PORT TOWNSEND — After resolving the issue to restore or not to restore City Hall, City Council members must now decide on how to pay for the project.
The council, in a split 5-2 vote Monday night, chose to move ahead on the restoration project, an issue that has been on the table for nearly 30 years.
“The Rubicon was crossed,” said Geoff Masci, one of two council members who voted against awarding a contract on the project, which also includes an adjacent “annex” office building.
The City Hall is at the corner of Madison and Water streets.
“The big question now is, where will we find the money?”
City Manager David Timmons said total cost of restoring the 112-year-old building plus annex construction is estimated at $5.4 million.
At this point, the city is about $750,000 short.
Some council members predict that the project may cost city taxpayers double that amount.
Higher shortfall?
Councilman Frank Benskin, who also voted against the project Monday night, predicted that the shortfall might reach as high as $1.8 million.
“We entered into a contract that doesn’t reflect what the cost of the project is going to be,” Benskin said.
“It is not a good way to do business.”
