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Council requests study of costs for retrofitting
By Jordan Cohen
NILES
After learning repair costs to the heavily damaged 89-year old city hall could exceed $500,000, council has asked architect Bruce Sekanick to conduct a study to determine the costs for retrofitting the Wellness Center into a new city administration building.
The request came after Sekanick told council in a public forum Wednesday that roof replacement, repairs to the brick veneer that is buckling due to water drainage and structural repairs to the interior basement are likely to cost $445,000.
Last month, the discovery of mold attributed to years of roof leaks led to a one-day closure of the building and three offices permanently sealed until repairs can be completed. Illness suffered by three people, including Mayor Thomas Scarnecchia, has been attributed to the mold.
“It’s where you are at financially, what you can spend now and how long you can hold off,” Sekanick told council. “The lower cost [to repair city hall] is the most expeditious way to get a resolution.”
The costs, however, could be considerably higher because of other needed renovations. Councilwoman Linda Marchese, D-3rd, said there is no handicap access to the second floor and that bathrooms are not up to code. Sekanick said renovations could add as much as $100,000 to the price tag for a building constructed in 1927.
“We have to talk about demolishing the building,” said Councilman Michael Lastic, D-at large. “If we don’t fix the roof, the building goes.” Demolition would also add to the price tag.
Sekanick said the costs could be “up to $1.3 million” to either renovate the Wellness Center or a vacant building elsewhere in the city.
The cost, the architect said, will be even steeper should council decide on building a new city hall. “You could be looking as high as $7 million or $8 million,” Sekanick said.
Niles has been in fiscal emergency for nearly two years, and the impact on the city’s general fund could be considerable, said Auditor Giovanne Merlo. He told council the general fund would cover 7.6 percent of the costs (nearly $34,000) if council repairs city hall, but “It will be considerably higher,” Merlo said, should council decide to go elsewhere.
In the meantime, council unanimously voted to advertise for bids to repair city hall and has placed a time limitation of a few weeks for submissions.