In an effort to restore the historic St. Paul's building, the Garden City Village Board approved an architectural engineering firm, recommended by the Mayor's Committee on St. Paul's, to serve as consultants and make recommendations for municipal uses for the 48 acre property.

Nick Episcopia, president of the Eastern Property Owners' Association, questioned the agenda item regarding the engagement of the consultant, asking the board to encapsulate the priorities, if there are any, and explain what the consultant is being asked to do. Episcopia also asked whether emphasis is being put on any particular use or even demolition.

Village Administrator Robert Schoelle called upon former mayor, Brian Deveney, who has been chairman of the Mayor's Committee on St. Paul's since the committee was established in 1993, to further explain what the consultant will be doing.

Deveney explained that there are 14 members of his committee, some of whom were on hand for the meeting. He then went into the background of the committee, which was established in 1993, and charged with the responsibility of attempting to make recommendations for the use of the 48 acre property, including the buildings. Deveney explained that they ultimately recommended that the village maintain either 38 or 40 acres of the property and lease the rest for use as an assisted living facility. They then identified the most successful and experienced operators of that type of facility and made a recommendation to the board. After they thought their job was done, the committee disbanded only to be reactivated in 2000 by then-Mayor Harold Hecken, when the village lost a lawsuit and was told by the courts that the property could only be used for municipal purposes. When the committee was reactivated they began considering what appropriate uses might be for the property and if the building could be restored.

According to Deveney the committee identified 13 architectural engineering firms that they considered in looking for a consultant. They interviewed four of those firms and presented them with Requests for Proposals (RFPs). When the RFPs came back, the committee selected one firm which they have recommended to the board.

"What our main goal, our challenge is, to see if we can preserve that building," said Deveney. In order to preserve that building, the committee has asked the firm to give the board a menu of possibilities for the land, ranging from the possibility of using part of the building and closing off the rest, using the building for one or several municipal purposes, to using the whole building. Though the focus is on preserving the historic building, the firm may also present the option of demolition.

Among the possibilities the architectural firm may consider, are, according to Deveney, a new village hall, a new school administration building and others. "We want to explore as many possibilities for you as we possibly can and that's what the firm is doing," said Deveney.

In addition to possible uses, the firm will also be looking at how much each of the possibilities may cost and where various municipalities might be located within the building, should they recommend that use.

Deveney said that the committee is expecting the consultant's study to take approximately six months. He then went on to thank the committee for their hard work.

Mort Yuter, a resident of the village, questioned whether an assisted living facility was still being considered. According to Deveney that is not being considered now because, "there is a court order that says that's not an option."

Another resident, Arnold Fenimore, questioned whether the option of demolishing the body of the building and just maintaining the facade might be considered, as it would be less costly than paying to maintain and heat, "the monster." Deveney said that such a possibility was mentioned at one point and stressed again that the consultants will be looking at all possible options. "We know this is a very difficult problem and we're trying to give as many options as we can so the board will make the right decision," concluded Deveney.

The question of whether a trustee would be appointed to the Environmental Advisory Board has been raised at several recent village board meetings and was answered definitively at the June 21 meeting.

Mayor Robert Lewis stated at the meeting in early June that he had again asked the trustee he appointed to that committee to reconsider his decision to resign from that commission, but the trustee would not.

Trustee John Mauk, who had originally been assigned as chair of that committee, then explained why he resigned from that position, when he was appointed as liaison to that committee at the April 2 organizational meeting. "I would like nothing more than to serve in that capacity, however, as I have indicated on a number of occasions, I have a personal conflict of interest in doing so," said Mauk at the June 7 meeting. "As some of you may know, I work for the Port Authority in New York and New Jersey which operates major airports." Mauk said he knows many of the managers of these airports and works with them and since much of the work of the Environmental Advisory Board focuses on the air flights over the village, he feels this is a conflict. He did note that the air flights over the village is a concern of his, but said he did not feel that it was appropriate for him to serve on this commission. "If circumstances change, at such time in the future, as I may be able to get involved in it again, I would be happy to do so but given my current situation, I don't perceived there is any opportunity where I could do that."

Mayor Lewis, last Thursday, appointed Deputy Mayor, Dr. Barbara Miller as the chairperson to that committee, until a new liaison is appointed at next year's organizational meeting.