ATHENS — Mayor Amy Serrago strongly reiterated on Wednesday that the Village Board has no plans to vacate the Athens Community Center despite Athens City Council’s desire to move and find or build a new town hall.
“We are trying to find outside funding for a full technical study,” Serrago said. “We need external funding so as not to exhaust the funds available to the village for the actual repairs. The village offices will remain in the community center building, regardless of whether the town remains or disappears.
The village council recently commissioned an air quality study at the Athens Community Center. Work such as the removal of wooden walls in the southwest corner of the gymnasium and the installation of dehumidifiers in the hallways leading to the basement have been completed.
“It’s much better, much cleaner,” Serrago said. “The basement dehumidifiers drain into the sump pump. However, for those in the hallway, we need to find a better drainage system.
The Village Conservation Advisory Council tries to save a tree at 3rd and Franklin Streets, but it has to be cut down. Greene County will assist you with the removal process. The village council intends to plant a new tree in place of the old one, Serrago said.
According to the air quality study, the village council’s next step towards rehabilitating the Athens Community Center is to give it a good clean. Athens is asking for estimates to scrape and clean the walls, Serrago said.
Once that work is complete, the village public works department can begin sealing and painting the walls, Serrago said. It is also recommended to remove the carpet, to seal the exterior spaces between the sidewalks and the edge of the community center and to repair the gutters.
The Athens Village Board and the Athens City Council have scheduled a joint meeting on August 17 at 6:30 p.m. at the fire station.
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