UMS FFT committee approves $5.84M in repairs and upgrades, creates board‑designated fund for $2.16M bequest

The University of Maine System Board of Trustees’ Finance, Facilities and Technology Committee on June 30 approved a package of facilities authorizations totaling $5,840,000 and a set of governance and leasing actions.

Votes at a glance

- Mahaney Clubhouse (University of Maine): committee authorized up to $750,000 for repairs and accessibility, funded with ALON grant dollars and required match; motion carried by roll call with trustees in attendance voting yes.

- Abramson Community Education Center (University of Southern Maine): committee authorized up to $3,500,000 to replace an open‑loop geothermal/ground‑source system with air‑source heat pumps, recover‑heat equipment, chiller and a supplemental boiler, citing groundwater contamination and corrosion; motion carried by roll call.

- JW Hall moisture mitigation (University of Maine at Augusta): committee authorized up to $750,000 to remediate widespread moisture intrusion found during exploratory openings, repair framing, insulate piping and restore finishes; motion carried by roll call.

- Belfast Hall window assemblies (University of Maine at Augusta): committee authorized up to $840,000 to replace 86 window assemblies, flashing and associated interior repairs to stop active water infiltration; motion carried by roll call.

- 125 Community Drive lease (University of Maine at Augusta): the committee authorized the university to enter a lease with Centro (a college‑readiness nonprofit) for space at 125 Community Drive. The initial one‑year term begins Oct. 1, 2026, with five one‑year renewal options; year‑one rent is $30 per square foot with 3% annual escalators.

- Zilman bequest (University of Maine Presque Isle): trustees approved the campus request to create a board‑designated endowment to hold a $2.16 million bequest from the estate of Linda Zilman. The fund will be held intact and liquidated for an approved capital project based on recommendations of a Zilman committee; the board amended the campus’s initial phrasing and approved final language in the chat.

Roll calls and recorded votes

Each motion was put and passed by roll call. The roll calls recorded the following affirmative votes from trustees present: Trustee Kaine (chair), Trustee Kates, Trustee Flood, Trustee Mishu/Misho, Trustee McMahon, Trustee Alexander, Trustee Riley and Trustee Johnson. No negative or abstaining votes were recorded in the public roll call for these items.

Context and next steps

Several trustees pressed campus leaders for additional documentation: cost estimates and engineering reports for JW Hall and Belfast Hall repairs, ALON/private fund accounting for projects funded in part through ALON matches, and a request for campus‑level NAV breakouts so trustees can compare campus needs against available funding. System staff committed to provide those materials, and Gordian said it will supply requested appendix slides and campus breakouts. The committee closed the public meeting and moved into executive session to discuss confidential real‑estate matters.

The approvals authorize campus leaders to proceed with design and procurement consistent with each authorization and the campus capital plans; any specific contract awards or project scopes that require further board action will be returned to the board as required by policy.