Is Niles City Hall worth repairing?

By Jordan Cohen | August 25, 2016 at 12:06a.m.

NILES

It will be up to city council to decide if the costs to repair the city hall roof and a seriously damaged basement wall are worth it for an 89-year-old building.

The cause of mold that led to a one-day shutdown of city hall last week was attributed to water from the leaking roof.

Several employees, including Mayor Thomas Scarnecchia, reported illnesses. Scarnecchia, who was hospitalized several days and released Tuesday, did not attend Wednesday’s meeting.

In his absence, council President Robert Marino is serving as acting mayor.

“The architect will ... determine whether [it’s] worth it,” Marino said. “If [not], it stops there.”

On Monday, architect Bruce Sekanick told council he would not recommend putting money into repairs if his study shows the damage “is worse than what we saw.”

According to Sekanick’s timetable, his schematic design proposal will be ready in 10 days. At that time, the architect is expected to produce a cost estimate for council to consider.

“If he finds during his analysis that it’s not worth repairing, I’ve told him to stop everything and tell us immediately,” Marino said.

Repairs, if recommended, will include replacement of either all or most of the 24,000-square-foot roof. On Monday, Sekanick said the cost could vary from $10 to $15 per square foot, meaning the actual cost for the roof alone could be as high as $360,000 for total replacement. That cost does include the structural repairs to the basement wall.

On Tuesday, James DePasquale, safety-service director, told council he believed the roof and wall repairs could be completed for less than $300,000.

“I’m not comfortable citing any numbers,” Marino said Wednesday. “Council can make an informed [decision] based on the numbers [Sekanick] provides to you.”

DePasquale did not attend Wednesday’s meeting.

Marino announced plans to have a public roundtable session with council and the architect when repair costs have been determined. He said the city, still in fiscal emergency, will work with its financial supervisors to locate funding if repairs are warranted.

Auditor Giovanne Merlo declined to speculate on funding sources to cover the costs. “There’s no point because we don’t have any prices yet,” he said.

Councilman Barry Steffey, D-4th, finance chairman, said he, too, is concerned about the costs should the architect find that city hall is worth the repairs.

“It’s something we’ll have to work through diligently,” Steffey said.

What was not discussed were council’s options should city hall, built in 1927, have to be permanently closed.

The city is paying Sekanick $44,000 for his study while Lewis Construction of Warren, contracted by the city for mold remediation, will be paid “less than $30,000” Merlo said.

Council gave first reading to advertise for bids for repairing the roof, but Marino said advertising will not obligate the city to go through with the project.

“If it’s not worth the repair, this is a moot point,” the acting mayor said. “We reserve the right to determine whether to fix it or not.”

While mold removal continues, the mayor’s office, tax department and the basement have been sealed off and are not expected to be scrubbed until and if the roof is repaired. Tax-office personnel have been moved to the Wellness Center.

Marino said he does not know when Scarnecchia will return to work.