As the list of needed repairs at the town’s facilities grows, the Cicero Town Board approved $1,275 in emergency snow and ice removal from the roof of the highway department at its Feb. 11 meeting.
“This is a chronic problem that we had to take care of,” explained Supervisor Jessica Zambrano.
At the Jan. 28 board meeting, the board heard the Buildings Advisory Committee’s safety concerns regarding the highway garage. Snow and ice have been building up on the garage’s eaves and falling off, causing a hazard to town employees and the public alike.
Committee member Don Snyder presented the board with a laundry list of other problems the committee has identified at the town’s facilities, including roof leaks, poor and molding insulation, inadequate GFIs (ground fault interrupters, which protect against electric shock) and insufficient office space and vehicle parking, to name a few.
“If we [addressed] all those things, we would still end up with a building that doesn’t meet our needs,” Snyder said.
The Buildings Advisory Committee also examined the police station, which Snyder said is a “maze” because of the many additions that have been tacked on over the years. Snyder said water was leaking in an investigator’s office, which Town Clerk Tracy Cosilmon had taken it upon herself to fix in order to avoid spending money on repairs.
Snyder said the committee will do a “space review” to determine what kind of building the police department would require in order to function more efficiently. He said the police building, which is an offshoot of the highway garage, has the same issues with snow and ice removal.
“It’s a residential building that we’re using as a commercial building. There really isn’t any security there,” he said.
Snyder said the parks and highway departments share a portion of a building for storage, repairs and employee breaks. He said the building lacks proper insulation and heating.
“They have adequate space, but not proper space to do their repairs in the wintertime,” he said.
As for the town hall, Snyder said the main concern is the lack of conference space. He said the committee has discussed a few ideas with Zambrano, but the “monumental” concerns of the highway and police complex are more pressing.
While the committee is still in the process of drafting its recommendations, but Snyder suggested the town begin to consider sites for a new town complex. The current building is about 50 years old.
“It’s a problem, but we’ll live with it,” said Highway Superintendent Chris Woznica. “I did give Don one bit of advice: napalm.”
The Buildings Advisory Committee will report back to the board at its next meeting on Feb. 25.
Board discusses vacant lot
On the subject of town properties, the board also discussed what to do with a vacant lot at 137 Verda Ave. in North Syracuse. Zambrano said the town has owned and maintained the lot since 1957, but so far the assessor has not been able to determine much about the lot’s history.
Councilor Dick Cushman said the size of the lot — 60 by 150 feet — could indicate that it was once used as a right-of-way. Town Attorney Robert Germain concurred, saying it may have been a “stub street.”
Zambrano asked former Supervisor Judy Boyke, who was in attendance at the meeting, if she knew the lot’s purpose.
“Was this not one of the lots that was dedicated to be a green area?” Boyke asked.
“Were they doing that in 1957?” Zambrano said.
Regardless of the lot’s historical purpose, the town board still must decide what to do with it.
“What if we dedicated it to an organic farm … for the community?” Councilor Mike Becallo suggested.
“It is a great idea, but the town would still be responsible for the maintenance of it,” Zambrano said.
Councilor Mark Venesky said he would like to see the property back on the tax rolls and suggested putting it up for sale.
“You can’t sell land unless you have an independent indication of value,” Germain said. If the town determines the land is valuable, then the lot can be put on the market.
Germain said the town also has the option of “abandoning” the lot to the adjoining property owners, but it is likely that one of those neighbors would want to buy it.
Boyke suggested the town research the property’s title abstract, while resident Deborah Gardner suggested asking the neighbors if they knew the history of the lot. Zambrano said she planned to post about the lot on Facebook to see if community members had any knowledge of it.
