Board wants to change state police building rent

DUNDEE--The Dundee village board has sent a letter to the New York State Police requesting an annual compensation for leasing the trooper barracks at 18 Union St.
Mayor Fred Cratsley Jr. said the troopers have had the building since the mid-1980s at no annual cost. He added the village is seeking some form of annual compensation in order to help cover the expenses of upcoming work at the property.
According to the letter, the board of trustees requested to negotiate the lease agreement for a sum of $75,000 per year. He noted while the troopers do not have a lease expense, they are responsible for utilities and general maintenance of the building. Cratsley said this was the initial number proposed by the village, noting it may be "a little on the high end," but is the starting point for negotiations.
The mayor said the biggest upcoming expense is the repaving of the parking lot, with the troopers also requesting an electronic keyless entry system for the rear entrance of the building. This work was requested of the village in a letter dated Aug. 3, 2015, by Sergeant Steve Neuberger. Cratsley estimates the paving portion alone will cost $75,000. The mayor said the village is seeking this renegotiation so the village taxpayer does not have to bear the entire cost of these projects.
The last lease agreement was in 2011, allowing the state police to use the building as a satellite office for the sum of $1. The mayor added this agreement had an automatic annual renewal, and that either party could request a negotiation at any time.
"The agreement to provide the above-described premises shall commence on the first day of January 2011 and shall terminate on the 31st day of December, 2011," according to the lease agreement. "The agreement shall continue after said termination date upon the same terms and conditions unless either party shall give to the other 60 days written notice of termination, in which event it shall terminate upon the expiration of said 60 days."
Cratsley said if they do not hear back from the state police within the 60 day timeframe in May, he is not necessarily going to ask them to leave. He added there is no set timeframe for advanced notice should the troopers decide to leave Dundee. The mayor added he does not believe they will leave, and that they will be able to reach some sort of agreement on the matter. Cratsley said he hopes to have a new agreement in place by the end of the current year.
"It is not a heated battle," Cratsley said. "It is just a standard negotiation. We certainly don't want them to leave."
The state police were contacted for comment, but did not reply by press time.