Date: Fri 23-Oct-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

Town-Hall-South-inmates

Full Text:

Is Town Hall South Here To Stay?

(with photos)

BY STEVE BIGHAM

With a new roof and a fresh coat of paint, Town Hall South appears as if it is

here to stay.

Earlier this week, prisoners from the Garner Correctional Facility were

painting what has been ridiculed as Newtown's ugliest municipal building.

Last month, workers from Barrett Roofing in Danbury put on a new roof. It is

looking more and more like Town Hall South will once again be the home for

Newtown's land-use, building and parks and recreation offices.

"We really have got to do something just to preserve the asset. It's not

costing us anything in labor, just materials," noted Public Works Director

Fred Hurley.

Town officials are still awaiting word from Kaestle Boos engineers who are

reportedly nearing the completion of the town's municipal space needs study.

Until that report is in, however, there will be no decision on the fate of the

Main Street building.

Nearly two years ago, land use, building and parks and recreation employees

were forced to evacuate Town Hall South due to leaks in the wall. Flooding and

general deterioration made the building's lower level uninhabitable.

Town Hall South appeared doomed during the prior administration of former

First Selectman Bob Cascella when a $840,000 proposal to renovate the building

was turned down by voters. Some of those who voted against the proposal said

they would rather see the building torn down.

First Selectman Herb Rosenthal said the building hadn't been painted in 13-14

years. It had become an eyesore.

"It's just a bad image for the town to let a building deteriorate like that,"

he said.

Much of the "texture 111" siding has rotted out and needs to be replaced. Mr

Hurley said the roof project and the paint job are not meant to take the place

of a complete overhaul of the building.

As for the leaks in the building, Mr Hurley said his crews will continue their

work on the curtain drains around the building. He believes that may be the

solution to the oozing walls.

The paint project is expected to take about two weeks. The two level-two

inmates are considered to be suitable for supervised work outside the prison.

Mr Rosenthal was offered their services by prison warden Remi Acosta, Jr. Both

inmates are skilled in painting and construction, according to the first

selectman. They are being supervised by a corrections officer.

"These are people who are allowed to go outside," Mr Rosenthal said.

The work is being done at no cost to the town.

The building is being painted charcoal gray on the trim and medium gray on the

walls. The colors were chosen by the first selectman's office and approved by

borough officials.

The building, a former farm equipment sales room and repair facility, was

purchased by the town from Ruwet-Sibley in December 1978 for $390,000. Voters

approved the expenditure of $600,000 to renovate it for town offices in August

1979.