By Harry Kane

The Department of Public Works was temporarily denied the money to be spent on the Public Safety Building at 220 Washington St.

At the last Board of Aldermen meeting members participated in a discussion regarding the $282,000 needed to fix up the Public Safety Building.

Ward 7 Alderman Bob Trane invoked his section 15 rights and blocked the resolution. “This is wrong. Meeting after meeting we come up here and we get these last minute things that get handed to us. I’m not putting up with it anymore.”

However, a special meeting will be held on Wednesday, according to Alderman Trane, and he hopes funds will be allocated for the project.

Recently the Sheriff’s department completed a major refurbishing including the painting of the whole interior.

“I know the Sheriff’s department has done an incredible job in that building with their inmate crews,” said Maryann Heuston, Ward 2 Alderman. “In addition the DPW has been taking steps to make some major improvements. These funds are needed for continuing those modifications to the public safety building.”

Heuston said that the building was already in need of refurbishing even before the flood. “All resources are being utilized to try and get that building up,” she said.

The largest portion of the money, $185,000, would be used for heating and ventilation. Also included are new windows, rugs, two rooms for Chief Pasquarello and monitors.

“There’s all kinds of positive effects,” said Commissioner Koty of the DPW.

Commissioner Koty spoke to the urgency in obtaining the funds; since the contractor was still on the job site, it was beneficial to keep working, he said.

“There was money available and the work that the chief needed done to make this building a 100 percent safe, secure, and livable friendly as well as usable for the entire community,” said Commissioner Koty.

Koty was adamant that funds needed for renovations were reasonable. “We have met with the administration and went through everything at the Chief’s request on a case by case basis and there is no question that what the chief is requesting is extremely reasonable and necessary.”

Alderman John Connolly also felt that the work was vital. “It seems like a rather large amount of money we have to spend and make a quick decision on, but from listening to the commissioner and discussing in the committee it appears that by not making a move to spend the money now, it’s only going to cost additional dollars later, cause of the convenience of the contractor being on site, having had work delayed or having to come back another time; it’s only going to make it more costly. Plus I’ve said many times public safety exists as the principal purpose of government.”