By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
OLEAN — City aldermen learned Tuesday that a planned modernization of the Municipal Building’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems would cost nearly $3 million.
The Common Council heard from Jim Mistretta, director of energy services for Stark Tech, a Buffalo firm with an office in Allegany that recently designed and installed an HVAC system at the John J. Ash Community Center.
Mistretta said the HVAC system at city hall is the original one installed in 1959. The firm’s recommendations include some new ductwork and piping and new windows throughout the building and the Olean Police Station. Windows will be double-paned as opposed to the original single-pane windows. The estimated cost is $2.7 million.
The presentation came during the Finance Committee meeting. The Common Council had set aside more than $400,000 toward the cost of updating the heating and air conditioning systems. The aldermen recently agreed to tap that account to pay for cleaning and videoing the interior of the two water reservoirs on Mount Hermann.
The scope of modernizing the HVAC system will require borrowing by the city. It’s not clear when the project would be undertaken. The age of the equipment makes it difficult to get parts, said Public Works Department Director Ben Slotman.
Aldermen in attendance also came to a consensus to utilize a previous study on inflow and infiltration of the city’s storm sewer system that has been prone to sewage overflows into the Allegheny River in times of heavy rain. Council President John Crawford, D-Ward 5, and Alderman David Anastasia, D-Ward 7, were absent.
“I’m not supportive of the new I and I study,” said Finance Committee Chairman Sonja McCall, D-Ward 4. It would be better to separate the city’s responsibility and that of homeowners.
Anything will require a multi-year plan said Alderman JR Bennion.
The city had advertised a request for proposals to study the problem, but received no replies. Aldermen had discussed the option of seeking study proposals again or working with the previous study. They chose the latter option on Tuesday and expect to continue to work to eliminate the overflows.
Slotman said the Public Works Department could take the old study and incorporate it into next year’s street paving program with manhole reconstruction to try to keep runoff out of the sewer lines.
The city has been spending about $250,000 a year relining sewage pipes to address a 20-year-old state DEC consent order to prevent sewage overflows into the river. This year, however, that funding was diverted to reconstruct a collapsed sewer line under Olean Creek.
Roof drains are not supposed to be tied into sewage pipe, but a large amount of that water is believed to drain into the sewers.
In the City Operations Committee, Chairman Bennion spoke of a proposal for paid parking along downtown streets and city lots as well as efforts to keep motorists from going to other lots. He said it would require enforcement by police and probably another full-time position.
Alderman Vernon Robinson Jr., I-Ward 6, spoke of a “huge e-bike problem in Olean. He also questioned the bike lanes in traffic lanes with motorized vehicles. With the wider sidewalks being installed, he asked why bikes shouldn’t be allowed to legally ride on the sidewalk.
Police Chief Ron Richardson said he disagreed. Bikes and e-bikes on the sidewalk would be a danger to others including walkers, joggers and wheelchairs. Youth under age 16 are not supposed to be riding e-bikes and e-scooters, he added.
Robinson said, “If I had a young child I’d like to keep them (riding) on the sidewalk.
McCall also mentioned that some of the benches being installed along East State Street on Walkable Olean III were facing people’s houses. Other aldermen agreed the benches should face the street in a residential area.
