Town Approves $2.8 Million For Community Center Improvements

The Clarkstown Town Board approved spending more than $2.3 million for renovations and upgrades at three community centers, town hall and the town garage at Tuesday night’s meeting. The contract’s contingency of $428,940 includes architect’s fees of $115,575 for oversight of the construction work at the Pascack, Central Nyack and Congers community centers and two other town buildings. 

The contract and contingency costs total $2,811,940 but the board authorized issuing bonds for $2,815,000 to pay for the work.  Supervisor Alex Gromack said the amount of the 15-year bonds is higher because the practice of the bond counsel is to round off the cost.

The board voted unanimously to award the $2,383,000 contract to Lorencin Contracting Corp. of New City and to retain DCAK-MSA Architecture and Engineering of Nyack to oversee the project. The base project cost was $1,987,000 to which the town added three alternates of $262,000, $60,000 and $74,000.

The project cost more than quadrupled from the initial estimate of $621,000, presented to the town board in April 2012.

Although specifics of the work were not discussed during the meeting Gromack said the renovations include electric upgrades and automatic doors.  Councilman George Hoehmann noted some of the work is necessary for the centers to be in compliance with ADA requirements.

On Thursday, Gromack provided additional information about the scope of the work. The Central Nyack Community Center renovations include emergency power electric upgrades, lighting fixtures, exit/emergency lighting, new doors and windows and automatic opening doors, plumbing and fixture upgrades and HVAC improvements. The board approved adding a fitness room to the project at an additional expense of $262,000. 

Congers Community Center will receive emergency power electric upgrades, lighting fixtures, exit/emergency lighting, replacement doors and windows including automatic opening doors. Its roof will be repaired and two alternates were approved for a bathroom renovation costing $60,000 and handicap ramp replacement priced at $74,000.

The work at Pascack Center is listed as emergency power electric upgrades, lighting fixtures, exit/emergency lighting, new doors and windows including automatic doors and HVAC upgrades.  Town hall and the town garage will also get upgraded emergency power electric capability. 

The electric upgrades are necessary in part because the town is purchasing three large generators using a $250,000 grant from the Rockland County Sewer Authority. The grant is for upgrades to sewer districts, which allows the town to buy the generators to use at sewer pump stations in the event of an outage. The town plans to use the three trailer mounted generators to provide also provide power at town hall or the community centers. The generator delivery is expected this month and they will be stored on town property near the Clarkstown Police Department.

Gromack said he did not want to delay the electrical work needed in order to have the generators operational in chance a severe storm hits the area. The project is expected to begin in late August.