By Sarah Opdahl

During the Tuesday, February 3 New Fairfield Permanent Building Committee (PBC) meeting, there was a discussion about potential upgrades to the New Fairfield Free Public Library’s facility. PBC Chair Mr. Don Kellogg said, “they have come into a sum of money that is going to allow them to do some upgrades.” The planned improvements will ideally enhance their equipment and services, including a critical HVAC upgrade and the addition of a new boiler, which is nearing the end of usefulness. Eventually, the library would also like to complete some architectural upgrades. When asked, Kellogg could not disclose the donation amount, but he said, “It was a private donation…it is a comfortable number, we were told.”

PBC member Mr. Mike Del Monaco performed  a cursory review of the library’s existing HVAC systems and sees room for improvement. With the approval of the library board, he is engaging with a reputable company to complete a survey of fourteen exhaust fans, plus air and water flow. It was noted, “the worst problem they have is in the adult library. There are six fan coil units mounted directly on top of bookcases, some of which, in the past, have leaked water onto the books. So, it is not a very good design.” Given that there is a cathedral ceiling, they were originally challenged with where to place a central air handler.

There was a brief discussion about the Zoning Meeting the following evening, at which the PBC would present the working bus lot site plan and ask for a continuance to allow time for Town Engineer Mr. Tony Iadarola’s comments to be incorporated. It was stressed that there is some work to be completed on the documents after the revisions are made, followed by the approvals process, and then they would plan to go out to bid on the project.

Colliers International’s Mr. Mark Schweitzer gave an update on the leaking fire tank(s) at the elementary school. He said, “originally, we had all three tanks separated. We had plugs in the pipes between the tanks… we had plugged in both of the pipes…[and] pulled one of the plugs…they went back last week and the side that has two tanks is losing water. That side is losing water, the third tank is not.” The installers are creating a plan to resolve the issue—it was noted that a compromised pipe is possibly the culprit. PBC members, Iadarola, and the Town’s fire department will weigh in on the potential solution.

The next regular New Fairfield Permanent Building Committee meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 10, 7:30 p.m.