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Editorial
Restoration, replacement an expensive prospect
Anybody who owns a home very likely understands that maintenance is expensive. Roofs occasionally must be replaced, the sides have to be painted, and the lawn kept tidy. As a family grows, perhaps an addition to the home is considered. Similar to homes, municipal buildings also require constant attention. If not properly cared for, a building can become a liability. Multiply this by several buildings, and you can see what Cheektowaga is facing.
The town incinerator hasn't been used in 30 years. The employees union office is located in a trailer. Parts of the town campus look like a dumping ground. Storage is rented off-site for some departments.
Discussions among town officials are now centering around priorities. It appears that this approach is long overdue.
The only building that has undergone a major upgrade in the past few years is the dog kennel, and that was only after a handful of residents complained that the animals weren't adequately protected. Meanwhile, a nearby town employee's office is heated with a potbellied stove. Rest assured, however, that Fido is nice and warm while some of the humans get to huddle around a stove.
Small projects have occurred, such as renovating the bathhouse for the Town Park pool. Still, building improvements and perhaps erecting new buildings on the scale that may arise from town discussions is a costly prospect.
The town must reach a decision quickly, but as cautiously as possible. A "needs assessment" study could be commissioned. However, such studies take time and money, something of which Cheektowaga may be short for the size of the project that will be required.
It may be better to have department heads meet with town board members for "walk-through" tours to develop a consensus. Such a move could likely save money set aside years ago for the needs assessment and it would allow town officials to make an informed, first-hand decision.
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