Cayuga County committee tables resolution authorizing RFP/RFI for County Office Building cleanup and redevelopment

The Cayuga County Ways and Means Committee on a routine meeting tabled a resolution that would have authorized the chair and the director of purchasing to issue requests for proposals (RFPs) and a request for information (RFI) related to the County Office Building at 160 Genesee Street.

The resolution, introduced by a legislator at the committee’s request, would have directed staff to solicit professional services to (1) develop plans and cost estimates to remove and store contents from multiple floors of the courthouse building, including priority work to relocate 9‑1‑1 and the county data center from the basement, and (2) seek developer interest and conceptual proposals for possible redevelopment of the property. The committee voted to table the resolution to allow members more time to review details and consult with legal and purchasing staff.

Why it matters: committee members and staff described multiple technical, legal and logistical constraints that affect timing and cost estimates: the basement is reported to contain asbestos in fireproofing, upper floors contain vermiculite that may be treated as asbestos‑containing material under New York law, one elevator is out of service, and the building houses six floors of furniture and files that would require handling, labeling and possibly storage. Those conditions affect contractor requirements, state variance needs and probable costs.

Purchasing Director Amanda Brady, identified in the meeting as the county’s purchasing director, told the committee that procurement timelines vary and recommended a realistic advertising period. “Three weeks is basically your bare minimum time frame,” Brady said, adding that “45 days is more of a good [period]” to allow for questions, a Q&A and a proper bid opening. Brady also described a planned bid specifically for the basement priority work to move 9‑1‑1 and the data center, for which the county obtained a state variance.

Committee discussion centered on the need for more information before authorizing RFPs. Legislator Aileen (last name not specified in the transcript) said members had not received sufficient background and moved to table the resolution, arguing for a chance to review materials and consult staff. Several members asked for regular updates on technical and scheduling matters; Brady and other staff offered to provide weekly status summaries.

Staff and committee members outlined logistics the RFP/RFI would need to address: asbestos testing and state variances for different areas; whether elevator containment would be feasible or whether content removal would require stair removal with added cost; the need to box and label personal items and create release forms or documentation for employees retrieving belongings; and limited local storage capacity for hundreds of desks and cabinets if removed. Committee members also discussed that consultant teams will likely include both a contractor to do abatement/removal and an independent monitor to oversee environmental work.

The motion to table passed; the committee did not vote to stop work on emergency priorities. Committee members and staff noted prior action to prioritize moving 9‑1‑1 to the Auburn Fire Department and said that work and related background tasks have continued. The tabling means the specific resolution to issue RFPs/RFIs will return to Ways and Means after members receive additional detail and have time to consult purchasing and legal staff.

Next steps: the resolution remains on the agenda for a subsequent Ways and Means meeting; staff offered to circulate weekly written updates on procurement steps, testing and scheduling, and to coordinate technical briefings through buildings and grounds staff. The committee encouraged staff to involve legal and purchasing in any revision before bringing the matter back for a vote.