New building on Main St. expected to be Aurora governmental choice
Published: November 09, 2009, 12:30 am
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A committee studying three options for a joint government facility in the Town of Aurora tonight is expected to recommend constructing a new building on Main Street in the Village of East Aurora.
The Shared Municipal Services Committee tonight will give a detailed presentation to town officials about its long study of three options for a joint government building to house town and village offices, including the expansion of the Aurora Library now at Main Street and Whaley Avenue.
Sources say the six-member committee last week unanimously backed the new-build option for a municipal center at Main and Whaley.
Aurora Councilman James F. Collins and East Aurora Mayor Clark W. Crook, both members of the committee, said that it backed the new-build plan, though no one would disclose the cost figures prior to the presentation at 6 this evening during the town’s work session at 300 Gleed Ave.
However, the cost estimates will be based on a detailed, 25- year comparative analysis that includes operating costs for each of the options.
“They are big numbers,” Crook said. “We are satisfied with the approach we took.”
Collins said: “We’re leaning toward the new build. It’s exciting to bring it to the public.”
Also in the running had been a second option to house all town and village services at 300 Gleed Ave., the town’s recently purchased building for a new Town Hall, along with moving the library there.
A third option had called for relocating town and village offices to the Gleed building but keeping the library on Main and expanding it by 6,000 square feet.
Throughout the debate, library officials have been adamant that the library must stay on Main.
The study has been the core of a nearly $400,000 state grant looking at sharing municipal services between the town and the village under one roof.
As the debate comes to a head, Crook last week announced his plan to carry petitions to dissolve the village government structure as a way to save taxpayers money and streamline government services. Some have questioned the timing of his plan, yet Crook says that it couldn’t be better.
“It all fits together. People are having the conversation now,” Crook said.
Aurora Councilman Jeff Harris is critical of building a new facility on Main.
“I don’t think people will pay $25 million for a new building when they’re worried about how to pay their water bills,” he said.
Harris said there’s nothing wrong with using the Gleed site for combined services.
“The huge renovation cost numbers for Gleed are not true,” he said.
Aurora Supervisor-elect Jolene M. Jeffe said she wants a referendum on the issue, but is uncertain of community support for a big project.
“I believe the residents will have a hard time voting for such a huge project,” she said. “It’s an expensive alternative — a new build on Main.”
krobinson@buffnews.com
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