Voters will decide later this month if Hyde Park’s Police Department will get a place to call headquarters, and town leaders are seeking input from residents before the vote takes place on July 29.
Supervisor Pompey Delafield and Hyde Park Police Chief James McKenna hosted an informational forum on July 9 at Haviland Middle School to address questions and concerns. The auditorium was sweltering, but residents were cool and calm as they commented on the revamped proposal. Last July, voters defeated a $5.5 million project for a combined police/court facility on the corner of Crum Elbow and Cardinal roads. The Town Board asked the police/court facility committee to pare down the project before bringing it to voters again for consideration; the revised project removes courts from the equation and offers a reduced price tag. According to Delafield, the July 29 vote will be to approve spending up to $3.8 million for a 7,450-square-foot police facility.
“There was great hullabaloo in town last time,” said Delafield, acknowledging dissention from voters regarding several elements of last year’s police/court proposal. “People were upset with the way we ran the vote,” said Delafield, referring to the board’s choice of permissive referendum for the original vote. “I understand that, and we’re not doing it that way this time,” he said.
Although Delafield said the board regretted removing the court component from the plan, “we can’t afford it at this time.” Delafield also thanked developer and lifelong resident John Golden for his donation of property for the facility site. Without the donation, said Delafield, the town would be looking at an additional $1 million to $2 million for a comparable 4-acre site. “We thank John Golden for his generosity,” said Delafield.
Delafield also took the time to debunk some myths that have been circulating around town. “Regardless of what you’ve heard, the land is above the flood plain,” he said. “There’s quite a bit of difference between one side of Cardinal Road and the other side of Cardinal Road.”
McKenna spoke about what the police department is seeking with the proposed facility. “Our biggest concern is the safety issue,” he said, noting that the juvenile building that was utilized for younger offenders is “no longer operational” and that youths and adults must now be detained in the same holding area. Space is at such a premium, said McKenna, that it is possible for a person being arrested to be in the same area as the person making a complaint, which can be potentially dangerous. McKenna said that he and his staff are looking for “safety and functionality.” “I really don’t care how ugly the building is – I just want a safe building,” he said.
Hyde Park resident Kenneth Mahar addressed Delafield and McKenna to ask if volunteers could be recruited to help in an effort to reduce costs. “If people come forward and organize a volunteer group for work such as painting, then absolutely, we will use it,” said Delafield. He added that Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand (D-Hudson) has submitted a $4.5 million funding request before Congress to pay for the cost of the police facility. “If we get money from Congress we will able to add the courts,” said Delafield.
Meeting a need
Other residents recognized that the town is in dire need of a new police facility. “I’ve seen your facility first-hand and it needs to be replaced,” said Duane Pearson, who also noted that costs for a combined facility were prohibitive. “The economy is just not good and we cannot afford to build both facilities,” he added.
John Bickford, a local resident and member of the town’s planning board, said that current interest rates make this an ideal time to build. “You know,” said Bickford, “this is a great time to borrow – interest rates are very low.” Bickford also noted that the building’s budget is as lean as it can be. “I ask you to focus on the fact that this is the lowest it’s going to get,” said Bickford. “I don’t see where they could cut anything more. I think we need to support this and I encourage everybody to do so.”
Sally McClean, a town resident, addressed the panel and audience regarding the eyesore that is now the town’s police department. “You don’t feel a whole lot of pride when you drive by the police station,” said McClean, who added that that the estimated average annual cost to taxpayers for the project is not unreasonable. “Twenty-seven dollars is a figure most people can handle,” she said.
Delafield explained that residents will be receiving informational brochures in the mail outlining specifics of the police facility plan. The town will also hold two more information sessions prior to the July 29 vote; one on Saturday, July 19, and another on Monday, July 21. Both sessions will be held in the town hall meeting room, 4383 Albany Post Rd. The July 19 meeting will start at 10 a.m.; the July 21st meeting will be incorporated into the Town Board’s 7 p.m. workshop meeting.