To the Editor:

The Westerlo Town Board has entered into a mysteriously unhealthy relationship with the current town hall. In spite of protests and the residents voting down a referendum to eradicate the asbestos and remodel the town hall at taxpayers’ expense, most members of the board cling to what they feel is a historical and sentimental building worth spending thousands of dollars to repair.

The town hall is not historical. Of sentimental value? Maybe.

For a building to be historic, it needs to be in its original state and most importantly have been studied by historians. If the building has sentimental value, it is rapidly losing that status in view of the substantial price tag to make it useable.

A newer member of the board did extensive research on the real possibility of the construction of a building to be built in the town park. The presentation was met with a resounding “no” by the other board members even though the proposed building would cost a fraction of the renovation project, coming in at or around $400,000 to $500,000. It was about $472,000.

What is this attachment to this current town hall? Some have likened it to a Trojan horse. It is actually remarkable how much the current $2 million proposal resembles the old Greek story.

In modern times, metaphorically, a "Trojan Horse" has come to mean “any trick or stratagem that causes a target to invite a foe into a securely protected bastion or place.” In this case, the foe is the town board’s relationship with not only the town hall but Delaware Engineering as well. This engineering company has now put forth two outrageously expensive options to renovate the building and is just waiting to get its next monetary installment before it proceeds. Delaware Engineering has already been paid approximately $30,000 for a collection of sketches that do not include the interior fixtures and the actual finishing of the buildings.

In keeping with the Trojan horse theme, we the taxpayers are the target.

In addition, and probably the most important, let us not forget the imminent problem at hand: There still has not been a definitive price tag placed on the eradication of the asbestos in the town hall building. Without the removal of asbestos (it is now known that, in addition to the heater, the plaster walls also contain asbestos), no project big or small can proceed. What will that cost?

What about the water damage and related damage that would have resulted from an old roof leak? Part of the hard wood floor is now removed with plywood in its place. What about the peeling paint on the trim outside? Does that contain asbestos too? Lots of unanswered questions. 

Once again, what is the town board’s attachment to this old building? Whatever it is, it is unhealthy. There are many unanswered questions.

Please come to the town hall meeting on March 1 at 7:30 p.m. and voice your opinion. Make yourself heard.

Mimi Dygert

Westerlo