Mayor: Police Station Roof Not a 'Priority'

Mayor Scott Galvin told the City Council last week that fixing the roof is not a "priority" for the city at this time.

According to City Council records, Mayor Galvin is in the midst of putting together a capital improvement budget, which includes several maintenance and improvement projects for the city.

At this time, the police station roof is not on the list. Aldermen asked the mayor to .   

"There are other issues at the Police Department that are priorities," said meeting minutes based on Mayor Galvin's presentation.

According to the mayor, the city must appropriate $800,000 to renovate the city's dispatch center to meet "federal government regulations."

Mayor Galvin told the City Council that "there is no public safety issue with the roof."

The police station roof is approximately 20 years old, and does have some "active leaks" in the building. Mayor Galvin suggested the aldermen review his capital improvement plan and place the police station roof on the budget, if they so choose.

The mayor estimates that roof repair will cost more than $300,000.

According to council records, the mayor said "he has discussed the issue with the Police Chief ... The dispatch center has to be upgraded [and] is a far more important public safety matter ... There are no public health issues and no mold at the police station."

Alderman Richard Gately stated last week that the Department of Public Works has put time and money into fixing leaks at the police station. Alderman Raymond Drapeau agreed, saying that both the dispatch center and the roof should be repaired.

"A leaking roof is not a trivial issue," said Alderman Drapeau. "No one should put up with a leaking roof ... [It] is a serious issue with health and safety concerns."

But Alderman Darlene Mercer-Bruen countered the statement.

"There were students in the Goodyear School for many years with a leaking roof, [and] their health was not in jeopardy," she said, adding that "no one should think that the mayor would put someone’s life in jeopardy."

No final decision was made on the roof by the City Council. Mayor Galvin is expected to present his capital improvements budget later this month.