SCHENECTADY Council to lead services bureau project Environmental review required to proceed with plans BY MICHAEL LAMENDOLA Gazette Reporter Reach Gazette reporter Michael Lamendola at 395-3114 or lamend@dailygazette.com.
The City Council plans to name itself lead agency on a $20.3 million project to establish a new Bureau of Services campus at Foster Avenue and Seneca Street. The council is meeting in committee today to put the proposal on next week’s council meeting agenda for approval. As lead agency, the council will be responsible for determining whether an environmental impact statement is required for the project and to prepare the statement if one is required. Even though design work for the project is nearly complete, work cannot begin until the environmental review is concluded, said Commissioner of General Services Carl Olsen. He said the council will launch the review as soon as it becomes lead agency. “We are already well into design and we have some idea as to what the facility will look like,” Olsen said. Commissioner of Finance John Paolino said the goal is to save the city money and improve operations. “To be running a multiple-milliondollar waste disposal operation under a bridge is inefficient. We will have a tremendous amount of fuel and will have to create energy-efficient buildings,” he said. The review can determine three actions: that the proposed project will severely affect the environment, called a Type 1; that it will not severely affect the environment, Type 2; or that the project does not meet Type 1 thresholds but should be reviewed to determine whether it may cause significant adverse environmental impacts, called an unlisted action. A Type 1 action could add more costs to the project, officials said. The City Council in February approved $1 million for the design work. The new campus, to be built across the street from the boardedup Foster Avenue facility, will consolidate all General Service departments, including trash collection, vehicle storage, plowing, water and sewer. The city operates six offi ces spread throughout the city. Olsen in an earlier interview said the city buildings are deteriorating. Some of the components of the $20.4 million campus include: A truck wash, required under the state’s new stormwater regulations. Cost estimate is $360,000. Dirt and oil from commercial vehicles cannot be washed into the storm drains. They must be collected and piped into the sewage treatment system. A new salt shed, estimated cost $510,000. The city would share the cost through a $375,000 shared-services state grant with the county and Niskayuna. A covered and heated vehicle storage area. Estimated cost $2.6 million. An unheated vehicle storage area, costing an estimated $1.6 million. A $2.3 million office building, which would be built with certain materials to qualify as a “green” and energy-efficient structure. The city plans to demolish the................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....amp;EntityId=Ar01002
Isn't it amazing how much money politicians can waste and make it sound wonderful?
"While Foreign Terrorists were plotting to murder and maim using homemade bombs in Boston, Democrap officials in Washington DC, Albany and here were busy watching ME and other law abiding American Citizens who are gun owners and taxpayers, in an effort to blame the nation's lack of security on US so that they could have a political scapegoat."
Funny...I thought the same thing when I read this. This will do nothing for our job base. Just another relocation.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
The new buildings will not be as good as the current ones. They were built by the WPA to withstand mortar fire and should have been properly maintained. We get the same nonsense on the Downtown library where the Krats blame failure of routine maintenance.
The neighbors concern is hilarious. What neighbors? Across the street is a toxic brownfield from the former Nickle Plating factory. This is the best site to build? Every time they say it will save money-never does. Look for cost over runs, toxic soil removal costs and usual lack of cost control.
No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this Earth.
Ronald Reagan Address on Behalf of Senator Barry Goldwater Rendezvous with Destiny October 27, 1964
Logged
The new buildings will not be as good as the current ones. They were built by the WPA to withstand mortar fire and should have been properly maintained. We get the same nonsense on the Downtown library where the Krats blame failure of routine maintenance. 
