Construction of a new state police substation in the hamlet of New Woodstock has started and, while the completion date was hoped to be this fall, it seems more likely that the building will be completed next spring, the Cazenovia Town Board announced last week.
In May, the town demolished the old town highway garage on Route 13 that had been serving for years as a state police substation. The plan is to erect a new substation with an 1,100-square-foot main building and three-car garage, and be adjoined by a new, 18-space, free public parking lot.
The town purchased modular home earlier this year to serve as the main substation building but, once town crews started construction recently it was discovered that the building is structured for residential use and not commercial use, and needs to be retrofitted for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, said Highway Superintendent Tim Hunt at the Sept. 14 town board meeting, which was held in the New Woodstock Fire Department.
Project architect Thomas Pratt told the board the changes he is incorporating into the building include an accessible toilet and locker area, as well as general space large enough to allow someone in a wheelchair the room to maneuver. In addition to the ADA compliance changes, Pratt said the main building plan has been amended to include columns and railings on the front porch to make it look the same as other buildings on the street, the shape of the front porch roof has been revised and the size of the three-car garage has been scaled down to be more in-line with the main building.
Hunt said the digging for the foundation work on the new substation had started that day, Sept. 14, and the entire project will not be completed most likely until around April 1, 2016, although he does “hope” it may get done before the snow comes.
Hunt also reiterated the fact that the state police have said they will not occupy the new building until the three-car garage is completed because of security concerns, mainly for the weapons inside their vehicles. The state police vacated the building on May 1 and currently are working out of their Morrisville substation.
During its meeting last week, the board also authorized the advertisement for bids for the construction of the 25-feet-by-40-feet pole barn garage for the substation. The bid return date and bid opening was scheduled for noon on Thursday, Oct. 15, with the bid award to take place during a special board meeting at 7 p.m. on Oct. 19 in the town office. More information on the pole barn bid can be found on the town website at townofcazenovia.org.
Also at the meeting, the board:
—Approved a local law to override the state tax levy limit. This is an action the board takes every year, Zupan said. The maximum tax increase allowed under the tax cap this year is .74 percent, he said. The board held a public hearing on the proposed law before approving it, during which no members of the public spoke.
—Authorized the advertisement for bids for repairs, maintenance and upgrades to the Gothic Cottage/town office. The work — for “stabilization and repair” only, not a full renovation of the building — would be for exterior work on the building including repair of windows, siding and porches; repainting; re-roofing work; partial chimney reconstruction and other miscellaneous work. The Bid will be awarded at a special board meeting at 7 p.m. on Oct. 19 in the town office.
—Rescheduled the board’s October and November meetings to be held on Monday, Oct. 5, and Monday, Nov. 2, the first Mondays of each month rather than the second Mondays. This change is due to state law as it relates to meeting for budget and adoption processes.
