Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Waveney House topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Officials flag future Waveney House HVAC, doors and elevator work; $4M HVAC estimate held for now
Summary
Staff told the council the roughly $4 million estimate for replacing Waveney House heating and ventilating (and adding AC) remains unchanged but was removed from this year's budget because immediate failure hasn't occurred; staff have engineering plans and said implementing the work would require closing the house for months.
Town public‑works and recreation staff told the Town Council on March 12 that Waveney House — a historic town venue used for rentals — faces several capital needs but that a major HVAC and air‑conditioning project estimated at about $4 million is not being requested this year.
"We don't have a problem at present," said the presenter during the discussion of Waveney House's mechanical systems, adding that an engineering design is complete and that the work would require closing the building when implemented. Staff estimated installation would take "about six months to a year" once scheduled and said they removed the $4 million line from this year's capital ask because there is no pressing failure today.
Officials also outlined other Waveney costs and improvements. The town projects about $200,000 in rental income from weddings and events, with anticipated rental expenses of roughly $130,000. Staff described an ongoing elevator installation that has closed portions of the interior and said that seasonal bookings — for example, weddings in August — affect revenue expectations.
Councilors raised concerns about a $360,000 line item for replacement of two exterior doors; staff said the cost rose because material bids came in far higher than anticipated and that the Board of Finance asked staff to seek alternatives to lower the price. Staff said some work done last summer (repointing) improved water intrusion but additional work remains.
Staff emphasized the town is monitoring Waveney's needs and will reintroduce capital requests or seek off‑cycle funding if the mechanical systems begin to fail. For now, the larger HVAC project remains planned but deferred pending a pressing operational need and further review.
