Town reports $77,000 estimate for Milford Town Hall exterior clock faces and $70,000 HVAC coil damage after water intrusions

Milford town staff told the Board of Selectmen on Jan. 13 that recent water intrusions at Town Hall caused immediate cleanup costs and revealed additional damage now estimated in the tens of thousands.

Town Administrator Lincoln Daley said ProductX conducted an initial assessment and the initial cleanup to remove water and replace tiles cost about $7,000. During cleanup, staff learned that three HVAC coils were damaged; Daley said the coils and related repairs would cost “about $70,000.” He said the town will file an insurance claim and expects much of the cost to be covered by the town’s insurer, and that he will update the board when the final claim is processed.

Daley also updated the board on Town Hall’s historic clock. He said a firm called Old Time’s Sake has implemented an interim repair to the clock’s timing mechanism, and that staff have received an initial scope and estimate to repair and replace rotten wood around the clock faces. Daley said that exterior-face repairs and surrounding woodwork are estimated at about $76,000; staff plan to issue a request for proposals this year and pursue grant funding.

Daley noted additional building work is planned, including replacing exterior stairs by the Community Development Office and the recreation-department stairs; the ramp at the main entrance has already been fixed. He said the town will coordinate scheduling with DPW for the remaining work. No formal appropriations were made at the Jan. 13 meeting.

The board did not take formal action on these repairs during the meeting; Daley said staff would return with updated insurance and bid information as it becomes available.