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Politics & Government

Selectmen Approve Sherman School Project

The cost for the much-needed renovations has risen from $2.2M to $3.9M.

Eileen Roxbee wore her heart on her sleeve.

“We’ve been very patient,” the principal told the Board of Selectmen Wednesday evening at Independence Hall. “People cry they’re so hot. We need this done yesterday. This program has been cut from what we need to what we desperately have to have.”

Roxbee’s spirited plea followed two hours of debate and presentations regarding the , which will improve air quality in the school and provide additional teaching and kitchen space in the administration wing.

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When all was said and done, First Selectman Mike Tetreau and Selectman Sherri Steeneck voted to allocate the requested $3,944,872 for the project. Selectman James Walsh was in favor of the project moving forward, but opposed to the increase in funding. “I have a hard time spending $400,000 on an energy recovery system,” he said.

“I support this project,” Walsh stated. “But in this day and age, to keep adding and adding to the taxpayers’ burden is crazy.”

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“No question we’d like to spend less,” Tetreau countered. “Let the (Sherman School Building) Committee manage this project and come in under three-point-nine.”

Richard Speciale, chair of that committee, and member Pamela Iacono spelled out the pluses of their new plan to the board and other interested parties. (Robert Belitto Jr., the Republican candidate for first selectman in the November election, and Democrat Crista McCarthy-Vahey, the RTM minority leader who is Tetreau's running mate, were among those present.)

Steeneck shared her personal experience with the school's poor -- some would say unhealthy -- air quality. "I went into a classroom and it wasn't even summer," she said. "I was getting claustrophobic. You couldn't breathe."

In February, the town bodies had approved what was then a $2.2 million renovation project. But problems arose earlier this summer when all but one bid came in over budget.

Because the school sits in a flood plain, the town can make upgrades to the building only if the cost for each project is less than half its assessed value – in this case, about $2 million. If a project exceeds that amount, FEMA regulations would force the town to upgrade the entire school to modern code. That cost would be in the millions.

If the plan is approved by the Board of Finance and the Representative Town Meeting later this month, work will commence in late October.

The project will be completed in two stages over three years due to FEMA restrictions. The work will include improved ventilation, a second serving line and additional storage space in the kitchen, safety and security improvements to the administrative wing, and construction of new space for special education, private space for a school pyschololgist and an ADA-compliant nursing station.

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