More answers needed on Weston Middle School project

Written by Kimberly Donnelly Wednesday, 21 March 2012 11:51

Despite a nearly hour-long discussion last Thursday, March 15, the Weston selectmen were not ready or willing to vote on a window and door replacement project at Weston Middle School. Each cited far too many unanswered questions and a lack of time to review information.

The board scheduled a joint special meeting for tonight, Wednesday, March 21. Check online Friday and next weeks Forum for an update.

At last weeks meeting, however, it became clear the project has hit many hurdles along the way.

Bond approved in 2010

On April 1, 2010 almost two years ago voters approved a $5.8-million bond to cover the cost of several projects, including: replacing the middle school roof, replacing boilers at Hurlbutt Elementary School, the high school, and the library, and replacing windows and doors at both the high school and the middle school.

Tom Landry, town administrator, said earlier this week three of the projects have been completed as of July 2011: the middle school roof ($2.1 million); Hurlbutt boiler ($235,000); and high school boiler ($144,000). In addition, $100,000 is being set aside for the library boiler and $52,126 was spent on bond expenses.

A total of $2,640,374 has been spent or set aside, Mr. Landry calculated, leaving $3,159,625 of the bond issue for the high school and middle school window and door replacement. There is also about $326,000 available in funding from the state education department, he added, making the total available $3,485,625.

However, about a year ago, the Environmental Protection Agency stepped in and declared the window caulking in the buildings contains PCBs, essentially turning what had been a replacement project into a hazardous materials remediation project.

Change

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More answers needed on Weston Middle School project