The Bethlehem Central Board of Education officially approved the leasing agreement that would allow the Albany County Sheriff’s Office to use the former Clarksville Elementary School as its new substation at its Wednesday, June 6, meeting.
The school district and the county have been negotiating the deal for nearly six months, leaving some worried the plan would never be put into place or that the district was attempting to sell the building. School board members addressed those concerns at the meeting.
“We should clarify about why it took a long time getting that agreement that there was never any intention of selling the school,” said Lynne Lenhardt, who was recently re-elected to the board. “We weren’t doing it for any other reason than saving (the school) for the future in case we have to use it again.”
Superintendent Tom Douglas said agreements such as the leasing deal take a long time because so many issues have to be addressed and the contracts need to be reviewed by attorneys from both parties.
“I think there was just a time delay in making sure we dot our I’s and cross our T’s,” he said. “This agreement is a good thing for the community and a good thing for the district, especially in these financial times.”
Board Vice President Matt Downey said the hope is to one day use the building as a school once the district has more fiscal resources. For now, the board is just happy the building is in use and equipment, such as the playground, is still available for the community.
The proposed lease includes an initial five-year period with the district receiving $30,000 in rent for the first year. Each year the rent will increase by $6,000, ending with a rent of $54,000 in the final year. After year five, the contract can be renegotiated for an additional five years, but the district can terminate the lease with 180 days notice anytime after year three if the district needs use of the building. The district can also terminate the lease anytime if directed by the state Department of Education.
Under the agreement, any changes to the building need the consent of the district, and no changes can be made that would prohibit the building from once again being used as a school. All utility costs are now the responsibility of the county and the district will maintain “structural components of the building” and any “major heating, energy management and septic systems.”
According to the district, the agreement will result in a $355,000 savings over the five-year term.
Sheriff Craig Apple said the lease will result in savings for the county as well. He said the department will save $50,000 a year through the initial agreement, before adding in the money they will save in “logistics” like copy machines and computer licensing fees, which the school district already had in place in the building. The county will also receive $12,000 in rent once the New Scotland Town Court is moved into the building later in the year.
The sheriff’s office has obtained a federal grant for several upgrades to the building. The money will be used to install a fence, several cameras and an additional generator so the substation can stay in operation in emergency situations. Apple said he is still waiting for the paperwork to be signed before the work can begin.
“We’re occupying a building that could have been a target for vandals had it been left empty,” he said. “This is the work of two governments cooperating to do a good thing.”
Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy said the agreement is a prime example of the consolidation he has been promoting since the start of his administration.
“The sheriff has been leading the way on this project, which will also help save the taxpayers money,” he said in a statement. “We need to be looking for ways to cut costs, share services and be smarter about running county government.”
The agreement is set to be approved by the Albany County Legislature at its Monday, June 11, meeting. The meeting occurred after The Spotlight went to press, but Apple, Douglas, and county representatives said there is no reason to believe the lease will be voted down.
Apple said he is now looking into getting new furniture for the building to go along with the other improvements.
“This is a huge upgrade for these guys so we don’t want them to have to take the same old crap with them,” he said.
The target move-in date is July 1. Apple said the entire move should be completed by the beginning of August.
“This deal will result in a more sufficiently run department because everything in one space,” he said.
