Facilities department warns of rising energy and roof costs, asks commissioners to fund HVAC study and staffing

Facilities department leaders told the Finance Commission on March 20 that the town’s building portfolio faces mounting maintenance costs driven by higher natural‑gas delivery charges, aging roofs at several schools and new equipment at the district’s largest upcoming project.

The department said it now operates as a townwide facilities group after a five‑year transition from a buildings‑and‑grounds structure centered on the schools. Staff described a department of roughly 52.5 full‑time equivalent positions made up primarily of custodians, eight maintenance tradespeople (including an electrician, plumber and carpenter) and unlicensed craftspeople who support them. The department reported that about 80–82% of incoming work orders are for schools and roughly 18–20% are for other town buildings.

Why it matters: Facilities leaders told the commission that several buildings are near the end of their useful life for major systems and envelopes, and that unpredictable failures — a hot‑water tank and steam‑system parts cited in recent months — are creating large, unplanned bills. The commission is evaluating whether to fund a districtwide HVAC study and set aside capital for roof replacement, building envelope repairs and other deferred maintenance.

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