To the editor:
The City Council should take a long pause on the construction bid to renovate City Hall and allow time for reflection and the intrusion of common sense.
If the city proceeds to renovate, then we will still have a crumbling 100-year-old building, and it will not be an image that the “Star City” will want to present.
A better alternative than renovation might be to build a new City Hall inside the downtown quadrangle between Chapman and State streets. This area appears to be large enough to accommodate a new City Hall, a farmer’s market, outdoor public events, and parking. A path forward would include hiring an architect; developing a community vision for this quadrangle; and setting a goal to break ground for a new City Hall in 2023.
Stephen Freeman
Presque Isle
