Plans to relocate the Cicero Police Department and justice court to the former South Bay Fire Department building are moving forward, the town board announced at its Oct. 14 meeting.
“Although the details are yet to be finalized, the South Bay Fire Department agreed to sell the building to the town of Cicero for $1,” said Councilor Mark Venesky, holding up a dollar bill.
Assemblyman Al Stirpe is supporting the town’s application for a $250,000 Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY) grant to fund some of the renovations. The town must match $50,000 of the DASNY grant, bringing the starting cost of renovations to roughly $300,000. The final cost could be more, Venesky said. Supervisor Jessica Zambrano said the town could back out if the cost of renovations proves to be too steep.
In addition, the justice department has applied for a $60,000, two-year New York State Justice Court Assistance Program grant to help the department relocate to the former South Bay fire hall. Should the state approve the justice department’s application, the grant will be distributed in two $30,000 chunks in 2015-16 and 2016-17. The town may also be able to obtain a $10,000 grant through the Department of Homeland Security.
Venesky said the town could spend as little as $50,001 — that is, the $1 purchase price and the $50,000 state grant required match minus the possible police grant.
He said the relocation of the justice court would free up office space within the town hall, “adding years to this building’s useful life.” The town is also considering moving a polling place from the Lakeshore Baptist Church, which senior residents have requested.
“That’s a win-win for the town of Cicero,” Venesky said.
Reactions from residents were mixed.
“I will guarantee you that before we get done you’ll be closer to $1 million,” resident Don Snyder said. Snyder said the town could expect to pay $120,000 to $180,000 on the building’s roof alone.
“We are not including the justice court in [the $300,000 cost figure],” Zambrano said.
Resident Tom Beaulieu said moving the police department would reduce traffic and free up parking by the town hall.
“We don’t know what the final number is,” Beaulieu said. “We’ve outlived the usefulness in this building for some of the departments that are here.”
Cicero Fire Department President Jon Barrett said he was opposed to the plan.
“Why are we going to this building if it wasn’t good enough for South Bay?” he asked.
“It didn’t meet their needs. It was not a safety issue,” Venesky said. “They found it more cost-effective to move to a new building.”
Councilor Vern Conway, a former South Bay fire chief himself, said the roof was not high enough for the new fire trucks.
Rapp: Moratorium lifted
County Legislator Kathy Rapp announced at the meeting that the moratorium on development in parts of Clay and Cicero has been lifted. Last year, development was halted because the Oak Orchard Wastewater Treatment Plant in Clay had reached its capacity. A new plant would have cost $90 million.
Rapp said the county asked the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to revisit Oak Orchard’s capacity, and the DEC agreed. Clinton’s Ditch has also opted to send its high-sugar waste to the Metropolitan Wastewater Treatment Plant, alleviating pressure on the station.
“It opens up development, and we are in business in Cicero,” Rapp said. “It’s going to have to be smart development — they’re probably not looking for more houses.”
