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Munson still sees need for bigger Town Hall
(by Joseph Koziol Jr. - January 26, 2011)
Munson still sees need for bigger Town Hall
By JOSEPH KOZIOL JR.
Munson Township Trustees have begun discussions again on possibly expanding the existing Town Hall to meet space needs.
The township, which once considered constructing a new building in the neighborhood of $1 million, will take another look at what may be done to the existing building to meet its needs.
Trustee Irene McMullen, who was elected chairwoman of the board this year, asked that trustees revisit the topic that has been part of the township's discussions for years. She said she was not part of those discussions, but the need for improvements still exists.
She asked fellow Trustees Todd Ray and Andy Bushman to look at ways that the existing Town Hall could be reconfigured to meet those needs.
Trustees are to bring their ideas to a 6:30 p.m. Feb. 15 workshop to discuss them.
Mrs. McMullen said she does not want to spend money on any project until there is a consensus on which direction trustees want to go.
Mr. Ray said the need for more space has been the topic of officials' discussions for years, and, in his mind, the need is obvious. "I'm satisfied there's a need for more space," he said. In addition, he said, there is also a need for an "upgrade in the quality of space."
He said he would support continued discussions to meet those needs.
Mr. Bushman said, if the township revisits the topic, he also would like to see issues with a leaky roof in the adjoining fire station be addressed as well.
Mrs. McMullen agreed that any plan should be comprehensive and address the building issues.
Mr. Ray said the township has made attempts to address the leaking roof, but they have yet to be successful. "It has to get done, whether it's done separately or together," he said.
Mrs. McMullen provided a half-dozen sketches that have attempted to address expansion needs for the building, saying they may provide some ideas of what can be done.
Although the township has had sketches done for possible expansions, it hasn't had an architect speak with officials about the possible expansion of the existing building.
Mrs. McMullen said the township may want to expand the building to the west to allow for a larger meeting space, community room and a multipurpose room.
Mr. Ray said the architects hired for construction of a new town hall, Leber Brown Architects, of Cleveland, already had interviewed staff to determine what needs they have. He said officials may be able to obtain that information from the architects.
Mr. Ray said one element missing from the existing Town Hall is a defined entrance to the building. He said many people arriving attempt to get in through the front door facing Auburn Road. The main entrance, however, is in the rear.
He said a defined entrance should be part of the plans.
Mr. Bushman said the existing Town Hall originally was constructed as a fire station and officials have had to retrofit the building for township officials.
Mr. Ray said the township decided to build a new town hall because of the limitations the existing building presented for expansion.
He said the truss roof does not allow officials to expand upward. He said the masonry walls also may pose problems for expansion.
A new building also was expected to address energy efficiency problems that exist in the existing building, Mr. Ray said.
He said if an expansion is planned it should address all the problems. "If we do it, we do it one time, so future boards don't have to deal with efficiencies," he said.
Mr. Ray said township officials have backed away from the new construction because of the state of the economy.
Mr. Bushman said the township expended approximately $70,000 for architectural fees in preparation for construction of a new town hall.
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