HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Info Presentation 12/05Public Information Meeting
December I5th, 2005
Southold Town Hall:
The long road we've traveled and
the journey that still lies ahead
x64o
Southold Town is the oldest
English speaking settlement in
the State of New York
40 years of ideas, research, proposals
~ public referenda
A Town Hall houses the heart o£ Town
Government, serves as a meeting place
for the
pubhc, is the place where
decisions that shape, preserve and
protect the quality o£ life for all town
residents are made.
Currently the heart of Town Government operates
in two facilities. While this alleviates to a small
degree, the overcrowding in Town Hall, it is a
highly dysfunctional way to operate a government.
It is a known fact that productivity is enhanced
when employees are housed in healthy, efficiently
laid out workspaces.
A well thought out, constructed and respectable
facility is essential to providing public services,
meeting the ever changing needs and rapidly
increasing governmental expectations of
constituents.
A chronological review of steps taken
and not taken to provide a functional
Town Hall campus
· This review dates back only to
~966
1966
New Town Hall Idea
Honorable Supervisor Lester Albertson
· Proposal to purchase 28.7~ acres on the north side of
Lower Road and west side of Ackerly Pond Lane,
Southold.
· It was proposed to build a new. Town Hall which
would allow for future relocatton of other town
departments such as the police, highway,
recreation, senior citizens, etc. to create one central
town compound.
* Plans for the town hall construction were
drawn up by the architectural firm of
Francisco and Jacobus
.
· The cost of the property was $57,ooo.
Agreements were drafted for property
acquisition.
· The cost of the building and land all
inclusive of construction costs, professional
fees, landscaping, furnishings and irrigation
was estimated at $x,3oo,ooo.
tmnnities in America. ~}n. t,/~¢n ,,[ St,u~i,oM has oat~rown ~ts facilities. As
~[n athlition ~o its central location overh~oklng a park, a~d i~ ac
the rec(,mmended propert}' has thc adYantaae of being ,nffieic~tl
Maybe next time
The proposal was put up for a
public referendum
2,684 ballots were cast
Proposition lost by ~,o62 votes.
Onward and Upward
1967
Another referendum for a new
town hall proposal.
Proposal Voted Down
x973&x974
Honorable Supervisor Albert Martocchia
· ~973 ' Supervisor Martocchia was authorized
to enter into an agreement to purchase aa
acres at Route aT(now Rt.48), Southold
owned by the Donohue family at a cost of
$92,000.
· The estimated cost of the town hall
construction was $834,5oo.
· The total cost was $926,500.
A bond was authorized and set for
public referendum
· A Special Election was held on
March 5, ~974.
· A total of 2989 ballots were cast
· Proposition lost by 369 votes.
1974
· ~974' The Town Hall Citizens
Committee recommended that the
Town Board acquire the site offered by
the Village of Greenport located on the
west side of Moore's Lane, Greenport.
A bond was authorized.
September 974
Special Election was held on the
Greenport, M oores Lane site
· A total of 4,303 ballots were cast
Proposition lost by ~,o92 votes.
Strike 4
New Idea.......Old School
· x975 ' The Town of Southold entered into an
agreement to purchase the Peconic Lane
School from the Southold School District.
· However, it was not ratified and approved
by the qualified voters of the school district.
x2/9/75 minutes of Town Board
meeting show that due to the
unfavorable vote for a new town
hall at Peconic, an attempt to
provide additional temporary space
was made. The town attorney and
building inspector drafted
specifications for a large office
trailer to be located at the town hall
site in Southold. This was done.
1976
· In January I976 the Town Board
authorized Supervisor Martocchia
to enter into a contract with
Wiedersum Associates Architects.
· April 6, I976 advertised for bids to
build a new Town Hall (Western
Portion)
1977
East Wing
November ~977 -Town Board entered into a
contract with Greenman Pedersen to
construct the east wing of Town Hall. This
involved removing the old Town Hall
building which is now located on Traveler
Street, constructing the addition and
connecting it with a walkway.
1978
Town Hall as it exists today was
occupied and dedicated.
1987
Honorable Supervisor Frank Murphy
· After ~o years of rest, Town Hall space needs
are an issue again.
· Town Board authorizes appraisal of Sisu
Development's property (North and
Adjacent to Town Hall Property)
· Held a public hearing under the Eminent
Domain Procedure Law. Hearing closed,
proceeding did not move forward.
1988
Town Board held discussions regarding
adding a two story addition on the back
of town hall. This was not done.
I989
Town Board authorized the preparation of
plans and specifications for a new Justice
Court Building on the Southold Town Hall
site
99o
Honorable Supervisor Scott Harris
Town Board authorized architectural services
to plan a modular addition of Justice Court
Offices on the back of Town Hall. This
was completed with an office trailer on
blocks
1992
· Infrastructure in Town Hall begins to
deteriorate.
· An engineer's report deemed the
HVAC system and pipes in very bad
condition and recommended replacing
them as soon as possible.
· Estimated cost at $3oo,ooo
1994
Honorable Supervisor Tom Wickham
· Supervisor Wickham expresses need for
new Town Hall
· Assigns Councilwoman Alice Hussie to
initiate discussions with North Fork
Bank for purchase/swap of current
Town Hall facility for NFB Youngs
Ave Mortgage Center
1996
Honorable Supervisor Jean Cochran
· A "Town Hall Space Study" was performed
in by Albrecht, Viggiano, Zureck &
Company.
· Study determined need for i8,ooo Sq Ft
· Did not include Space for Land Preservation,
Trustees and Justice Court operations
1996
· Town Board was offered I4ooYoungs
Avenue, Southold aka/North Fork
Bank Mortgage Center.
· Offered to Town for $9oo,ooo
· Majority of the Town Board was
against the purchase of this building.
1997
· May ~997 the Town Board accepted the
proposal of Fairweather-Brown Design
Associates, Inc. to prepare a feasibility study
for the use of 52875 Main Road, Southold
(Whitaker House) for use as an Annex for
Southold Town Hall offices. (2ooo usable sq
ft...in need of major renovation)
· Whittaker House Purchased for $2o5,ooo.
Estimated $5oo-7oo,ooo for renovations.
1997
Mr. George Stankevich Esq. sent a
letter to Supervisor Cochran asking for
a discussion of the Town's possible
utilization of his adjoining one acre of
property and building.
1999
· Accounting Department and other offices were
moved out of the basement in Town Hall to
Feather Hill due to health concerns of mold and
mildew.
· Plans to tear down Whittaker House draw
overwhelming outcry and protest
· Purchase of Peconic Lane School was again
considered. Agreement for purchase not reached.
2000
A "Space Needs Analysis for the Town Hall
Facility" by Bartlett, Amoruso, and Recce,
Architects was performed
24,ooo Sq Ft determined necessary
Preliminary plans drawn to include
Whittaker House site. Plans cost $45,ooo
approx.
200I
· Town Board considered purchase of the
Suffolk County Water Authority Building
located at 7oo Boisseau Avenue, Southold.
The initial thought was for a Justice Court.
However, it was not configured properly and
the ceilings were too low. Subsequent use
for office space was considered. This
purchase was not approved.
2003
· October 2003 - Environmental Microbial
Testing of Town Hall for mold and mildew.
· November Cleaning of Duct work and
radiators was done at Town Hall in the
amount of f$5,28o.
· Proposal by Serve-Pro in the amount of
$~99,ooo.oo for environmental clean-up of
mold and mildew in Town Hall. To date,
this project has not been undertaken.
2oo4
· Appraisal performed in anticipation of purchase of
Peconic Lane School. Offer of approximately
$5oo,ooo made. Offer rejected.
· Engineering report shows current Town Hall
facility in need of new roof, foundation and all
internal systems, (heating, cooling, piping etc.)
Renovations estimated at $75o ' &9oo,ooo.)
2004
· Office Space leased at North Fork Bank,
Southold. This was initiated by the Town
Board only with the understanding that the
Town Board would pursue a one campus
Town Hall in the near future. This was
agreed to be a temporary solution.
· Many town departments vacated the leased
premises at Feather Hill and moved to the
North Fork Bank.
2o04
· Committee formed to research one campus
Town Hall possibilities.
· Committee recommends to Town Board use
of new high-grade modular construction.
· Committee requests arch/engineering
proposals from several firms with experience
in this field.
· Committee interviews firms.
2004
· Committee recommends V.Baras Architects as
firm of record to develop preliminary plans.
· September V. Baras Architects submitted proposal
for design scheme for new town hall of 24,ooos.f.
based on modular units on a new site from the
ground up.
· Construction costs for commercial grade pre-
fabricated, concrete and steel module construction
estimated to be $5,ooo,ooo
· Plan worked through with Southold Town ARC
several times to insure appropriate asthetics
2oo5
Town attempts to negotiate fair price
for 1/2 acre adjacent to and North of
Town Hall
· Eminent Domain proceedings
commenced. Public hearings held,
findings issued, awaiting determination
from State Appellate Division on price
settlement.
LI U U
11111