Stamford Trustees Hear Pitch Re Churchill Gym

STAMFORD – Stamford Village Trustees, with the mayor absent, approved a resolution to enforce the state's updated version of the Uniform Building Codes, more a technicality than anything new and heard a proposal for a long-term lease or purchase of the Churchill building, which houses Churchill Gym, the Stamford Library and Kiddie Corner Preschool.

No one spoke during a public hearing on the resolution to adopt the updated portion and filing of an environmental quality form to bring the village's building codes up to date. Later in the meeting it was unanimously adopted. Code Enforcement Officer Rich Irwin explained the changes and it merely brings the village in compliance with state building and energy codes.

Brent Trimbell was present to ask trustees to consider a long-term lease or purchase of the Churchill building. He said he is a couple of weeks away from receiving not-for-profit status and is hoping to establish an athletic club.

A nine-week summer camp with 44 kids is finishing up and the goal next year is to have 150 to 200 kids for an MVP Agility Training Camp. The group utilized Churchill Gym over the summer. Originally slated as a four-week camp, it was extended to nine weeks and has received kudos from both parents and kids.

Trimbell said he is a local businessman and a softball coach. "I would like to teach softball the entire year," he said . "I want it to go year around."

He said he also has some options for the rest of the building and offered to return to the board with his business plan next month. "I would like to see a fitness center there, as well, in the future.

"I don't know the hard facts about what is going on with the building," he continued. He does know there are issues with the boiler. As a contractor, he has contacts to get work accomplished. "I could come back in a month with a formal business plan. It's only going to get bigger," he said of his plan.

Trimbell explained he began coaching softball the SCS/JCS softball team and his daughters are in a traveling league. He moved one of his daughters from SKCS to SCS where he is coaching.

Trustees have set an Oct. 1 workshop date to go over the plan with Trimbell. 

Stamford Central School was seeking to lease the building for next summer. However, trustees put everything on hold.

The Churchill building was purchased from Stamford Central School and the school has the first right to refusal if the building is sold. However, the repairs to the building have plagued the village, and last winter it went without heat, due to the ailing boiler and the cost of fuel. Jesse Calia, department of public works superintendent, in his report, indicated the boiler in the building will not last much longer. There was also an issue with a plugged toilet. He said the rental agreement needs to be contacted in the event of such a problem. However, it was later determined it may not be a new issue related to the group renting it.

He said his village crews are constantly busy, with no spare time. They have been working on numerous projects and repairs. 

Trustees will seek more clarification on the process to remove a home at 3 South Street to allow for a new bridge over the West Branch of the Delaware River. A temporary bridge was installed when a stone culvert was in danger of failure. The home, owned by Beau Ballard, would be owned by the village after a buyout of the property by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, DEP, under a flood hazard mitigation program. Removal of the home would allow enough room for the construction of a new bridge at that location. However, trustees were unclear about their responsibility, saying it was not spelled out in the agreement.

There was discussion of the legal options on the Westholm property now that the old hotel has been razed. It was decided to allow the property to go through the normal foreclosure process.

Trustees tabled discussion on maintenance and use of Archibald Field for next month.