Should New Hartford reopen community center?

By ELIZABETH COOPER

Observer-Dispatch

Posted Feb 03, 2010 @ 05:12 PM

NEW HARTFORD —

New Hartford officials are trying to determine whether to reopen the Kellogg Road Community Center.

The old railroad station had been used for at least 20 years as a meeting place for community organizations and local government.

But it has been closed since October 2008 because of the cost of utilities, as well as some structural issues, officials said.

“There seem to be a number of groups out there that like to meet there but obviously the cost is going to be the issue,” Town Supervisor Patrick Tyksinski said.

Tyksinski, who took office this January, is working to right the town’s finances. Under his predecessor, Earle Reed, the town burned through most of is $2.8 million in reserves.

A 2007 study of the building estimated it would cost between $20,000 and $25,000 to complete the repairs.

Representatives from local organizations that once used the building said they missed the facility.

“It was an excellent place for the historical society to hold their programs,” said New Hartford Historical Society President Barbara Couture. “It was a central location, it had parking, it was easy for handicapped people to get in and out.”

And Barbara Klein, president of the New Hartford Democratic Committee, pointed out that the community center had been a polling station for most of New Hartford’s First Ward.
“People were disappointed because they couldn’t walk over to vote,” she said.

The repairs

The 2007 study found the building to be “in generally good condition.” A mold problem due to dampness in some areas was detected, and water was found to be leaking into the building at floor level in some places.

Additionally, the report said the fact that the building was not well insulated was contributing to high utility costs.

Tyksinski said he wasn’t sure what the cost of the utilities would be. Reed estimated the costs at between $12,000 and $14,000 per year, in a May 2009 interview.

Town Board member Don Backman, who represents the First Ward, is a strong supporter of reopening the building.

“The residents of the First Ward let me know about this problem in the fall,” he said. “They miss the building.”

He said the building could be closed in the coldest times of year to save money.

Backman also suggested the repairs could be done more cheaply if a BOCES class was able to use it as a project.

BOCES Superintendent Howard Mettelman could not be reached.

Board member Christine Krupa said she was opposed to reopening the building.

“Given that we don’t have any money, I don’t think we ought to put any money into it,” she said.

When it was open, the building was used two to three times a week by local organizations. The town board held meetings there and residents could rent the facility for events, officials said.
Sometimes a fee was charged for using the building, and other times the fee was waived, depending on the nature of the organization or event, officials said.