RFP For Hoosick Town Hall Engineering Services Is Approved

by Bea Peterson
The Hoosick Town Board held a special meeting on Wednesday, January 18, at 6 pm to review and approve the Request for Proposals (RFP) for Architectural and Engineering Services for Design and Construction Management for the Hoosick Falls Armory and For Construction Of A New Building To Be Used As A Town Hall. Members of the Save the Armory Committee were on hand to answer any questions regarding the RFP put together by Committee Member Michael Batcher. [private]After much discussion within the Board and with members of the Committee, the Board approved the RFP with some minor changes and set the following dates for Town Board Special Meetings in regard to the RFP.
On Friday, January 20, the RFP will be issued.
All questions from bidders should be emailed to Town Councilman Mark Surdam by Friday, January 27.
On Monday, January 30, the Board will hold a Special Meeting at 6 pm to review and answer all questions.
A Bidders Conference will be held at the Armory at 6 pm on Tuesday, February 7, at which time all questions will be answered.
All proposals, with six hard copies and a CD, are due in the Town Hall on Thursday, February 23.
On Wednesday, February 29, the Town Board will hold a Special Meeting at 6 pm to select possible bidders.
Bidders will be interviewed from 1 to 5 pm on Saturday, March 3.
The Bidder will be chosen at the regular Town Board meeting on Monday, March 12.
The proposed completion date for the product from the selected bidder is Friday, June 4.
The tight schedule is because, if the Armory is shown to be the most cost effective, then the Board may have to get State Legislative approval to purchase the Armory from NYS for $1. The Legislative session ends June 30.
One of the questions Town Supervisor Keith Cipperly had regarding the RFP was how it would be paid for. The cost, he was told, would become part of the cost of either renovating the Armory or building a new Town Hall. And it would be covered in the bonding of the renovations or new building.
Not In The Athletic Field
After reading last week’s Eastwick Press, attorney George Holbrook came to this special meeting and told the Board in no uncertain terms that they would never build a Town Hall in the Town athletic fields. Supervisor Cipperly explained that he didn’t want the Hall in the athletic fields, but at the edge of the fields, near Barton Avenue. “You don’t have the authority,” said Holbrook. “Don’t waste your time. I guarantee it won’t happen.” He stated that when the new CEO building was planned, it was scheduled to be on the edge of the athletic fields. “They had plans and everything, and it didn’t happen,” he said. In order to get anything, other than something athletic in that area, the Town must receive approval from St. Mary’s Academy and Hoosick Falls Central School and then the public must vote on it, Holbrook said. “There are enough people in the community, myself included,” he said, “that don’t want to see that happen.”[/private]