By a 7-2 vote, Northampton County Council voted last night to approve a $35 million bond that would finance a new parking deck at the courthouse campus, a new radio system for first responders, other county projects at the jail and to purchase assets currently under lease. Voting No were Council members John Brown and John Goffredo. The Yes votes came from Council members Ken Kraft, Kelly Keegan, Jeff Warren, Jeff Corpora, Lori Vargo Heffner, Ron Heckman and Tom Giovanni.
Brown complained that no plans were ever presented to Council for the new parking deck even though detailed plans were presented in July and discussed several times. In fact, after those plans were presented, Goffredo insisted he could bring in an expert t show that there was no need for a new parking deck. That never happened, and even Goffredo last night acknowledges that a new parking deck is needed.
He was still skeptical because a parking deck would cost about $21 million but the bond is for $35 million. "We're cutting a blank check and we don't know what we're getting," he said. Public Works Director Mike Emili said that the county could spend about a half million to get more refined estimates, but any savings would be lost by waiting for the bond.
Financial Advisor Scott Shearer told Council that $6 million of the $35 million would pay for the purchase of energy conservation assets currently under lease. He added that bonds would not be sold until March or April. The bonds would be repaid over 16 years.
Council member Jeff Warren produced a picture of a car damaged by falling concrete in the deck. "This is a vehicle. I don't want it to be a family walking into this building. It's a public safety hazard, straight up."
No comments:
Post a Comment