Agency asks to continue funding cooling, security and infrastructure upgrades at correctional facilities

Kristi Hallmer, deputy commissioner of AMC, told a state capital committee that the agency is seeking continued funding to expand air conditioning, safety and infrastructure upgrades at multiple correctional facilities across the state. "This funding will continue that work," Hallmer said, referring to prior allocations aimed at facilities with older and more medically vulnerable populations.

The request covers three overlapping groups of work: temporary cooling to create areas of refuge, design and permanent installation of HVAC systems, and ongoing safety, security and accessibility projects. Hallmer said the agency received $5,900,000 last year to begin work in Southern State Correctional Facility and is now asking to keep projects moving while design and contracting proceed.

For the HVAC work, Joe Widget, director of design and construction for Building and General Services, said the agency is pursuing two parallel contracting tracks: a construction manager to oversee permanent installations and retainer contracts for contractors to install temporary air conditioning units. "What we're doing right now is we're going out for construction managers, a construction manager firm to do the permanent installation, and we're also working on our retainer contracts to get in contractors to do the temporary AC," Widget said. He identified Springfield, Northern State and Saint Johnsbury as sites targeted for temporary systems with a goal of mid to late summer completion, noting timing will depend on equipment deliveries.

Widget said the agency rebid parts of the project after an initial solicitation drew no bidders. "When we called around and asked why, it's nobody wanted to tackle all 3 at once. So now we've broken it up to the rebid. You can bid on 1, 2, or 3," he said, adding that mechanical contractors are currently busy and some equipment is sourced from outside the U.S., which affects price and schedule.

Committee members asked whether temporary units would be available to people in custody; Widget said the temporary systems would cool day rooms or conference rooms used as areas of refuge, while permanent systems are intended to cover whole facilities. Hallmer and staff emphasized that design work for permanent systems is underway and that more precise schedules will be provided once a construction manager is on board.

The presentation also covered ADA work tied to a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice. Hallmer said remaining items include chairlift installations at Northern State Correctional Facility and Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility; the funding extension tied to those installations runs through October and the current request is intended to complete the required work.

Separately, the agency described ongoing safety-and-security purchases intended to comply with the referenced Prison Elimination Act requirement cited in the discussion (as referenced in the meeting). Those line items cover door hardware, camera systems and other life-safety equipment, and were described as recurring upgrades.

Officials described a multi-year door-control and camera replacement program that has already been completed at Southern State and will proceed through Saint Johnsbury, Mount Mulvall, St. Albans and other facilities in sequence. Widget said the new systems are touchscreen-based and will allow both local and remote control of lights, water and doors; he noted the software likely will need upgrades in about a decade, while hardware should last longer.

Capital projects beyond HVAC and security also include roof replacements and sprinkler-system work. For one roof project, staff received only two bids—about $500,000 and $1.9 million—and chose to redesign to meet updated energy-code insulation and structural requirements before rebidding. On sprinkler systems, Widget said corrosion and low points in older dry-pipe systems have caused reliability problems; the agency will replace piping, repitch lines and is considering inert-gas (nitrogen) systems in place of air to reduce false discharges.

Committee members asked about body-worn cameras and the role of Wi‑Fi in supporting them. Hallmer said the cameras can function without Wi‑Fi but require extra steps to offload video; she noted Wi‑Fi was not included in the governor's recommended purchases this year.

Committee members asked for a future presentation on the women's facility; Hallmer said that update would likely occur at a later meeting when more information is available. Officials also said they will provide updated schedules and cost estimates after a construction manager is selected.

The presentation included discussion of procurement challenges—labor shortages, volatile material prices and potential tariff impacts on door hardware—but no formal votes or committee actions were recorded on the transcript.