The legislative journey of a Spa City indoor recreation center came to an end at a Tuesday, Feb. 17, meeting of the Saratoga Springs City Council, with a split vote to award a $4,997,000 contract to Halfmoon-based Bast-Hatfield.
The lowest of 10 bidders, Bast-Hatfield’s proposal included several add-on elements, including air conditioning for the gymnasium, a racquetball court, additional trees and an emergency generator that could make the 33,000-square-foot usable as an emergency shelter. They promise to complete the project for less than the $6.5 million that has been bonded.
The good news is that the city is well within budget, said Mayor Scott Johnson. `We expect there to be a surplus left when the project is delivered in turn-key condition.`
Public Safety Commissioner Ron Kim and Public Works Commissioner Anthony `Skip` Scirocco voted against awarding the contract. They raised concerns that led to a lengthy argument among the council members that included ongoing litigation against the project, the completeness of the planning process and the wisdom of building the facility during a recession.
`In today’s economy it’s the wrong thing to do it doesn’t make any sense at this particular point in time,` said Scirocco.
Kim said that the rec center bonds should be reappropriated to the construction of a new police station or fire house. He acknowledged that would incur penalties, but said that it would be worth it.
`What this City Council has hoisted on this city is the idea this money is trapped and cannot be moved,` he said. `I’ve talked to state officials and private bond counsel, and they’ve all told me that is not true.`
But others said it is time to go ahead with the project, tough times or no, and give the taxpayers what they have essentially already paid for.
`If we just say ‘no’, we get nothing for that money. Instead, we can go forward and give something to our families, our kids and ourselves,` said Finance Department Commissioner Kenneth Ivins, who added he was `disappointed that previous councils did bond this thing.`
The rec center has been under consideration for about a decade. The plans call for a large, four-basketball court gymnasium with a walking track and a multi-purpose room, to be built at the Southside Recreation Fields. Outside, a spray park will be maintained and existing playground equipment will be relocated and added to. Some of the playing fields will be retained.
Bast-Hatfield has been responsible for other high-profile projects in the city, including the YMCA building, the train station and upgrades to city schools.
Resident Ann Bullock told the council it would be irresponsible to award a contract considering the lawsuit brought forth by her Friends of the South Side Park group that seeks to halt the project.
`What kind of lawyer, knowing his client is going to be sued, advises his client to enter into that contract?` she asked before the vote.
Johnson said that he was not concerned with the suit.
`This group that filed the suit against the city did not seek an injunction on this project,` he said, which if granted would immediately halt progress. `To get an injunction, you must establish a likelihood of successit gives some indication of the strength, or the weakness, perhaps, of the suit at hand.`
Accounts Department Commissioner John Franck agreed and said the council should follow the advice of the city’s attorneys. `If we stop every project and everything we do because of a lawsuit, nothing will ever get done in this city,` he said.
`This is a disaster for the city to enter,` countered Kim. `My guess is if we approve this contract tonight, they’re going to try to stop the shovels.`
Groundbreaking will likely take place once the weather allows it.
Other happenings
The City Council scheduled a workshop for Wednesday, Feb. 25, at 6 p.m., at which it will further discuss proposals for the development of the High Rock parking lot and also hear presentations from three ambulance providers who submitted bids to the city for their services.
Empire Ambulance Service, Mohawk Ambulance and Saratoga Emergency Medical Services, the city’s current EMS provider, all submitted bids in a request for proposals from the city, which is exploring changing services to open up a new revenue stream.
SEMS President Clark Hayward said that sticking with his not-for-profit service was the best choice for city taxpayers during the public comment portion of Tuesday’s meeting.
`SEMS has been the sole ambulance provider for the City of Saratoga for the past four years,` said Hayward. `We don’t take any money at all today from the city taxpayers or residentswe provide this service free of charge.`
The council will continue to discuss plans submitted by Yorkshire Properties, Bonacio Construction and High Rock Partners to build a parking garage and public safety building at the site of the High Rock parking lot, behind city hall, at the meeting. Two of those proposals suggest that the city institute paid parking downtown to pay for the public safety building.“