Amenia Board hears analysis on cost of new town garage

Amenia Board hears analysis on cost of new town garage
Amenia Town Hall
Photo by John Coston

MILLERTON — Taking another step toward construction of the new town garage facility, the Town Board at a special meeting on Thursday, June 12, heard a presentation from an architectural engineering company with options for clarifying cost estimates.

Representing CPL Planning Engineers of Poughkeepsie were George Schmitt, Senior Engineering Project Manager and Jonathan DiRocco, Senior Architectural Project Manager.

“The feasibility study did not provide cost analysis,” DiRocco explained, referring to the early conceptual planning for the new town garage facility including salt and sand storage shed. Any early cost projections are now outdated, he added.

The project design phase is the next step, DiRocco said, describing three distinct design phases, including preparatory site work, the buildings and the perimeter fencing.

Anticipating infrastructure work needed, DiRocco said that the garage would need on-site water and gravity flow septic design, in addition to stormwater management to align with new regulations in 2025. Identified infrastructure “hot spots” include the salt storage shed, and fuel storage.

“Every drop of stormwater must be treated,” reported Town finance director Charlie Miller, resulting in a significant cost increase over earlier estimates. He added that town crews can accomplish some of the site preparation work, a cost saving.

“We won’t know until we go out for bid what the actual numbers will be,” Miller said.

Other cost-saving design changes were proposed by CPL, reconfiguring some of the building’s interior, following consultation with town employees. Miller suggested addition of a garage lift, as the town benefits from town crew being able to do truck maintenance in-house. A lift would assist with that work.

Discussion included whether to phase the project, sure to result in increased construction costs over time, or whether to construct all at once. Miller noted that it is less costly to do the project all at once.

Town Supervisor Leo Blackman clarified that scenarios presume that the project will be built over time.

“If we push the phases out too far, the costs increase,” Blackman said.

Miller recommended the hiring of a construction manager, an item not yet included in cost projections.

Current timing suggests that following site preparation, the buildings would be delivered in 2027.

Latest News

A scenic 32-mile loop through Litchfield County

Whenever I need to get a quick but scenic bicycle ride but don’t have time to organize a group ride that involves driving to a meeting point, I just turn right out of my driveway. That begins a 32-mile loop through some of the prettiest scenery in northern Litchfield County.

I ride south on Undermountain Road (Route 41 South) into Salisbury and turn right on Main Street (Route 44 West). If I’m meeting friends, we gather at the parking area on the west side of Salisbury Town Hall where parking is never a problem.

Keep ReadingShow less
Biking Ancramdale to Copake

This is a lovely ride that loops from Ancramdale north to Copake and back. At just over 23 miles and about 1,300 feet of elevation gain, it’s a perfect route for intermediate recreational riders and takes about two hours to complete.It’s entirely on quiet roads with little traffic, winding through rolling hills, open countryside, picturesque farms and several lakes.

Along the way, you’ll pass a couple of farmstands that are worth a quick visit. There is only one hill that might be described as steep, but it is quite short — probably less than a quarter-mile.

Keep ReadingShow less
North East town records brought into the digital age

Chris Virtuoso reorganized parcel records in the North East Town Hall basement by parcel number during the process of scanning and digitizing the documents.

Photo by Grace DeMarco

MILLERTON — Within the walls of the two-story Victorian housing the North East Town Hall lies a room-full of town records dating back to the late 19th century. Stored in labeled cardboard boxes and protected by dehumidifiers, the records are in the process of being dated, organized, and scanned into categorized online programs.

As the Town Hall works to relocate to 5603 Route 22 at the former Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witness, the consolidation and digitalization of records, as well as the disposal of those unneeded, is a time-sensitive project. Marcy Wheatley, the Deputy Town Clerk, emphasized their current heavy focus on organizing and scanning. “Now, when we move, we can get rid of a lot,” Wheatley stated.

Keep ReadingShow less
Millbrook Fire Department Carnival returns

The Thorne Building on Franklin Avenue in the village of Millbrook.

Archive photo

MILLBROOK — Summer fun is just around the corner, thanks to the fire department and the return of the Fire Department Carnival scheduled to open on Wednesday, July 9, and continue through Saturday, July 12, on the Thorne Building grounds on Franklin Avenue.

Opening night activities will begin at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 9. The Carnival will open each night at 7 p.m., remaining open until 11 p.m.

Keep ReadingShow less