NEW MILFORD — The Board of Education's decision to pass a bill to upgrade the high school's ventilation systems sparked a dispute between two city council members who believed the city should have split the cost.
After the fire at the high school last December, New Milford Public Works inspected the ventilation system in the log storage at New Milford High School and found that air returning from the log storage was "through an open duct to other parts of the building." Public Works Director Jack Healy said.
Healy said the HVAC system does not meet current building codes and should be changed. He said the city's municipal building commission asked Silver Petrcelli to conduct a study on the wood shop's HVAC system needed repairs.
The Board of Education asked the City Council and Treasurer to use $233,980 from the Board's reserve account to fund a proposed HVAC upgrade. At the Nov. 28 city council meeting, New Milford Mayor Pete Buss said the money would move the project "to where the lumber was being used by the students."
Board member Alexandra Thomas expressed concern that the school board is taking that amount out of capital instead of sharing the cost with the city.
"I felt like there would be an effort to build a relationship by sharing some things," Thomas said.
Bass said the city has already shared responsibility for the high school's capital needs, as well as repairs to the Sarah Noble High School roof and the middle school roof after the July fire. installation of a new high school track and field; And the purchase of new sports equipment and devices.
"I think we've done a great job of working with our board of education and making sure we're doing everything we can to secure the necessary capital for these buildings," Bass said.
"We all have to stick together," he said. "We all need to invest in this building to make it safe, livable and something we can all be proud of."
The City Council approved the school board's application for funding for ventilation and air conditioning equipment for the wood shop. by a vote of 5-2 abstinence Councilors Sal Rynkevich, Paul Murphy, Kathy Francis, Doug Skelly and Tom Esposito voted for Alexandra Thomas Hilary Rahm voted against and Mary Jane Lundgren abstained.
At the Nov. 11 school board meeting, board member Tom O'Brien said he was concerned that the cost of funding the wood shop's HVAC upgrade fell "entirely on the Board of Education."
"The city put in the school and the city has all the buildings. I want the city to support us in this," O'Brien said.
Board member Pete Helmos said the need for major repairs was caused by collateral damage from the fire. He said the school had a "workshop" before the fire.
Still, Helmus said, “It's time for the board to move forward. What the city is doing is right for our students... It's improving the HVAC situation for the wood shop; in fact, programming is safer now than it was then.”
Helmos added that he believes the city is responsible for the project because "the fire on the roof was controlled by the city."
Wendy Fuhlenbach, board chairwoman, told the school board there were no other funding options because the Capital Reserve Fund "is the only budget the board is working with."
"I'm disappointed that nothing has been done yet, but I think it's imperative that we move on to opening a lumber shop next school year," Helmos said.
