Emergency repairs to City Hall started earlier this month.
Daniel M. KnapikWESTFIELD – Mayor Daniel M. Knapik is considering creation of a new municipal department that will be charged with responsibility of building and grounds maintenance for municipal and school buildings.
“Some time in 2012 a formal proposal will be presented to the City Council for creation of a department whose sole responsibility will be maintenance of all city owned buildings,” Knapik said.
Knapik’s thinking is to utilize the School Department maintenance director position for that purpose, moving the office from the School Department to a municipal position. It will be similar to legislation approved a year ago creating a technology director and department that oversees technology needs and maintenance for both schools and municipal offices.
The plan is the result of a recent building survey that lists millions of dollars necessary to address lack of maintenance issues at many city buildings.
“Our buildings would not be in the shape they are today if the city had such a department in place,” the mayor said. The School Department has craftsmen that cuts down on costs and allows in-house repairs for such things as carpentry and electrical.
The department could also serve as an internship for Westfield Vocational-Technical High School students.
“Currently there is no direct responsibility for municipal building and grounds maintenance,” Knapik said.
The mayor is still assessing the proposal and said any cost estimate, concerning staff, would be minimal. “We could utilize the custodial staffing we already have in place,” he said.
Emergency repairs at City Hall, $193,000 worth, were started in early December to address roof and facade leaks into the building. Overall, the city has an estimate of more than $7 million to correct all needed repairs.
About $3 million has already been approved for City Hall to replace its slate roof, windows and other things. Design for that project is underway and work is expected to begin next spring.