Aldermen hold public hearing on reallocating $1.6 million in school bond funds for Bicentennial School roof

The Nashua Board of Aldermen on June 18 held a public hearing on Resolution R26044 to change the purpose of up to $1,607,085 in unexpended school bond proceeds so the funds can be applied toward replacement of the Bicentennial School roof.

Alderman Dowd, chair of the Budget Review Committee, told the board the funds are restricted to school projects, the debt service is already included in long-term plans, and the reallocation would avoid issuing new bonds. “We have $1,607,085 of already bonded funds that can only be used for school projects,” Alderman Dowd said.

Mr. Smith, the presentation lead, summarized a 2024 assessment by ARM Consultants that rated Bicentennial’s roof as the most urgent among several district roofs. He described common failure modes — membrane delamination, seam separation and problem roof penetrations — and said short-term patches made last summer were intended to hold two to three years. “The roof is now 30 years old,” Mr. Smith said. He gave an escalated cost estimate of $1,857,000 for full replacement, adding that the consultant’s estimates tend to run high.

Mr. Smith outlined a two-step procurement approach: hire a design firm competitively to prepare specifications, then competitively bid construction by roof section so the work can be phased if funding is insufficient. He said the project team would aim for installation in 2027 and noted typical new-roof warranties run about 20 years.

Board members pressed for clarity on the funding gap between the $1.6 million in available bond proceeds and the roughly $1.86 million estimate. An alderman asked whether general funds or deferred maintenance would cover any shortfall; Mr. Smith said bids may come in lower and, if needed, deferred maintenance allocations could be used to cover portions not included by the reallocated bond funds.

An alderman with roofing experience asked whether modern membrane-cloth repair techniques were being considered; Mr. Smith said the city works with consultants and a roofing contractor on patching and will incorporate durable techniques into specifications.

Board members also asked whether the projects that generated the unexpended proceeds were complete; Mr. Smith listed several completed projects (middle school renovations, McCarthy Middle School and security upgrades) as sources of the remaining funds and reiterated the restriction that those proceeds be used only for school projects.

On health concerns, one alderman asked about mold mitigation during roof work. Mr. Smith said crews would watch for mold and that interior areas behind drywall represent the main hidden risk; inspections would occur when ceilings are lifted.

Alderman Dowd called for public testimony in favor and in opposition to R26044; no members of the public came forward, and he closed the public hearing at 7:19 p.m. The special meeting then was adjourned by voice vote.

The resolution would re-purpose existing school-bond proceeds to fund design and phased replacement of the Bicentennial School roof; next steps outlined were selection of a design firm and, subsequently, competitive bidding for construction. If bids exceed the reallocated amount, the city anticipates using deferred maintenance funds or phasing work by roof section.