Both Problems And Possibilities Confront Edmond Town Hall

By Kendra Bobowick

Pushing the Edmond Town Hall under a spotlight in the last two weeks are two incidents that exacerbate larger concerns.

On January 6 the recently renovated and upgraded elevator malfunctioned for the fifth time since June, stalling with passengers aboard and sending a ripple of frustration onward to the Board of Managers, which met January 22.

Adding to problems is a recent water leak forcing Director of Community Development Elizabeth Stocker out of her office beside the first selectman’s suite on the main floor. As of Tuesday and into Wednesday morning more leaks had spilled water in the first selectman’s office as contractors located the source in the upstairs kitchen hot water pipes.

Mr Mahoney told the board Monday, “We have water problems.”

Earlier this week they had suspected that the upstairs bathroom or kitchen pipes were faulty. By Wednesday morning the first selectmen’s office confirmed that the kitchen water pipes were to blame.

Upgraded to comply with Americans With Disabilities Act standards, the elevator has yet to establish confidence in its operation.

Now back in order, the elevator has new software that comes with promises from the Kone company representatives to visit every two weeks for the foreseeable future, said building manager Tom Mahoney.

Angered by another elevator failure, board member Sandra Motyka said, “This is a public building. It is way more than an inconvenience, it’s a matter of public safety.”

Mr Mahoney has his fingers crossed.

“We have had a lot of incidents and we’ve been fortunate — no panic attack or heart attack,” he said.

Managers discussed the incremental elevator breakdowns and malfunctions that stymie trouble shooters from the Kone manufacturer. In a voice laced with mounting frustration, Ms Motyka asked if the elevator had an electronic “brain” and if that has been replaced. She said, “I think we need to push for a bigger component than a new part, [the problem] is intermittent and affects different things…”

Ms Motyka continued, “I know we’re small potatoes, but we cannot afford [this]. Should we invite them here and talk to them in person?”

Board member James Juliano said, “We have had them here before.”

“We have had this conversation before,” Ms Motyka said crisply. Getting back to her point, she said, “I want to ask for a new [elevator] brain.” Ms Motyka, Mr Juliano, and Mr Mahoney all agreed that Kone representatives did not know precisely why the elevator at times does not work.

“They’re functioning blindfolded,” Mr Juliano said. Members moved to invite representatives to the next meeting.

 

A Future Identity

The Edmond Town Hall’s prevailing problem, however, is its future use as plans to relocate municipal offices to Fairfield Hills move forward.

Board of Managers members pondered the building’s future role in town — a topic that has come up frequently in the past year. Ms Motyka has been trying to organize a group meant to support Edmond Town Hall efforts by forming a Friends of The Town Hall.

“All we need is six to eight people to come up with some ideas,” she said.

The topic raises two questions that go hand-in-hand: does Newtown need a new town hall, and what will become of the historic Edmond Town Hall in the future?

Bringing these issues to the forefront is a recent round of letters in the January 12 issue of The Bee.

A letter by local author Justin Scott noted that, “Meanwhile, our existing town hall is in danger of becoming our next Grand Union — only this abandoned hulk will sit smack on Main Street…none of the ideas I have read…come remotely close to making such a large building self-sustaining without our government’s offices paying rent.”

Also aware of the public’s concern is First Selectman Herb Rosenthal, who addressed the topic.

“We are not going to abandon the original town hall,” he said.

Explaining that resident Mary Hawley bequeathed the building to the town along with a small trust fund for its upkeep, Mr Rosenthal said, “She intended it as a community building. We are sure good use of the building will continue.”

He has heard from several organizations that have an interest in renting space in the building already. Expanding the current town hall rather than relocating offices was judged not feasible when officials investigated in 1999. Parking issues and prohibitive cost estimates derailed the project. Mr Rosenthal quotes one of the estimates for a 23,000 square-foot addition at between $10 and $13 million.

“That was for half as much space as at Fairfield Hills,” he said. Current Bridgeport Hall renovation estimates are an approximate $10.5 million to revamp space for both municipal and Board of Education offices.

Stepping forward with one possible solution Monday night were the Newtown Youth Services (NYS) and Newtown Family Counseling Center representatives — the entities will soon merge — who expressed both an interest and ability to rent a significant amount of space at Edmond Town Hall. The centrally located historic building is one area of interest as the organizations prepare their merge, explained NYS Board of Directors Chairman Chris Gardner. (See related story, this issue.)