"Fixing a hole where the rain gets in…"
Board of Selectmen ponders Beecher roof repair
By Sheila McCreven-Helfenbein, Correspondent
Orange Bulletin August 16, 2001 edition
The Board of Selectmen met in a special August meeting to address a number of pressing issues. Among the topics discussed was the pending Beecher Road School south roof repair.
The Selectmen authorized the Woodbridge School District Superintendent to submit an application to the CT State Department of Education (CSDE) for grant money to help pay for the repairs that are now in urgent need. They further approved the preparation of preliminary design documents, which must be completed by an architect or registered engineer according to state guidelines.
As part of the town's six year Capital Improvement Budget, $355,000 has already been earmarked for the repair of the Beecher roof in the current fiscal year, along with another $100,000 to repair the fascia, where the roof meets the exterior wall.
The specifications drawn up to re-roof this same portion of the building 19 years ago cannot be used this time around as preliminary documents, because the previous repair work involved a final layer of tar and gravel that is no longer recommended for flat roof repair. This rough gravel surface obscures the source of any leak, making it that much harder to isolate problems and fix them. The north section of the Beecher roof uses a membrane system that makes spotting troubled areas much easier.
A new roof was put in place on this south portion of Beecher Road School in July of 1982 at a cost of $292,000. Town administrative officer Joe Hellauer estimated that the cost to do this job today might be up to twice that amount.
As part of the town's six year Capital Improvement Budget, $355,000 has already been earmarked for the repair of the Beecher roof in the current fiscal year, along with another $100,000 to repair the fascia, where the roof meets the exterior wall.
When a higher than expected estimate was received for this fascia repair last summer, the Selectmen put this repair on hold and decided to do both the re-roofing and fascia work together. It is anticipated that this will result in some cost savings for the town.
The Selectmen also examined the question of just when this repair work will begin. Because the CSDE's process will take some time, and bids can not be received until approval of the specifications, the actual repair work cannot begin before September 4th – the start of the new school year.
But because the Selectmen agreed that this repair must be underway before the rain and snow season this winter – when maximum water damage can occur – it was anticipated that the roof work will take place while school is in session, despite the interruption to classes this will represent. It was noted that the school is in use a minimum of 50 weeks per year, so no time is ideal to rip off and replace a substantial portion of its roof.
First Selectman Amey Marrella was adamant that repair work "proceed with all deliberate speed" to minimize potential water damage to the school and protect the town's investment in this building.
The BOS went on to name a town building committee for this project, per CSDE guidelines, to be comprised for now of Hellauer, superintendent Peter Madonia, and Woodbridge Board of Education member Gary Desir, who it was announced has been named Chair of the WBOE Facility Committee, which will take up the work of the former Building Study Committee at Beecher.