Date: Fri 20-Sep-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

Town-Hall-South-Cascella

Full Text:

Search Continues For New Home For Town Hall South Offices

The snow, sleet and ice of winter is just around the corner and First

Selectman Bob Cascella knows he is working against the clock to get his

employees out of decaying Town Hall South - at least temporarily.

The Main Street building has fallen victim to leaks and floods in recent years

and since last winter, has become all but uninhabitable.

"We've got to get these people into an adequate, safe working environment,

then think of a permanent solution to the problem," he said this week. "It's

now the middle of September. The snow will start falling soon, and I don't

want to get jammed. I don't want to do that to the employees."

The first selectman said he plans to have the lower part of Town Hall South

vacated before the leaking and flooding start up again.

Mr Cascella had an $840,000 plan to renovate the building, but it went down

hard at a referendum in August. Since then he has been compiling information

on sites to move the staff for about 18 months. Fairfield Hills Hospital

remains the best alternative, according to Mr Cascella, because it could

become a permanent site for the town offices. He is awaiting word from the

state as to which building would be available to the town.

The first selectman said other possibilities include renting local office

space or setting up portables, an option he's hoping to avoid.

Mr Cascella, who says the temporary move will cost the town money, expects to

know more about the town's direction in the coming weeks as he meets with the

Legislative Council's planning committee members Joe Borst and Winthrop

Ballard.