Date: Fri 06-Dec-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

office-space-panel-Mooney

Full Text:

Panel Finds Search For More Office Space Is Not Easy

B Y S TEVE B IGHAM

Calling it a much more difficult process than he anticipated, Jim Mooney said

his committee's search to find a future municipal office site in Newtown

continues.

"It's like a ship when you're fighting against the rudder," the selectmen

said.

As chairman of the Municipal Space Needs Advisory Board, Mr Mooney has been

charged with investigating possible sites for the relocation of town

employees.

First Selectman Bob Cascella, realizing a new home had to be found for the

20-plus employees in the deteriorating Town Hall South, as well as those in

Edmond Town Hall, who were cramped for space, created the advisory board last

month.

So far, according to Mr Mooney, the committee has drawn up a list of six

possible ideas for future sites. They include building a municipal complex on

Fairfield Hills property, renovating Edmond Town Hall and Town Hall South to

provide more space, buy the Congregational Church house to the south of Edmond

Town Hall, use Hawley School (another elementary school is expected to be

built in five years), use the Hook & Ladder Volunteer Fire Department's

building, and lease office space from Bee publisher R. Scudder Smith, who has

offered to erect a 25,000-plus-square-foot structure on the former Lovell's

property, just south of Town Hall South.

Gary Fetzer added to the list, suggesting the town look into the massive

Queen's Row office complex building on Mile Hill Road (across from the old

bowling alley).

In addition there are questions about how a move by the offices of first

selectman, town clerk and probate from Edmond Town Hall would affect the

bequest of Newtown benefactress Mary Hawley, who built Edmond Town Hall for

the town and funded its upkeep with a trust fund. The fund, which earns about

$50,000 a year towards town hall maintenance expenses, could be forfeited to

Mary Hawley's main beneficiary, Yale University, if these key offices are

moved in contravention of the provisions of the trust.

Mr Fetzer suggested that the town approach Yale and ask if they would be

willing to give the town a break.

"If we went to Yale, I'm fairly certain it would be reasonable enough to work

with us," he said.

Mr Mooney said the committee has thus far received little public comment. He

noted that the only people to show after three meetings were Bee publisher R.

Scudder Smith and State Rep Julia Wasserman. Mr Fetzer said the low turnout

didn't surprise him.

"What does any average citizen care. I wouldn't expect any public

participation until the question of money comes up," he said. That, the panel

members agreed, could be the most daunting part of their enterprise.

"Does Mary Hawley have any relatives who live in Newtown?" asked Mr Fetzer in

jest. "Maybe she can buy us another building."