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WILTON, Conn. Everyone agrees that the roof at Wiltons Middlebrook Middle School and the bathrooms at Middlebrook and Wilton High School need to be repaired and renovated.
The Board of Selectmen heard a presentation from the Board of Education on Wednesday, requesting $1.45 million in capital bond funds to do the work.
Its long overdue, said Selectman James Saxe, who has previously been on the Board of Education and advocated for the renovations of both the roof and the bathrooms.
Replacing the roof at Middlebrook could cost up to $1.35 million, and the design phase had been halted because of the poor economy. However, a $150,000 grant was awarded in 2009 for design work, and that money is still available.
Three sections of roof at Middlebrook will need to be replaced. The sections are 18, 21 and 26 years old, and each was given a 15-year lifespan, Board of Education Chair Bruce Likly said.
When I think about that in perspective of my own home, were into the 'warning Will Robinson,' category and we need to be looking at what could happen, Likly said.
First Selectman Bill Brennan expressed interest in seeing the design process and the construction completed this year - and everyone agreed.
It isnt as simple as just replacing the roof, said Sean OToole, supervisor of custodial and maintenance services. Each section of roof is like a separate roof, and all have different problems, he said.
As for the 30 bathrooms in Middlebrook and the high school, the $100,000 requested would go toward design work. The work of fixing the bathrooms wouldnt begin until 2013 with a second grant request.
Likly pointed out that Middlebrooks bathrooms have changed little since they were installed in 1962.
At the high school, theyre very similar specs. At Middlebrook, almost every one of them is different, OToole said. And ultimately, he said the 10 Middlebrook bathrooms would require a full demolition.
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