The City Council is ready to relocate out of the bowels of City Hall, though one member says the move is a waste of money.
"That meeting room we use has hardly ever been full in the eight years I've been on the council," said George Deneris. "Why do we need more room?""Therein lies the rub," replies JoAnn Seghini, a councilwoman who wants to see it happen. "I think the chambers ought to be more accessible to the public and easy to find.
"One reason they may not not be coming is they're not sure where it is and how to find it."
The proposal has the unofficial endorsement of a council majority, and supporters of the $75,000 project say it will make public meetings accessible to the handicapped while improving Midvale's battered image. It would also increase public seating from 50 to 70.
Architects have already drawn up plans for moving council chambers toward the front of City Hall, trading places with finance and personnel offices.
"It's a labyrinth, getting into the chambers," said Councilman Dave Nicol, noting that public meetings now are held in a room at the end of a hallway maze. Access is via a sidewalk with a number of turns and through a door on the east side of the hall, though parking is limited to the west side.
City Manager Mike Siler says it's high time for the move.
"When people come into are City Hall now, they see a certain amount of hectic activity and some disarray, because it's just offices up there," he said. "We want to create an entrance that's more stately."
City offices have been in the building at 80 E. Center since 1976. During that time, Midvale has suffered serious economic setbacks because of its stigma as home to two EPA Superfund sites.
"With all the dingy negatives that hang over Midvale because of that, something like this can't hurt," said Siler.
"It's cheaper to get better signage, open up the east door and move the sidewalk," said Deneris.
Money for the project was included in this year's budget, and the council could vote on the move as soon as Tuesday night.
Mark McGrath, a city planner, said the remodeling and move would likely take no more than a month to complete.