Work to prepare for the demolition of East Hampton’s former Town Hall, which has stood empty for years, is expected to be completed in the next three weeks.
Precursors to demolition of the building are under way, according to Joanne Pilgrim, executive assistant to Town Supervisor Peter Van Scoyoc. Contractors have already removed asbestos that was discovered in some areas. National Grid has disconnected gas lines, but Optimum cable lines running through the building have yet to be relocated. An oil tank is to be decommissioned and removed. UPS has moved its container for packages, and the United States Postal Service container was to be removed yesterday. Keith Grimes Inc., the contractor hired for the demolition, is to relocate the water lines while protecting the cherry trees and shrubs in front of the building.
The East Hampton Town Board voted to accept the Grimes company’s $314,000 bid for demolition on May 7. It was the lowest received that met the bid specifications, according to the board’s May 7 resolution.
A date for demolition is dependent on completion of those preceding steps.
Separately, digitization of records in various town departments is also ongoing. Old records were removed from the old Town Hall basement last year and are in storage. Some will eventually be digitized, Ms. Pilgrim said. Others that could not, or were not required to be saved, have been incinerated, according to required procedure, she said.