Somers OKs first step in 2 projects

Susan Danseyar, Journal Inquirer, Manchester, Conn.
·3 min read

Jul. 26—SOMERS — Town officials are taking the first step toward new heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems for the public schools and building a community center by authorizing funds for studies on both projects.

AT A GLANCE

WHAT: Officials are hoping to move forward with the details of what building a new community center and putting new HVAC systems into three public schools would entail.

HOW: The Board of Selectmen voted 2-1 to allocate funds for studies on both projects.

NEXT STEP: The Board of Finance will discuss and vote on whether to approve the appropriations tonight at 7 p.m. in Town Hall.

The Board of Selectmen voted 2-1 during a meeting in Town Hall last week to approve $718,235 in appropriation requests for both the Board of Education engineering study on HVAC systems for the three schools, and the town architectural and engineering study for the proposed new community center that seniors would use during the day and residents of all ages would use in the evenings and on weekends.

This is the first step in the process and the launching point for both projects, Public Works Director Todd Roland, who presented the appropriations request, said.

"Without the studies, we won't know the scope of the costs or what these facilities would look like," he said. "These will give us a baseline to get some budget numbers together."

The Board of Finance is set to discuss and vote on whether to approve the appropriations tonight at 7 in Town Hall.

First Selectman Timothy R.E. Keeney and Selectman Robert Schmidt spoke in favor of funding the studies during the July 21 meeting.

COVID is not dead, so the HVAC systems are extremely important, Schmidt said. "This is something most medical people are recommending, that you have a good HVAC system in schools," he said. "We need to move forward on something like this immediately to help the kids, teachers, and the community."

Residents have expressed interest in a community center for years, Keeney said. "People love the senior center, but it doesn't serve the needs of the rest of our citizens."

Selectmen have discussed the 30-year-old, one-room senior center, which has deficiencies and is not up to code. Resident surveys have shown a top priority for the town is having a community center, rather than using the word "senior," that all ages can use.

Selectman William Meier III cast the opposing vote, saying the selectmen haven't been told exactly where the money will come from for the studies.

He said the first step should be a community needs assessment for all projects across the town, and he doesn't think taxpayer money should be spent on detailed studies for projects that might not move forward.

It may come as a shock to officials and residents how much it will cost to install three HVAC systems and to build a brand new facility, Meier said. Should the town decide not to do the projects, money spent on studies will have been wasted.

Meier said there are less expensive ways to look into what the projects would entail, asking if an architectural rendering might be more suitable at this time than an extensive study that will include soil testing at possible locations in town for a new community center.

"We need a design so that people can then look at it and have the opportunity to weigh in," Rolland said. "Design specifics will be valuable regardless of whether we do this work now or in the future. We have needs that we'll have to address at some point."

For more coverage of Somers and Enfield, follow Susan Danseyar on Twitter: @susandanseyar, Facebook: Susan Danseyar, reporter.