Spending two days reviewing both the Board of Education and the Town Capital Improvement Plans, the Board of Finance made a number of cuts and additions to year one of the Town side of the CIP.

The meetings, occurring on November 12 and 13, cut $125,000 by removing a window replacement from the Edmond Town Hall renovations and upgrades, cut $700,000 for air conditioning in the gym from Edmond Town Hall renovations and upgrades, cut $500,000 by removing the bonded portion of Parks & Rec waterfront improvements, and cut $500,000 by removing a Recreation Annex (Teen Center) renovation.

Additionally, a Library parking and sidewalks project was moved to 2029 and Library interior upgrades were moved to 2031.

Two additions were made, adding $50,000 for contingency funds for asbestos abatement in the Edmond Town Hall gymnasium, and restoring a Library request for HVAC funding of $1,800,000.

First Selectman Jeff Capeci questioned whether the finance board could make additions, but several members were able to note the parts of the charter that gave them authority to make cuts, move items, and make additions to the CIP.

Concerning the large cuts to Edmond Town Hall, BOF member Barney Molloy said that while the theater was Edmond Town Hall’s primary income source with problematic air conditioning, he had concerns that cost estimates were not vetted by the Public Buildings and Site Commission.

“Their estimates seem like guesstimates,” said Molloy. “I don’t think the numbers work.”

Molloy was referring to estimates of placing a 35 ton air conditioning unit on the roof of Edmond Town Hall for $150,000, among other cost estimates.

Molloy was also concerned about the age of the building, saying that “once you crack the envelope of the building, you don’t know what you’ll find underneath.”

Finance Board Chair Jim Gaston expressed concern on the cost estimate for windows, and that he was “not there yet” with approving a request for air conditioning in the gymnasium.

“This is premature, more homework needs to be done,” said Gaston.

Molloy agreed, saying that AC would only be needed in that space six months out of the year and would be mainly for rentals, but the town has other town-owned spaces that are air conditioned and offer the same types of facilities.

“For me, this is a bridge too far with everything we need to address,” said Molloy, who noted that with other town-owned gymnasiums that the town was “competing with itself” in improving the space.

Finance Board member Bryce Chinault expressed concerns regarding the P&R Annex renovations, noting the quote that was used was from 10 years ago. He said the likelihood of being able to do what they discussed within the quote today for that figure is minute. He also suggested there may be better ways of allocating that space for the town’s broader interest.

For the school side, the Board of Finance heard details of the school’s Facilities Condition Assessment, which came about after discussions concerning the CIP and potential renovations to Newtown Middle School could be spending upwards of $25 million on a renovation project for a school that may need to be fully replaced in the next decade. However, the middle school and Middle Gate School are the only two schools remaining that do not have HVAC systems.

Superintendent Anne Uberti said a 10-year master plan was the next step.

No changes were made to the school side of the CIP for the first year, which includes a roof restoration for Head O’Meadow Elementary School, which would give them a 20-year leakproof warranty; adding redundant boilers at Newtown Middle School, and a re-roofing project at Newtown High School. Those three projects cost $5.5 million for year one. The remaining years of the CIP were not approved and will be reconsidered next year, pending the results of the 10 year master plan.

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Editor Jim Taylor can be reached at jim@thebee.com.