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| By G. Michael Dobbs Managing Editor CHICOPEE The Board of Aldermen and the School Committee heard three plans to re-organize city services last week by a number of department heads in anticipation of considering if any of the plans are financially feasible. The two groups gathered with interested residents in the library's community room to listen to Mayor Michael Bissonnette, Council on Aging Executive Director Sandra Lapollo, School Superintendent Richard Rege, Department of Public Works Superintendent Stanley Kulig, Police Chief John Ferraro Jr., and Fire Chief Stephen Burkott about the needs of their various departments as well as a revamped way for the city to organize its services. The basic needs as presented by the department heads were: a new senior center, possibly on the site of the Szetela School; a re-use of the former Chicopee High School into a middle school that would replace the Fairview Veterans Memorial Middle School; the purchase of the former Rock-Tenn manufacturing building for an inclusive Department of Public Works (DPW) facility, putting the existing DPW garages on the market; an enlarged police headquarters to accommodate the increased needs of the department; and the replacement of the Cabot Street fire station. Lapollo pointed out the decision on a location for a new senior center is long overdue and, since the subject was first introduced, the city has seen the construction of a new library and two new high schools. The population using the senior center is growing, she noted. Currently 22 to 23 percent of city residents are considered seniors, but by the next census she anticipates that number will increase to 28 to 29 percent. The plan she presented during the meeting was three years old and is not considered to be a final design or a preferred location. Several members of the audience asked Bissonnette to make a site decision so a fund-raising drive could commence. Bissonnette promised he would make the decision soon. Acknowledging the limited amount of funding available to the city, Rege introduced his plan by stating the School Department was not in competition with other departments and their needs. If the Massachusetts School Building Authority allocated funds to the city for a renovation of the former Chicopee High School, Rege would move Fairview Veterans Memorial Middle School into that building. The relocation of a middle school would create a neighborhood middle school, he said, and eliminate many bussing costs. In turn, he would then move the Selser and Szetela Schools into the former Fairview Veterans Memorial Middle School building and move the Chicopee Academy into the Selser School. If the state approved the plan for the former high school, Rege estimated the renovations would take three and a half years. The cost was estimated at nearly $12.5 million with the city's share estimated at nearly $5 million. Rege admitted. "If we don't get the state funding, the plan is out of the water." He said that while the school system could function with its current facilities, some portable classrooms might be necessary as well as some other expansion of existing buildings. The School Department administrative offices do need to be moved out of its current headquarters as the cost for repairing that building is prohibitive, Rege said. Kulig proposed the city purchase the Rock-Tenn building at 77 Champion Drive to be used as the new DPW facility. Kulig said to consolidate the department at its Baskin Drive location would cost nearly $20 million as opposed to nearly $7 million to buy and renovate the Rock-Tenn building. Bissonnette offered his vision for a revamped way to present city services. He would like to group services together in three locations. The new DPW building would house not only the DPW but also the office of the building commissioner, the Water Department and other related offices. Szetela School could be used for the Parks and Recreation Department, the Board of Health, and the Veterans Services Office. With some offices now vacant in City Hall, he proposed moving the School Department to City Hall and useing the auditorium as a television studio for aldermanic and School Committee meetings. He would then use the former library building as additional office space. To help finance this plan, Bissonnette would use the sale of city-owned properties such as the Baskin Drive DPW yard and buildings on Center Street, among others. After Bissonnette's presentation, most of the audience and the Board of Aldermen left, apparently thinking the evening was over. They missed presentations by Ferraro and Burkott. Ferraro reminded the remaining officials that he has brought millions of dollars into the city, but none of the money can be used for building expenses. The Police Headquarters, built in 1975, needs more space, whether it's a new wing or expanding the front wall of the building. He estimated the cost of a new wing at $3.1 million. Burkott said the Cabot Street fire station is so old that modern fire trucks can't fit inside the doors are too small. He said the replacement costs for this station are estimated at $3 million to $3.5 million. One of the challenges is to find space in the downtown area for the new station, he said. |