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August 26, 2008

Town of Franklin plans community center, highway garage expansion

By JACOB RESNECK

VERMONTVILLE -- The Franklin Town Council has accepted plans to erect a community center and expand the highway garage.

A town committee had been working for about a decade on ideas to renovate the highway garage, which some complain is unsafe, as well as build an event hall in the nearby park for local events in this Adirondack township in southeastern Franklin County.

Initial estimates put the cost of both projects at about $1.13 million, which requires a permissive referendum.

Town Supervisor Mary Ellen Keith said Monday that she was gathering the information to set the wheels in motion for that -- once the referendum is advertised, voters will have 30 days to submit a petition calling for a public vote on the projects.

Deputy Supervisor Walt Kretser said public support will be vital.

"Nothing is final," he said. "We still have to get the community behind us."

Town councilors said their first priority is the highway garage, which would be made more energy efficient. A fifth truck bay would be added and a hydraulic lift installed for the maintenance and repair of heavy trucks.

Town leaders have reportedly already met with officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture about grant opportunities to help pay for the projected $688,000 cost.

"If we don't do it now," Kretser said, "the way the economy is going, five years down the road it would cost a million dollars."

But Councilman Clifford Smalley said he's already heard from townspeople concerned about the costs.

"I'm just nervous when I start looking at these half-million dollar figures."

Adirondack Park Agency staff planner John Quinn said Friday that his agency had received an inquiry over whether the project would need an APA permit and that a decision is pending.

"We don't know which way it's going to be, but we will rule on it promptly."

COMMUNITY CENTER

Architects have also unveiled plans for a two-story community center in Kate Mountain Park that would accommodate up to 120 people. The 5,608-square-foot building would feature views of Kate Mountain and offer an attractive setting for civic events currently held in the cramped Town Hall.

With initial estimates at $545,000, Smalley asked architects from Premise_S if it could be scaled back.

The architects replied that the plans reflect specifications set by the town's building committee and that scaling it back would raise the cost per square foot.

"We've been as efficient as we think we can be," said Bryan Burke of the Essex-based firm.

Not included in the cost estimate would be work by town crews to build athletic fields for soccer and volleyball as well as picnic tables and other amenities.

At the meeting, one town resident said he's worried the town is setting its sights too high in times of economic recession.

"We keep coming up with grandiose plans, and the people say you are building a Cadillac when what we need is a Chevrolet," said Frank Karl, 76, of Onchiota.

A public unveiling and informational meeting on the projects will be held at Kate Mountain Park from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12, in Vermontville. Architects and town officials will be on hand to answer questions and hear input.

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