Let’s Vote On The

Fate Of Bridgeport Hall

To the Editor:

Is renovating Bridgeport Hall and turning it into a new town hall the best solution for solving the space needs of Edmond Town Hall? Probably not. There are so many other better options that have been mentioned here in The Bee. Will $10 million even be enough to renovate Bridgeport Hall into a viable, working town hall? Probably not. How much more money will be needed? Who knows? Will this become an endless money pit? Most likely.

Those who have renovated an old house would certainly agree. In August 1979, the voters of Newtown authorized $600,000 at a referendum to renovate the old Ruwet-Sibley building on Main Street and turn it into the current police station. We all know the vast amount of problems (mold, fungus, water, roof, crumbling parking deck, to name a few) and the ever-streaming amount of money that has gone into that project. Are we destined to repeat that mistake of the past? Gee, I hope not.

As chairperson of The Friends of the Library Book Sale for the five years that it was held in Bridgeport Hall, I became more acquainted with Bridgeport Hall (and its problems) than I probably would have liked. The hall also has its share of mold, fungus, roof and water problems on top of antiquated plumbing and electrical systems. (Sounds familiar, doesn’t it?) I believe that it is totally unsuitable for town hall space. With its very high ceilings and open, unobstructed floor space, the hall probably would be more suitable for some other use. To chop it up into small offices makes no sense whatsoever. The beauty and integrity of Bridgeport Hall should be maintained, if it is used at all. But that’s another question altogether.

I and many other people would like an opportunity to vote on this issue: Should we convert Bridgeport Hall into a new town hall? This certainly is a very important question for us all. Newtown will be voting on its budget soon. Can we put this question to the voters on that ballot? After all, it is our money! Let’s not repeat the mistakes of the past.

Joanne E. Zang

2 Camelot Crest, Sandy Hook                                February 20, 2007