JCC facilities plan should survive vote

Jefferson Community College's facilities master plan is expected to survive a second close vote next Tuesday and be endorsed by the county Legislature.

The endorsement, which was forwarded to the full board after a favorable 5-2 vote by the Finance and Rules Committee, does not commit the county to pay any of the $62.7 million cost.

That hasn't stopped a cluster of legislators from being concerned about the implications of voting "yes" at the full board meeting next week.

"I understand this is a procedural move," said Legislator Barry M. Ormsby, R-Belleville. "But there are some pretty hefty costs that are going to impact the county."

Mr. Ormsby, who voted against the endorsement Tuesday with Legislator Gino M. Zando, said he would vote "yes" next week if he were given more information, such as estimates about costs of maintenance, security and furnishings for each building.

Nine legislators — Michael W. Behling, Kenneth D. Blankenbush, Kent D. Burto, Carolyn D. Fitzpatrick, Scott A. Gray, James A. Nabywaniec, Addie J. Russell, James D. St. Croix and Robert J. Thomas — have expressed support and are expected to ensure the endorsement next Tuesday.

Four legislators — Michael J. Docteur, Philip N. Reed, Mr. Ormsby and Mr. Zando — are expected to vote against the resolution.

Legislator Jennie M. Adsit, R-Watertown, joined Mr. Burto, Mrs. Fitzpatrick, Mr. Gray and Mr. Burto in recommending endorsement Tuesday, but said her vote was primarily to ensure that all 15 members will decide the matter next Tuesday.

Legislator Robert A. Boice, R-Rutland, said he is undecided.

JCC President Carole A. McCoy couldn't resolve Mr. Ormsby's concern, saying only that the college estimated new building costs on a price-per-square-foot formula devised by the state.

Mr. Blankenbush, R-Black River, said the county and the college could determine true costs as each project was considered. It was important at this point, he said, to send the plan to the state Legislature for funding. About $39.5 million of the plan would be eligible for state and county aid.

"Sending this down to Albany doesn't put me in any corner," he said. "If those costs come back too high, I don't have a problem with saying, 'We've got to do something else.'"

Mrs. Russell, D-Theresa, agreed, saying: "We're going to be putting our heads in the sand if we do not endorse this plan. We need to get this into the state system so it can rise and fall based on its merits."

But Mr. Reed, R-Fishers Landing, said he was still troubled.

"A state plugs a number in and that's what somebody at a desk thinks construction costs are going to be," he said. "I would like to embrace the vision. But as Legislator Ormsby said, there's real and true costs in all of this. That's the sobering point."

Critics of endorsing the plan had also clamored for the college to prioritize its initiatives, which Mrs. McCoy did Tuesday. The college's priorities, from greatest to least, are: building residence halls and the $12.3 million Collaborative Learning center, making $2 million in critical maintenance improvements to existing buildings, renovating the Dewey Library, building the $10.3 million Higher Education center and improving how square footage is used in the Guthrie and Dulles buildings.