Work on firehouse roof moving forward

0
36

From left, Selectman David D’Amico, First Selectman Gerard Smith and Selectman Christopher Bielik look over the costs for the new roof for the firehouse Tuesday night at Town Hall. –LUKE MARSHALL
From left, Selectman David D’Amico, First Selectman Gerard Smith and Selectman Christopher Bielik look over the costs for the new roof for the firehouse Tuesday night at Town Hall. –LUKE MARSHALL

BEACON FALLS — Beacon Hose Company No. 1 is poised to get a new roof on the firehouse before the end of the month.

The roof has been leaking and firefighters have expressed concerns that the equipment stored in the firehouse at 35 North Main St. could ultimately be damaged due to the leaks.

The Board of Finance had originally proposed to pay for the roof repairs with money from the sale of the cell tower on Lopus Road. However, the final plan is to use contingency funds to pay for the roof.   

The Board of Selectmen has earmarked $66,000 for the work. During Tuesday’s special Board of Selectmen meeting the board found out the cost is about $80,000.  

The extra costs are $2,500 for engineering work by the Northford-based Nafis & Young Engineers, Inc., and $11,800 for the special fasteners and glue that are needed to fix the roof, according to First Selectman Gerard Smith.

“The roofing system that’s on there is a unique roofing system. It’s not a normal asphalt shingle roof. So there’s fasteners that are on there and if you just pull the fasteners out they’ll rip the board. There’s a glue and whole intricate process that’s approved by the manufacturer to do it,” Smith said.

The extra costs did not come as a surprise.

“We had a 20 percent contingency in there, so we knew we were going to be close to $80,000,” Smith said.

Smith said the extra costs will be covered by the remaining balance of Local Capital Improvement Program funds the town received from the state.

Smith, who was overseeing his last meeting as first selectman, recommended that any additional work that needs to be done, such as replacing the sheet metal around the air conditioning unit, be done now.

“When we have that number [of how much it will cost], then you can make a request for the money and it’s not going to cost us any additional funds,” Smith said. “The $66,000 has already been allocated and any additional funds will come from LoCIP.”

Smith said the work is scheduled to begin this week and will take approximately 10 days, weather permitting, to complete. The work will be done by Waterbury-based SMS Roofing and Siding, he said.