A project at Edmond Town Hall for upgrades to the boilers, "the ladies down below," will cost more than the $300,000 allotted in the town's Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) said Board of Managers Chairman Margot S. Hall.

The managers need to "replace the heating unit, which is substantial," she said.

Finance Director Robert Tait said last week that the Board of Finance on Monday, March 14, passed a resolution amending the original bond from $300,000 to $500,000. The lowest bid for the boiler work had come in at $391,000 plus other expenses, he said.

The boiler project is "very important," said First Selectman Pat Llodra. "The existing boilers are old, not reliable." If they fail, the building cannot function, she said.

With the bids coming higher than expected, "even a scope review to reduce the project to essentials did not provide enough cost savings," added the first selectman, who recently learned two things: abatement costs and work in a building as old and complicated as Edmond Town Hall are difficult and time consuming.

With additional funds now approved, the current system - "two magnificent boilers," Ms Hall called them -  will be dismantled. One boiler served as a spare.

"If one was down the other jumped into action; we have two magnificent ladies down there," Ms Hall said, adding "They're the original boilers."

Edmond Town Hall dates back to the early 1930s. Board of Managers member Jim Juliano "has been pampering them for years so that we have heat," she said. The dual system can use gas or oil.

During a past building tour, Ms Hall had seen the boilers, recalling that they are "impressive pieces of equipment."

A Shortfall

A letter to Board of Finance Chair James Gaston from Public Building and Site Commission Chair Robert Mitchell on March 10 first requested the additional funds. He explained, "The additional amount is needed for the project mainly because of required remediation regarding the removal of the old boiler, additional requirement to the life safety systems and reconfiguration to the existing drainage in the mechanical equipment room …"

A February 22 letter to Mr Mitchell from Kaestle Boos Associates, Inc Principal Charles W. Boos stated that additional funds were necessary "in order to proceed with this project in a timely manner which will allow work to be completed by late summer of this year."

Mr Boos stated, "This project presents a series of engineering tasks that are required to provide the town with complete boiler replacement… It doesn't contain extraneous elements that go beyond what is required to support the task at hand." He also indicates that the issues "were likely not anticipated within the previous budgeting exercise."

Developing A Vision

Ms Hall confirmed that the managers are developing a vision and mission for a business plan for the Edmond Town Hall to assess "what we're capable of doing, what we need to do, what they can do, and figure out how to improve availability to those who want to rent." The rooms, theater, and banquet hall and kitchen are among the building's spaces available for activities or to tenants such as the Lathrop School of Dance. Managers aim to "keep the town hall viable," she said. While improvements to technology, equipment, and renovations have taken place, "We still have a ways to go," Ms Hall said. Some areas "still need attention."

How will they market the building? Past years have seen concerts or performances "that bring folks in" but overall, "It's an evolving process and we're trying," Ms Hall said.

Mrs Llodra has stressed many times that she is concerned about the Edmond Town Hall.

"The building is iconic to Newtown and needs to be preserved and supported," she said. The facility, which includes a theater, banquet hall, meeting rooms, a gymnasium, and more "is a grand old building, a treasure for our community - but is in danger from an absence of resources," she said.

At present, the Board of Managers "has to dip into savings in order to pay monthly bills. If that continues then the Edmond Town Hall will totally run out of money very soon."

The selectmen a few years ago had added the building to their CIP, "in order to take some of the pressure for necessary facility improvements," Mrs Llodra said. "This is a necessary and appropriate action and reflects the tax-payer level of support for this wonderful facility."

She appreciate that the managers are evaluating the current business model. She is "hopeful that some new thinking might help identify options for the future which will help promote solvency and sustainability."