6/20/07 - County working on list of DMV sites

(As published by Cortland Standard, Corey Preston reporting)

A special legislative committee Tuesday reviewed criteria for a new motor vehicle office, hoping to narrow a long list of potential sites by its next meeting.

The committee is looking at ways to address the county’s numerous space needs and has opted to first focus on the motor vehicles office, which is now in the County Courthouse basement.
Committee Chairman Carol Tytler (D-3rd Ward) said that based on conversations with County Clerk Elizabeth Larkin and her staff a new office needs:
* at least 2 acres of space able to accommodate a 4,000-square-foot, single-story building;
* access to public water, sewer, and other utilities;
* location within the city or the town of Cortlandville;
* space for up to 50 parking spaces; and
* proximity to other county services and law enforcement agencies for security purposes.

Tytler asked county Maintenance Supervisor Brian Parker to look at the 11 possible sites he presented to the committee in executive session at its last meeting, and eliminate those that do not have adequate space or connection to public utilities.

Parker said he would give a shorter list to the committee before its July 3 meeting, and Tytler said she was hopeful a request for proposals from real estate agents would also yield results by then. “Ideally I’d like to narrow it down to two or three good options so that we can then bring it to the Legislature, bring it to the public, and decide what the best possible location is,” she said.
Althou

gh the committee agreed on the primary criteria in looking for a site, some variables were still on the table, such as security.

One of the primary criticisms of the current DMV office is that residents have to pass through courthouse security and a metal detector for business as simple as dropping off old license plates.

Still, the added security at the courthouse is helpful at times, said Anthony Camilli, director of the motor vehicle office. “There are certainly times when people get riled and of course it’s good to have security right there,” Camilli said.

The committee held off on deciding whether a drive-through window, which could handle certain types of DMV business, would be necessary at the new location.

Tytler asked Camilli to work with Larkin to develop an analysis of how much business a drive-through window would be able to handle, and whether it would be worth the cost.

Tytler also said she was awaiting an analysis from Larkin regarding where the DMV’s business comes from, and whether a site closer to Tompkins, Cayuga or Onondaga counties could draw the most outside business for Cortland County.

The committee agreed, however, the motor vehicle office should be in a high-traffic volume, high-visibility area.