Board of Finance approves CT Connect grant and three funding actions for road, school and HVAC projects

The Board of Finance on Aug. 7 voted to accept an $800,000 CT Connect connectivity grant for the Scottland Road Improvement project, approve the return of $26,451 from the Jeffrey Elementary School boiler replacement project to the town's unallocated fund balance, and grant a $264,515 special appropriation for rooftop HVAC replacements at DHHS, all pending final approval by the Board of Selectmen.

The grant acceptance was put forward by Katie (committee member) and seconded by Matt (committee member). Stacy (staff member) told the board that the project’s preliminary estimate from about a year ago was approximately $2.4 million and that the town has budgeted $490,000 in the capital improvement plan so far. "This grant is $800,000 which, if the prices stay the same, it would require a special appropriation of about $1.1 million," Stacy said, noting that the potential special appropriation has been reflected on the fund-balance projection sheet. Stacy added that costs could fall once the town completes design work and goes to bid.

In a separate item the facilities department requested that $26,451 from the completed Jeffrey Elementary boiler replacement be returned to the unallocated fund balance. Katie moved the request, Jean (committee member) seconded, and the board approved the return by voice/hand vote.

The board also approved a $264,515 special appropriation to fund replacement of rooftop HVAC units at a DHHS facility. Peter (agency official) explained the rooftop units will be replaced after several failures and what he described as extensive coil corrosion. "The whole purpose is to replace every single one of the rooftop units which have been compromised by a couple things: one, failure to the fans; and also these coils were not coated on there," Peter said, adding that coated coils are generally required within two miles of salt water and that the site is roughly a half-mile from the water, which he said left the units vulnerable. John (committee member) asked why the uncoated coils had not been identified previously; speakers said the coating requirement was not in place earlier and that uncoated coils were a cheaper option at that time. Peter said he has served in his role six months.

All three funding actions were approved by voice/hand vote; individual roll-call votes were not recorded in the meeting transcript. Each approval is listed as pending Board of Selectmen approval where the agenda item noted that step.

Next steps: the town will proceed with design and bidding for the Scottland Road project and implement the HVAC replacements after Board of Selectmen sign-off; the fund-balance adjustments will be processed administratively if the Selectmen concur.

Votes at a glance

- CT Connect grant: Accept $800,000 for Scottland Road Improvement project. Moved by Katie; seconded by Matt. Outcome: approved (voice/hand vote). Note: May require a special appropriation of roughly $1.1 million if final costs match current estimates.

- Jeffrey Elementary: Return $26,451 to unallocated fund balance. Moved by Katie; seconded by Jean. Outcome: approved (voice/hand vote).

- DHHS HVAC: Special appropriation $264,515 for rooftop replacements. Moved by Katie; seconded by Jean. Outcome: approved (voice/hand vote).