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BOARD OF FINANCE
MARCH 11, 2003
PUBLIC HEARING
CALL TO ORDER
The Public Hearing of the Board of Finance was called to order at 7:31 P.M. in the Main Meeting Room at the Simsbury Town Hall. The following members were present: Chairman Paul Henault, Peter Askham, Candace Fitzpatrick, Nicholas Mason, Kevin North and Michael Wade. Also present were Brian Humes of Jacunski Humes Architects, Chief of Police Peter Ingvertsen, Town Engineer Richard Sawitzke, First Selectman Thomas Vincent and other interested parties.
BOARD OF SELECTMEN CAPITAL PROJECT
Mr. Henault handed out information prepared for the Public Hearing to the Board members and offered copies to the audience. The capital project on the agenda was for improvement to the police headquarters and Town offices in the amount of $2,300,000.
Mr. Vincent stated that the design for the police facility was completed in the early 1980s with occupancy in 1984. In 1984 there were 12 employees working within the building each day of the week. Currently there are 19. Overall, the department has increased from 37 to 48 employees. In August of 2000, the architectural firm of Jacunski Humes conducted a space needs assessment for the police department. The report concluded that additional square footage was required to meet the needs of the police department as projected over the next 15-20 years. The size and nature of the project has changed since originally scheduled. Jacunski Humes was asked to review the original recommendations.
Mr. Humes provided an overview of their activities with the Simsbury police department. He stated that Jacunski Humes has extensive knowledge and experience with police facilities throughout New England. They have culminated the space needs assessment with a recommendation that the Simsbury police department would require 15,500 sq. ft. of gross square footage if they were to build a new facility. That compares with their existing square footage of just over 10,800 sq. ft. They found that by utilizing existing space that wasn't currently occupied by the police department and recommending a small addition to the back of the building, they could increase the gross square footage to a proposed 12,500 sq. ft. Mr. Humes referred to a schematic design and reviewed it. He stated that they were
called in again about six months ago to revisit the schematic design and to update the cost estimates based on increased HVAC conditions and air quality issues. They then recommended a relocation of the dispatch center.
Mr. Mason asked Mr. Sawitzke to go over the add alternate costs. Mr. Sawitzke stated that the items originally carried as add alternate costs consist of adding on a new sally port, increasing the size of the evidence and bulk storage area, and renovating and retrofitting the cell areas to bring them up to current code compliance. The project support or soft costs include contingency, design, required testing and inspection, radio communication equipment and furnishings. Other costs that bring the package up to $2.3 million are roofs and gutters on the front portion of the building, masonry pointing and sealing on the total brownstone exterior and HVAC replacements and upgrades for the complete building.
PUBLIC AUDIENCE
Joan Coe, 26 Whitcomb Drive: Mrs. Coe stated that she is against appropriating $2.3 million for the renovation of the police department. She noted that because of the school renovations of $34 million, the BOF suggested that no new capital appropriations should be brought forward this budget cycle. She stated that working in a basement is not the best working environment under any conditions. She added that, according to Dr. Santilli, an expert on allergies and mold sickness, this is a sick building and cannot be renovated to free the building of mold. She noted that there is an intent to sue ready to be filed concerning the health of Town employees being subjected to mold in their workplace. Mrs. Coe entertained the thought of using the old South School at 507 Hopmeadow Street as the police
department. She noted that the Town has unknown expenditures that are not budgeted such as attorney fees for Meadowood litigation and companies and residents appealing their arbitrary increases in their revaluation. Health benefits and pension funding are still not fully funded. The State is reducing revenues for the towns. There will be an increase in State taxes. Revenues are not meeting expectations. She emphasized that this is no time to go into more debt. She stated that we can no longer live with a tax and spend mentality.
Mr. Henault responded that he personally disagrees with the term "sick building" and did not see the term used in any of the consultants' reports. He stated that almost all of the recommendations that were made have been accomplished. He added that it is his personal opinion that the issue of mold is really up for debate and that he wouldn't rely on the comments of a single physician with regard to that. He noted that South School is also an old building. Mr. Henault stated that the pension is sound.
BOARD OF FINANCE OVERVIEW
Mr. Henault reviewed the capital project time table. He also went over the cost to taxpayers to improve the police headquarters. If the $2.3 million is approved by the BOF, the findings show that the annual cost to an average resident would be $26.00.
ADJOURNMENT
Mr. North moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:00 P.M. The motion was seconded by Ms. Fitzpatrick and carried unanimously.
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Paul W. Henault, Chairman Roxanne Farrell, Clerk
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