Selectmen Endorse Vo-Ag Fire Pump Fund Request

The Suffield Board of Selectmen approved a request for the town's finance board to appropriate approximately $175,000 to pay for a fire pump at Suffield High School's new vocational agricultural (vo-ag) building Wednesday.

The language of the proposal specifically called for $175,942 from the town contingency fund to be moved to the town's capital projects fund, although the Suffield Board of Finance will determine exactly how the funds are accounted for.

The fire pump, which carries a predicted total cost of about $346,000, was in the most recent town budget as an expenditure of $200,000. The budgeted amount was based on a projection from OakPark Architects, which designed the new vo-ag facility.

"I'm very upset with these architects," said Selectman Tim Reynolds.

Selectman Brian Fitzgerald echoed the sentiments of disappointment and frustration displayed by Reynolds and the rest of the board, questioning the usefulness of estimates that were off by more than 50 percent.

If a single movement of funds is more than one quarter of one percent of the town's budget, roughly $125,000 according to First Selectman Tom Frenaye, voters in Suffield must approve the transfer at a town meeting.

Use of the contingency fund is not subject to voter approval but that fund carries a balance of $200,000. The contingency would be seriously depleted if used as the only source of funding for the fire pump. Paying for other unforseen expenditures during the current financial year would require creative and possibly difficult solutions.

The pump is necessary for the building to pass the fire code.

"We can't open the vo-ag facility unless we get higher pressure," Frenaye said.

Suffield Director of Public Works John Cloonan noted some of the specifics that led to a pump being necessary. The water pressure at Suffield High School is currently at marginal level to operate the fire prevention system. The low pressure level is due to building expansion using the water main which also serves the high school.

While that water main, which runs along Mountain Road, was replaced this summer, the increased capacity is not enough to bring water pressure at both the vo-ag and high school buildings to an acceptable level.

Predicted labor and equipment cost increases mean the town would likely have to pay about $30,000 more for the pump if it waited until after November 1 to act.

The fund request will next be considered at the Suffield Board of Finance meeting on Monday, Sept. 12.