Vermont Veterans Home seeks $1.05 million for air‑handler replacements and new laundry facility

The Vermont Veterans Home asked a Corrections & Institutions committee for clarification on two capital requests in the governor’s FY2026 budget: $730,000 to replace air handlers across the facility and $420,000 to build a new laundry area.

The requests matter because facility staff said many heating, ventilation and air‑conditioning units are at the end of their service life, leaving residents at risk of losing heating or cooling when units fail. Melissa Jackson, CEO of the Vermont Veterans Home, told the committee the home has identified roughly 80 air handlers and that "we have identified at least 10 that are not functioning and would need immediate replacements." She said several others are failing and cannot be reliably repaired because of the EPA phase‑out of R‑22 refrigerant.

Committee members pressed for details on costs, timing and scope. Greg Cruzan, director of environmental services at the home, said lead time for ordering replacement units can be "up to 30 weeks from time of ordering for them to arrive." Cruzan gave per‑unit price ranges the committee used to calculate the request: larger units roughly $8,000–$10,000 each and smaller units about $6,500–$7,000. Jackson said the governor’s request covers the planned replacements; the home estimates it needs to replace about 80 units and reported about 14 currently not working.

On the laundry request, staff said the $420,000 is for a structural addition — a ground‑level facility of roughly 2,000–2,500 square feet — not for the washers and dryers themselves. Jackson said the quoted cost for washers and dryers is separate and was not included in the $420,000 line. On the machine sizes and cost, Jackson said the home has quotes for multiple sizes and cited sample prices: "the 90 pound is 26,000. The 40 pound is 12,000." Staff reported the home was initially quoted four washers and four dryers but said they are reviewing whether smaller machines would meet operational needs and reduce cost.

Committee members also raised project management questions. The home said it has one on‑site HVAC technician and would hire outside contractors to speed installations; Cruzan estimated that with outside contractors the full air‑handler replacement work could take about eight to 10 months once units arrive, while a single technician working alone could take a year or longer. For the laundry, Cruzan said a structural and engineering review found the current second‑floor laundry area is unsuitable for heavy, hard‑mounted commercial machines because of vibration transmitted through the building and underlying pipes; staff therefore recommended a ground‑level expansion so the home can install hard‑mounted equipment.

On funding flexibility, committee members discussed language that would allow the home to transfer money between the two line items if one project becomes more urgent or bids come in over budget. Jackson said that flexibility would help; committee staff said they will consider adding such language and noted that the home can also pursue VA grants but that VA funding availability is uncertain.

The committee directed the home to provide more detailed supporting materials before final action: an itemized count of large and small air handlers and the basis for the $730,000 calculation, specific machine specs and counts for washers and dryers, and, if possible, a more detailed construction estimate for the laundry building (the committee noted a formal RFP would be needed for firm construction bids). The home said it will delay other planned projects as needed if funds must be shifted to urgent replacements.

The committee did not vote on either request during this hearing but made a record of the technical details requested and the possible budget language that would allow transfers between the two projects.

For the public record, the Vermont Veterans Home identified Patriot Hall as one affected space and said the priority for replacements is resident areas over staff or auxiliary spaces.