House Corrections Committee presses BGS and DOC on stalled air‑conditioning upgrades and capital plan for state prisons

MONTPELIER, Vt. — Lawmakers on the House Corrections & Institutions Committee on Feb. 20 pressed Buildings and General Services and the Department of Corrections about delays and cost uncertainty tied to a package of air‑conditioning and other capital upgrades at several state correctional facilities.

The committee heard that design work is complete for temporary air‑conditioning units at four facilities — Southern State Correctional Facility (Springfield), Northern State Correctional Facility, Northeast Regional Correctional Facility (St. Johnsbury) and the Caledonia work camp — but that a recent construction bid for permanent systems drew no submissions.

The lack of bids prompted detailed questioning about how the work will be sequenced, how much relief temporary units will provide, and whether available funds will cover meaningful improvements before next summer. "Design is complete for the temporary for all four," said Joe Ajah, Director for Design and Construction for Buildings and General Services (BGS). Ajah told the committee he and BGS will contact contractors who attended the pre‑bid walk‑throughs to learn why they did not submit proposals and to consider rebidding in staged packages.

Why it matters: committee members said the issue affects staff and incarcerated people during heat events and complicates staffing. The committee cited a Vermont Occupational Safety and…