| Council
Approves Lease for ESP |
By Anne DeCecco
Observer Staff Writer |
| During their public hearing Tuesday, the Town Council unanimously
approved an ordinance to lease space in the Hands Ink building
to the Elden Street Players. The players will use the space
for storage and in exchange will offer the town use of the
Industrial Strength Theater. |
| The players are currently storing their props and other
belongings in the storage unit next to the theater, and Richard
Downer, board member for ESP, said they would rent the unit
for two more months. |
| Councilman Dave Kirby said he and Councilman Charlie Waddell
walked through the Hands Ink building and he thought it is
an ideal space to rent to the ESP. Kirby also said there is
plenty more space in the building that the town could rent.
He said he could imagine a real estate or other business renting
some of the front office space and the town could make more
revenue that way. |
| Conditions of the ordinance include constructing a separation
between the town's space and ESP's storage space and installing
stairs to the mezzanine area of the building, as well as a
railing around that area. The players will install the stairs
and railing, and the town will construct the separation. |
| The town also will relocate several electrical outlets into
the players' space, and ESP will have to assure the Department
of Parks and Recreation that the town can sublease the Industrial
Strength Theater on the dates that have already been agreed
upon. The town and the players also will share access to the
building through the double doors on Vine Street. |
| The council also passed a resolution to amend Deputy Town
Attorney Manuel A. Capsalis's contract and raise his salary
10 percent. The raise was requested because there is an expected
increase in criminal prosecutions for overcrowding, according
to town staff. Town Attorney Richard Kaufman said Capsalis
has had a contract with the town since 1994, and the salary
change would go from $64,888 to $71,377. He said it would
be effective retroactively, starting Jan. 1, 2007. |
| Councilman Harlon Reece said he has had the opportunity
to get to know Capsalis and that the town is lucky to have
him as the deputy town attorney. Council member Tirrell said
he agreed, and Mayor DeBenedittis said, "I didn't think I'd
say this about that amount of money, but I think it's a bargain." |
| The council also unanimously passed the award of a contract
to the Transportation Planning and General Engineering Services.
According to the resolution, the contract is meant to "support
various transportation studies, intersection analyses, and
other types of transportation planning and engineering related
tasks required for the Town CIP projects and other Town Council
approved projects." |
| The resolution to award a contract for the construction
of the Runnymede Park multi-purpose shelters to Rising Sun,
Inc. passed unanimously as well. |
| The council also reviewed an ordinance to amend the Public-Private
Education Facilities and Infrastructure Act of 2002, updating
the reference to the guidelines and doubling the amount of
time that the town has for review and negotiation of interim
or comprehensive agreements. |
| A resolution to amend a section of Chestnut Grove Cemetery's
rules and regulations also was passed unanimously, so that
remains from another cemetery may be relocated to Chestnut
Grove. |
| The Town Council will hold a work session Feb. 6 at 7 p.m. |
