Joint village-town structure suggested

Riga Town Council members may head back to the drawing board after a proposal to build a new $1.9 million municipal building adjacent to the existing town highway garage on East Buffalo Street drew criticism from residents at a public information meeting March 13.

Town Council member Robert Ottley told the crowd that the meeting was originally scheduled to show residents solid plans for a town hall. However, he said, "As we got closer to this date I got more uncomfortable with this site," and the meeting evolved into more of a public input session. "We have gotten some great input," he said. "That’s what we wanted to hear."

Many residents expressed concern that a plan to build a joint municipal building with the Village of Churchville, on village property on East Buffalo Street next to Black Creek, was abandoned.

"As a resident of the town, I wish you had explored more cooperation with the village," said Donald Jones, 3100 Griffin Road. "You have a duplication of efforts here that’s costing taxpayers a lot of money."

Ottley and council member Peter Brundage have spent more than two years planning a new town hall. Ottley said the need for a larger court, with separate spaces for prisoners, has driven the search. Brundage said the town has saved money carefully, and, depending on when building starts, may not need to go out for bond.

The committee examined four sites for the new building:
•A joint town/village municipal building, the town’s square-footage would have been 8,228, its share of the cost, $1,662,211, equaling $202 per square foot.
•Renovating the Masonic Lodge, 12 South Main Street, 4,600 square feet, $677,850, $147 per square foot.
•Building on town property on South Sanford Road, 6,000 square feet, $862,805, $144 per square foot.
•Adding on to the highway garage, 21,000 square feet (which includes a 7,000 square-foot usable basement), $1,960,080, $93 per square foot.

The Masonic Lodge plan would not yield enough space, according to Ottley. The town originally purchased the property on Sanford Road with the idea of building a town hall or court there, along with the new park and playing fields. Drawbacks there include: no sewers, no sidewalks, no existing parking lots or lighting, and its distance from the village, Ottley said. He said the committee originally wanted to stay in the village, close to shopping and the post office.

Ottley said the plan for the joint municipal building became too costly. "Every step we took we got a little bit deeper in the cost," Ottley said. Town and village officials discovered poor subsoil conditions at the site that would need to be excavated, and refilled, to support the proposed two-story, 13,000 square-foot building. "We knew our costs were going out of sight," he said.

Another concern was the size of the lot, he said. "The joint facility would get us 20 years of use, but maybe not 30 if we had a lot of growth," Ottley said. "I was a strong proponent of the (joint building)," Ottley said. "But when you run the dollars you can’t justify it."

One resident said he wondered whether the town had considered all of the ongoing costs - heating, lighting, and maintaining parking lots and grounds at two separate buildings - that getting under one roof would eliminate.

When asked if town council members would still consider alternative sites, Ottley said they would - including re-opening discussions with the village officials. "We would be happy to consider alternate sites," he said.

Village Trustee Nancy Steedman, who was in the audience, told Ottley, "I agree with you … the village and town should be doing something together. I don’t know our constraints, but maybe it’s something we should look at some more."

"I agree. Do it together," said Town Clerk Jean Ott.

Churchville Mayor Donald R. Ehrmentraut, in a telephone interview Thursday, said he would not want to close the door on any possibilities. "I definitely feel strongly that, yes, a joint building would benefit the community," he said.

However, he said, "We went through the process and the conclusion was that it would not work. As a resident, and as the mayor, I am saddened by the fact we could not move forward with the project."

The soil problems delayed construction of the new one-story, 4,700 square-foot Village Hall. It had to be moved slightly to the west to the spot where a wood house was demolished several years ago. An existing structure will be torn down.

"The issues that delayed construction have been taken care of and we are ready to dig," said Ehrmentraut. He said if there is any possibility of reconsidering a joint building, time would be of the essence. "We have moved forward and put a lot of time, money and energy into our own plan," he said.

Other concerns raised by the more than 20 residents at the meeting included the emptying storefronts on Main Street. "The village is moving over (to East Buffalo Street), the town is moving over there, and what is happening here?" asked Douglas Steward, Bangs Road. "You have abandoned the center of the village."

"That is something we were very concerned about," said Brundage. "We worked a solid year on getting something in the village." Ottley said a lack of parking in the village, especially on court nights, concerned village officials.

"You could look at it like the glass is half full," said Riga Supervisor Tim Rowe. "There will be empty storefronts for businesses to move into."

Residents, town employees, and officials all voiced concern that building onto the existing highway garage eliminates the possibility of expanding the garage should the need arise. Several residents suggested tearing down a barn located on the front of the property near Route 33, and building a free-standing town hall in its place.

"I see no immediate need, or in 20 years, for increasing the highway garage," said Rowe. He said the town is not experiencing much growth. Ottley agreed, saying, "We’d have to have an awful lot of development to necessitate expanding the garage."

Henry Aradine, East Buffalo Street, suggested town officials consider the large vacant lot on East Buffalo Street to the east of the Taylor Farms subdivision. Other site suggestions included reconsidering the South Sanford Road site, and a vacant lot on North Sanford Road next to the Rochester Auto Collection.

Steve Gulvin, Shelter Cove, urged the town board to consider other sites and find one big enough to accommodate future growth. "I know there are costs involved (with land acquisition) but this proposal is almost like a Band-Aid®," Gulvin said. "Maybe this would be worth more to taxpayers to have it done right up front."

"We will start looking at all options again," Ottley said. Rowe agreed, saying the town council will consider all input, and will hold more information meetings. "I want this facility to be something that our grandchildren are going to be using," he said.