New town hall to open

By TOM KANE

HORTONVILLE, NY — After years of searching for a proper construction site, the Town of Delaware Town Board finally got its new, ground-level town hall building.

It’s on property the town already owns, immediately behind the current town hall.

That it’s on the ground level is especially significant since the second-floor meeting hall did not conform to the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). ADA states that all public buildings must be accessible to handicapped persons.

The federal government enforces the act only if someone with disabilities complains that public access is unavailable. So far, none in the town had come forward.

“ADA did not help us with the cost of construction, which was about $168,000,” said Jim Scheutzow, town supervisor, at a meeting on April 15. “We have been accruing the funds to build the town hall for the last seven years. We have the money already and will not have to raise taxes to pay for it.”

In certain instances, ADA will assist employers and municipalities with the cost of adapting an already existing building, but will not pay for new construction.

The new one-floor building, which measures 26 feet by 56 feet, contains seven rooms and a restroom.

“The current town hall will house the court on the first floor and the second floor will be used for storage,” Scheutzow said.

In other board actions, Scheutzow alerted the board to the possible need to spend money on making the town sewer and water plant “shovel ready.”

“There is a possibility that the money from the President’s stimulus package could pay for work on the sewer and water plant; however, before that happens, the plant has to be shovel ready or it won’t come under the requirements of the funding. In order to make it shovel ready, we may have to spend some funds. Next month, we will have to make a decision on this matter.”