Time Is Now For Renovation

To the Editor,

I am voting “YES” on March 15.  I am tired of hearing about Option 1.  Those promoting it as the least costly option are doing everyone in town a disservice with their misinformation.  If you do your research and actually read both "Option 1" which never made it through the first step of the process - i.e. the Public Building Commission, and Option 2, the Renovate as New plan, voted on and passed by the Public Building Commission, the Board of Ed and Town Council, you will understand why Option 2 is the most cost effective choice for Berlin.

While Option 1 sounds less costly, $25M vs. $70M (net cost to the town of $22M and $47M respectively) it will actually cost more to taxpayers in the long run.  Why?  Because the claim that has been made that this option fixes 100% of the problems is simply not true.  For $22M net cost to taxpayers, we are ONLY renovating 12 rooms of the high school - leaving almost 92 percent of the building untouched.  Option 1 does not address the 60 year old roof that needs replacing.  Option 1 does not address the horrid ventilation systems nor the lack of air conditioning in the school.  Option 1 does not remediate the asbestos and other toxic chemicals found in buildings 60 years old.  Option 1 does not include a centralized entrance that provides handicap accessible and secure access to the building for students and visitors.  Option 1 does not fix the cafeteria size which forces students to eat lunch on the floor in the hallways.  Option 1 does not guarantee us being removed from the accreditation agencies warning list.  Option 1 does not fix the classroom that has been closed for the rest of the year due to severe water damage. Where is that 100 percent fix?  All of these issues will have to be addressed in the near future. Under Option 1 these necessary repairs will be paid for solely on the backs of taxpayers with little or no state reimbursement.  No one can put a true price tag on Option 1 without adding the foreseeable future repairs needed.

Yes, there have been some improvements to the building and many say the Renovate as New throws out everything.  Untrue!  Under state regulations, Renovate as New requires that the renovators go through everything in the building.  Anything with a guaranteed useful life over 20 years remains intact. Why 20 years?  Because if I am going to spend $47M to renovate, I want to be sure this facility will be in no major need of repairs for at least 20 years.  Option 1 does not afford me that guarantee. And I don’t like the unknown.

Many say this is not the time to renovate.  They agree something needs to be done, but not now.  I disagree.  While I understand the plight of many in town who are suffering in this economy, I know this is the best time to take on a project like this.  Interest rates are at an all time low.  Construction rates are at an all time low.  State reimbursement at 47 percent is guaranteed for all projects submitted before June 30, 2011.  This means if the Governor decides to change the rate next year, we are locked in and our reimbursement will not be affected.  The increase to our taxes because of this project would not be felt until 2014 and would decrease in the following years.  By that time, I would hope we would not be in the current economic state we are in today.

We should not stall this project any longer, for it is not “IF” we fix the entire school but rather “WHEN” and at what cost to the taxpayers of Berlin.  I urge everyone to understand what a yes or no vote means.  I also urge you not to vote “no” without visiting the high school and seeing for yourself what needs to be done.  The high school will be open for tours for anyone who is interested.  We all have to vote our conscience, but we should also know the facts before we decide."

Joanne Humen, Berlin