City debates moving offices again

NORWICH – The roof at city hall needs to be replaced, and with more and more repairs becoming necessary to make the building an efficient office location, a decision on whether or not city offices should be moved to the third floor of the firehouse needs to be made.

Department of Public Works Superintendent Carl Ivarson told the members of the Public Works / Public Safety Committee that the roof replacement would most likely cost in excess of $150,000.



For several years, Ivarson explained, the council has been going back and forth on the decision, and maintenance to the building has been put off, awaiting the decision – but it can’t be put off any longer.

The costs of the roof replacement are high due to the fact that the sheathing, underneath the roofing on the former railroad depot will have to be replaced, and the copper flashing adds a significant amount.

Mayor Joseph Maiurano said the committee needed to take two things into consideration, the history of the Norwich City buildings and the inefficiency of the current city hall. “Historically, all of the city offices were always in one building,” Maiurnao explained, adding “the layout of the building (the current city hall location) is not conducive to the effective operation of an office.”

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Reader Response

3 comments on this story

chaos
January 27th, 2008 at 9:57 pm
I understand that the firehouse is owned by the city but come on mayor an elected officials of Norwich, we all know that the firhouse is the home to the fireman. Why should people have to walk to the tird floor and we as taxpayers are going to end up paying for this move and remodeling of the third floor. Its absolutley stupid to move the city offices to the third floor of the firehouse. Where are people going to park? If there are 20 vehicles in the FD parking lot and there is an emergeny where are the firefighters going to park? Across the street at P&C and walk to the firehouse? Wake up mayor! You are ruining this city.
ronibaloney
January 25th, 2008 at 7:04 pm
It figures. ccarnrike must have been waiting for a chance to slam the mayor. I suspect Carnrike knew as much about the roof repairs as the mayor. In other words, none at all. And slamming the mayor like that just shows how well taking to losing the election the Carnrike really feels. Just another Carnrike taking a cheap shot.
ccarnrike
January 25th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
Talk about inefficiency of City Hall - start with the Mayor. Where was any discussion on roof repair costs and/or moving offices to 3rd Floor of Fire House during 2008 budget discussion? This was never mentioned. The Mayor and his administration won't be happy until the City of Norwich is bankrupt and that's exactly where we're heading. Thanks JOE! Hope this means your raise is off the table for 2008!
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