and Joe Mahoney all felt Mr Smith's offering

remains a viable option, saying it provides the town with some flexibility in

making its decision.

The committee must file a final report with the Board of Selectmen January 27.

Mr Mooney, the committee chairman, will write a draft of the committee's final

report to be discussed at its final meeting January 21.

Scratched Tuesday from the committee's list of possible options for future

town hall sites were Hawley School, the Newtown Hook & Ladder building and the

Congregational church house.

The search committee visited Watertown Hall recently and was reportedly

pleased with what it saw. Building Inspector Al Brinley also inspected the

building and said, structurally, it could accommodate town offices, though at

high renovation and roof replacement costs, not to mention about $80,000 in

asbestos removal costs.

The 26,000-square-foot building lies to the north of the campus away from

other buildings. Watertown Hall was built in 1950, long after most other

structures on the campus went up. It has its own heating and would be big

enough to house all of the non-police offices in Town Hall South, some of the

offices currently in Edmond Town Hall, and possibly the Board of Education.

"I'm impressed with the potential of the building," said Mr Mooney.

"I think it's a building we should get for the town whether we use it now or

later," Mr Mahoney added.

Though the committee has received suggestions to keep all of Newtown's

government on Main Street for so called one-stop shopping, members agreed that

it no longer appears feasible to do so.

Of course, as Mr Rosenthal pointed out, Hartford has not officially stated if

it is willing to sell individual buildings at the former state mental

hospital. However, State Rep Julia Wasserman is optimistic, saying the planned

bypass road will run behind Watertown Hall, separating it from all other

buildings.

As for adding on to Edmond Town Hall, if necessary, Board of Town Hall

Managers Chairman Edgar Beers, who was present at the meeting, said his board

would consider the idea. Mr Rosenthal had suggested creating more space in the

building by adding a second floor in the gymnasium, ending its use as a gym.

Currently, the gym brings in $30-35,000 in revenue per year.

Adding on to the north side of the building would provide an additional 1,400

square feet, Mr Beers said.

"You can add on anywhere as long as you don't touch the front of the

building," he said.

Mr Mooney said he'd also like to recommend that the town hire a professional

engineer or architect to do an in-depth space needs study.

"In some ways, I really feel we've put the cart before the horse, here," he

said, referring to the committee's charge of finding space when still unclear

how much space is needed.