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Gardner officials say solar lease will cover roof replacement as asbestos remediation pushes senior‑center timetable
Summary
Committee heard that Select Energy pre‑purchased 23 megawatts of solar panels for city buildings and will lease roofs; an asbestos discovery in the Waterford Community Center two‑story wing raised a $1.2 million remediation estimate and requires an owner's project manager under state law.
Chair opened the meeting and the mayor updated the committee on the Waterford Community Center project, saying Select Energy has pre‑purchased the solar arrays that will be installed on city roofs. "So we have all 23 megawatts worth of solar panels that are already purchased and sitting in Select's warehouse," Mayor Brown said, and he told the committee final National Grid approval for interconnection is expected by October and that contract documents will be brought to council by September.
Brown said the city previously authorized leases of building roofs to the solar company so the firm will perform roof replacements as a leaseholder improvement, which reduces direct capital cost to the city. "The savings themselves for specifically the community center may look lower than the other buildings, but that's because they're improving the roof and replacing the roof as a leaseholder improvement on the property," Brown said.
Director Stevens told the committee a significant asbestos issue was found in the two‑story wing and presented the remediation plan: remove and replace first‑floor floor and ceiling tiles in the wing, remove ceiling and floor tiles on the second floor and leave it unfinished, then close access until an elevator could be installed in the future. He said the combined asbestos remediation and the fire‑line work to support sprinklers put the project's estimate at roughly $1,200,000. "This project has a price tag of $1,200,000 for their asbestos remediation removal and the fire line coming in," Stevens said. Stevens also explained that projects over $1,000,000 require an owner's project manager under state law and the OPM fee has been included in the estimate.
Members pressed for clearer packet materials showing the cost breakdown. One councilor said they would have appreciated the $1.2 million estimate being included in the public packet and asked Stevens to circulate the finance packet that contains the detailed breakdown; Stevens agreed to provide that information. The committee voted to place the Waterford update on file pending further council review.
