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Select Board focuses on maintenance at close of fiscal year

By Courtney Llewellyn

Reminder Assistant Editor



LONGMEADOW On the last day of Fiscal Year 2008, maintenance was the biggest issue of discussion for the Select Board. The newly reorganized board spoke about school building maintenance and water and sewer issues during their June 30 meeting.

The Select Board met with Town Manager Robin Crosbie, Finance Director Paul Pasterczyk, Department of Public Works Director Mike Wrabel and Facilities Director Adrian Phaneuf first to discuss school building maintenance in Longmeadow. Approximately 92 percent of the $472,000 maintenance budget for FY08 was actually used during the fiscal year and Select Board Chair Paul Santaniello wanted to know why eight percent was left unused.

In addition to what was already spent on routine maintenance and repairs, $35,000 has reserved for a new heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system at Glenbrook Middle School and approximately $50,000 has been set aside for "encumbrances," or special repairs, according to Pasterczyk.

Phaneuf said the new HVAC system installation at Glenbrook has been delayed until now because it was impossible to do work on the heating system during the winter months.

Crosbie also explained that a preventative maintenance schedule was implemented this year, so extra funding was put in the budget in case of emergency repairs.

"We've increased maintenance in all the buildings," Wrabel told the board.

Select Board Clerk William Scibelli had to ponder the issue of money versus maintenance, however.

"It should not be a matter of money being spent, it should be a matter of things being maintained properly," Scibelli stated. "If everything was done properly, it should be a matter of how much we've saved. This budget shows we're going in the right direction with out maintenance."

All funds unused for maintenance will be returned to the general fund, according to Wrabel.

Rob Aseltine, vice-chair of the School Committee, was also at the meeting and noted the issue of lingering problems in the schools, specifically the windows and valves at Glenbrook. "The condition of the buildings is a major concern to us," he said. "There has been a big concern for proper maintenance because of the MSBA [Massachusetts School Building Association]."

"The New England Association of Schools and Colleges took the high school off the warning list last fall because of the maintenance work," Select Board member Kathleen Grady said. "From what I see, the maintenance is going really well."

From there, the board and its guests started discussion of their goals for water and sewer rates in the town.

One of the main reasons the rates have increased recently in the town is because long overdue maintenance is now taking place.

"We need to look at all the options," Crosbie said, mentioning a flat rate, a tiered rate and a third option yet to be determined.

Crosbie and Grady spoke about different package plans that could be offered to people, much like the different cell phone plan options.

"The bulk of the work is already done," Select Board member Robert Barkett stated. "The goal is to have this thing before the public well before Town Meeting."

The board agreed that the work should be done internally, and Santaniello reminded all those present that the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection mandate of the use of 65 gallons of water per person per day is approaching.

Although no target date was set for the water and sewer rates, the board is looking to get started on their work as soon as possible.