[FONT=Verdana]The planned demolition of the Armory building could move another step forward if Elmira, NY City Council approves a contract to clean lead from the building's basement.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana]"Years ago, there was a firing range in the basement of the Armory," City Manager John Burin said during Thursday's council workshop. "There's some lead dust in the basement that has to be abated before we can move forward with the razing of the building."[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana]The cost of the contract with Redbolt Corp. of Binghamton, doing business as Action Cleaners, is not to exceed $39,300.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana]Andrew Avery, director of public services for Elmira and Chemung County, told the council that the city received two bids on the project. The other bid, for about $42,000, came from a downstate firm, he said.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana]The demolition design is complete, so once the lead is abated, the city will then go out to bid for the demolition, Burin said.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]"We're moving forward," he said.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana]The city has money in reserve for the Armory demolition, Mayor John Tonello said. The cost has been estimated at between $500,000 and $1 million, he said. It now appears that the cost will be on the higher side because there is asbestos that will need to be removed, he said.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana]Asbestos abatement would be done at the same time the building is demolished, Avery said.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana]Key factors in the cost include the need to move mechanical systems from the Armory, its location on a busy street, and what materials might be salvaged, Tonello said. That is why the city's request for proposals, which is nearing completion, will determine what the exact cost will be, he said.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana]Meanwhile, Elmira's legal action against Selective Insurance Co. to collect additional money for the collapse of the Armory facade in March 2006 is still pending, said John Ryan, the city's corporation counsel. The council voted a year ago to hire Anderson Kill and Olick of New York City to represent the city in the lawsuit.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana]The city of Elmira believes there is a provision in its policy that requires the insurance company to pay up to $500,000 more, while the insurance company has said the provision does not apply, Burin said.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana]"It appears to be somewhat of a gray area in the contract," he said.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana]To date, the city has received $479,000, less expenses, from the insurance company, according to city Chamberlain David Vandermark.[/FONT]