Ziogas pleads case for Scalia

Attorney James Ziogas, who represents the property owner, said the process “has been flawed.”
The charter says that an advisory panel of city engineer, planner and others could have been tapped. Ziogas said this is the first time Strawderman and Weiner have been involved, which they agree about.
“Therein lies the problem,” Ziogas said.
They have the expertise “to help in this process” and they should have had input, Ziogas said.
The Scalia site is flawed.
“Is it safe for a school?” Ziogas said. “I know it’s not.”
He said he would also like to know the cost of infrastructure improvements off the site.
Ziogas said that Pequabuck Street “cannot handle the traffic.”
“The infrastructure costs are going to be tremendous” and they are not going to be reimbursed,” Ziogas said.
He said he’s also concerned about the cost of the Crowley site.
“They’re asking you to make this recommendation in a vacuum,” Ziogas said, pointing out there is not even a traffic study.
McDermott said that no detailed cost estimate has been done, only broad ones.
There hasn’t been a traffic study, school officials said.
McDermott said it would be premature until a site is picked.
Veits said he would like to know whether workshops were ever considered.
Streifer said he doesn’t think so. He said the building committees followed the traditional process, including the one used for Chippens Hill Middle School back in the 1990s.
Michaell Dudko of Lewis Road said his problem is with the Scalia site.
“We have two sites that are on extreme ends of the city,” Dudko said.
Dudko called the Scalia site “very isolated” when they should be more central.
A school could be put in the central part of the city, Dudko said.

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