Byline: MARV CERMAK
It's more than four months since Locomotive Park was leveled by a spectacular inferno that took more than 100 firefighters several hours to quell.
While fire officials labeled the sprawling warehouse blaze an arson, there isn't any indication that arrests will be forth- coming.
It's interesting to note that during a city Industrial Development Agency meeting last week, authorization was granted to pay the Wackenhut Corp. $14,531 for security services since the Sept. 24 incident.
``Because of the scrap value of remains at the fire scene, the need to guard the site around the clock continues,'' agency Director George Robertson explained regarding the aftermath of the blaze that turned the 80,000-square-foot warehouse into ashes.
During the agency meeting, City Council President Joe Allen said he was dumbfounded by the cost. ``That bill is so high the scrap savings will be exhausted just by paying for security guards,'' he said.
Robertson said because the General Electric Co. had several million dollars worth of machinery stored at the warehouse, the scrap would be worth enough to warrant protection from potential light-fingered Lewies.
``Wackenhut has had its hands full securing the scene this winter,'' Robertson said. ``It's pretty tough to find guards to work overnight shifts when the wind chill is 20 degrees below zero.'' He said the agency would recover the security cost once the insurance claims on the property are settled. Downtown regeneration prospects shot upwards last week when Milt Mitchell revealed an unnamed developer was serious about putting up the office building portion of the proposed Gateway Transportation Center project.
Mitchell, city public works commissioner, and George Robertson, Schenectady's chief economic developer, have been working overtime on the envisioned $33 million undertaking that includes a new train-bus terminal.
If these guys can pull off the State Street and Erie Boulevard plan it would be the third major development in a five-block stretch of the long-dysfunctional business district.
The state Department of Transportation headquarters at State and Broadway and the MVP Health Plan office tower at State and Nott Terrace are scheduled for spring construction starts. Mitchell and Robertson said work on the Gateway undertaking could be a go by the fall.
By the way, Union College President Roger Hull has suggested that downtown development efforts would get a lift if city, county, Metroplex and development agency representatives started holding quarterly joint public forums.
``To move the process forward, a new forum could be used to try and reach consensus about important economic development issues,'' Hull said offering to host the meetings at the college's Nott Memorial.
Hull, unlike past Union presidents, has become heavily involved in community upgrading projects. He and Neil Golub, Price Chopper Supermarkets executive, co-founded the Schenectady 2000 all-volunteer organization that began pushing for downtown improvements seven years ago.
Hull's idea has merit. After all, who would be against holding public forums on anything? Mike Andriano retired as county Conservative Party chairman last Monday, in a move without fanfare. He was the party's prime mover for more than 30 years including serving as chairman the last four years.
``I think I helped improve the party,'' Andriano said Friday night. ``But the time has come for somebody else to take over the leadership.''
John Claughsey, party first vice chairman, has taken over the chairmanship duties until September when a reorganizational meeting will include the election of officers.
Andriano put in 25 years with the city Police Department including serving as president of the Police Benevolent Association for several years.
He retired in 1991 when he also decided to make a mayoral run. He put together a strong campaign on the Conservative Party line, but he lost out in a three-way race won by Republican Frank Duci.
``As county chairman I was tied up from March to the November election,'' Andriano said. ``In the past four years, I was unable to use my summer camp at all. I'm really looking forward to the warmer weather and a chance to take a break.'' Mike Wager wound up nearly five years as the first police resource officer assigned to Schenectady High School. Recently promoted to sergeant, Wager starts a new assignment today as commander of the 4 p.m. to midnight patrol shift.
``Wager did an awful lot for us at a busy school with nearly 2,000 kids,'' schools Superintendent Ray Colucciello said. ``The students respected him because he was firm, but fair.''
Assistant Police Chief Mike Seber said Wager will be replaced at the high school by Patrolman Rob Frederick. ``In my opinion, Frederick is among the top five of more than 80 officers in the patrol division,'' Seber said. ``He's great with kids so the high school duty will be a good fit.''
Incidentally, Seber had plenty of praise for Patrolman John Madden, another school district resource officer. When a bank robbery was reported last Friday, Madden left his school beat to join the search for the suspect.
Madden wound up making a single-handed arrest, but he suffered a minor shoulder injury in a scuffle with the robber. ``He's a conscientious officer so his performance didn't come as a surprise,'' Seber said.
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