Somers Referendum Scheduled To Decide Increasing School HVAC Allotment

SOMERS, CT — Residents will go to the polls next Tuesday for a referendum pertaining to an amended appropriation of funds for a heating, ventilation, air conditioning and electrical system improvements project at Somers Elementary School.

In Nov. 2023, 61.2 percent of voters approved a $10.5 million spending package to improve the air quality at the school, which formerly housed Somers High School. Air conditioning would also be implemented throughout the building, whereas the current setup only provides air conditioning in the main office, library and preschool.

The project was estimated to cost around $9.4 million, Chief Financial Officer Brian Wissinger told Patch.

In May, Somers was approved for state funding through the HVAC Indoor air Quality Grants Program. The grant would reimburse the town for 62.5 percent of the project costs, up to $5.8 million, Wissinger said.

However, when construction manager Gilbane Building Co. received the original estimate, it realized some shortfalls, including the proposal being based on hiring a general contractor and a calculation of eight months being needed to complete the work.

Wissinger said a more realistic timeframe is 22 months, raising concerns about where to house students during the construction process. As a result, town officials are now asking residents to approve an amended appropriation of $15 million to cover the higher-than-anticipated costs.

At a town meeting Tuesday night, some residents expressed concern about a lack of information about the project, with some saying they did not know a referendum on the matter had been scheduled, according to Wissinger.

Polls at town hall will be open Tuesday from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.