Bethel Resident Says Vote No to Remove “Decrepit” Old Town Hall
Bethel Resident Says Vote No to Remove “Decrepit” Old Town Hall
Editor’s Note: The following is a Letter to the Editor, sent in by Bethel resident Jenny Tesar, regarding the demolition of the Old Town Hall. Those who oppose razing Old Town Hall in order to complete the library have obtained enough signatures to force a referendum. The referendum will be held on Tuesday, July 17th. A “NO” vote means you want the building to be demolished so the library can be completed. A “YES” vote means you want the Old Town Hall to be preserved so the town can sell it and/or use for other purposes. The opinions expressed in the Letters to the Editor column are the viewpoint of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the viewpoint of Bethel Buzz or its editor. To read more Letters to the Editor regarding this issue click here.
From Jenny Tesar–
It is critical that Bethel residents go to the polls and vote NO on July 17. Failure to do so will result in an unfinished library, at the expense of an unsafe, unsound, unsellable building next door (the town hall until 1996).
Unless the July 17 resolution is defeated, the Bethel Public Library will not have the parking required to begin work on finishing its second floor. This delay is apt to result in loss of at least some of the grants arduously obtained for the second-floor construction, and possibly the loss of some private pledges as well. Reminder: all costs of removing the decrepit, asbestos-filled building next to the library—if done now—are at no cost to taxpayers.
In contrast, any sale or use of the “old town hall” will involve many hundreds of thousands of dollars in remediation costs, to remove hazardous materials. This is in addition to the costs involved in repairing and renovating the building. And the building could not be used until the 20-plus parking spaces it requires are constructed. Where would the parking spaces be located? Who would pay for them?
If after a year or two or more of watching the building continue its decay, will Bethel residents finally realize the stupidity of keeping it? And then be happy to pay for its removal, at a cost they will have to bear? And pay to put parking spaces there for the library? And pay to finish the library?
~Jenny Tesar, Bethel, CT.
Posted on July 12, 2012, in Home and tagged bethel CT library, Bethel CT referendum, Old Town Hall. Bookmark the permalink. 1 Comment.
Hello….
Why are all the “No” voter advocates continuing to link the “Old Town Hall” to the completion of the Library ?
The Library has the money to finish and can begin now while other parking arrangements are being finalized.
Our first selectman has yet to put out a request for proposal for proposed uses of the old town hall, nor has he put out and request for proposals for other parking arrangements at the adjacent parking lots. Our Town planning and zoning regulations, page 115 which is section D “Modification of Parking Requirements” seems to have solutions to the parking dilemma therein?
Stop using the Library as a political tool to get rid of the Old Town Hall. Let the residents vote on the merits (the real merits) not fabricated political misrepresentative spin…enough of that already.