Letter To The Editor – Stay Where You Are

Dear Editor,
I recently read in the paper that the Hoosick Town Supervisor and the Town Board are asking for suggestions on where to move the Town offices in the event that they will no longer be able to lease space in the Armory from New York State.
My vote is to stay where they are. In most cases, if they close an Armory, the State will offer it to towns for a nominal fee, such as a $1. The Hoosick Falls Armory is a sound and useful Town structure. Within the past few years a new roof was put on and the interior was repainted.
Of course, there are issues, like heating the building. My suggestion would be to contact the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and have them do an energy audit and see what can be done to lower energy costs before looking for another location for the Town offices. After that, contact Senator McDonald about funding to make the heating system and building more energy efficient.
Don’t Give Up On Historic Buildings
Please don’t give up on one the Town’s beautiful and historic buildings. We already have a hole in the ground at the former Dougherty’s Hotel site, an empty St. Mary’s Academy and a crumbling American House. When you give up on a building, you give up on the Town’s history, on our memories and, most important, our future. Please keep the Armory open and available for use by community groups for sports like indoor soccer, basketball, walking (as it is now for our area seniors in the winter) along with a host of other community events.
Sincerely,
Kevin O’Malley, Rogers Avenue, Hoosick Falls