Let’s Restore The Cupola!
To The Editor:
Upon reading the July 21 article on the New Lebanon town board meeting, I must give some input on the subject of the Union Free School cupola. First of all, what a fitting title to the article “Cupola to be saved ….. One of these days.” How often I’ve seen the wheels spin on such projects. Like the beautiful Dutch Reformed Church in Nassau. Years ago that was put on the back burner for so long as people haggled over its demise that eventually, it had to be put out of its misery and be destroyed, leaving a blank space in its fine history.
My wife and I took a ride down to the location of the cupola and were surprised at its condition after being perched atop the school for so long. I stood scratching my head and tried to see how one would spend $40,000 to $80,000 to bring it back to life. I submitted a proposal to restore the cupola to satisfactory condition for a fraction of the low price of $40,000 to Councilman Baumli. He did acknowledge receipt of this bid at the beginning of the meeting, which was much appreciated. This bid also included moving the cupola in three pieces to my shop to begin work on it after removal of the very heavy slate roof to be reinstalled after the restored cupola is positioned on a suitable base somewhere in the town. I thought what a great addition to the Town’s coming anniversary year!
Soon after the short discussion on the cupola, they went back to discussing amendment after amendment on laws already on the books.
So much time spent regulating signs that local business people use to bring income into their businesses as well as making the town more appealing to new businesses. Of course, there should be regs of some sort, but a cute plywood cup of coffee advertising a local cafe was far from non-appealing to the eye. Everyone I have spoken to about it has expressed the same feelings about its loss on Route 20/22. Signs are the one least expensive way to advertise a business and let people know what is available in the establishment. And the hours and hours of time spent “regulating” the installation of solar panels on residential housing when we all know that solar power will soon become as prevalent as electricity as a utility and not nearly as ugly as the time worn poles and miles of wire strung up and down our main street. Let the CEO make the decision when someone comes in to inquire about setting up a solar array for their use to cut down on utility bills and also save our environment. These solar regulations are so confusing that even the people on the committee seem confused when discussing it at meetings. And all these regulations seem to do is grow the already huge legal fee budget over the amount allowed and now move another $25,000 to help with the drafting of even more rules and regulation in this town. By the way, this figure is still much higher than the proposal I made on repairing the cupola to satisfactory condition. At the high end of cupola restoration of $80,000 for a historic restoration, does this mean the materials used would be of historic value as opposed to store bought lumber and nails? Just where did Supervisor Teal get these figures!? Shouldn’t we the citizens know that? Last I was taught was that a government is “by the people, for the people.”
So many questions and so little time. I will keep a close eye on the future of the fine cupola and am wondering if an inexpensive tarp could protect it until a decision is made.
Timothy Laraway
Route 20, New Lebanon