By SCOTT WHIPPLE
Staff writer

BERLIN — Something will be done about the classrooms at the Catherine M. McGee Middle School, but the changes won’t be visible for another year.

Tuesday evening Town Council members voted to release $29,500 in funds for Phase I of a project to address indoor air quality issues at McGee.

For years, residents have complained about adverse health reactions in the classrooms at McGee. The building maintenance crew has worked within the town budget to keep the heating and cooling unit ventilators in 30 classrooms clean. A study by the firm of Fuss and O’Neill found the problems are caused by insufficient outside air and moisture.

Last October, the school board working with the town commissioned an indoor air-quality study, which also investigated the nature and extent of floor moisture problems in the school’s new wing.

In April the school board voted to approve a statement of need for indoor air quality and ventilation related to renovations at McGee. The town then solicited proposals for preliminary and final design.

BVH Integrated Services of Bloomfield came in with the lowest bid for a Phase I HVAC system design. The preliminary design will be completed by Nov. 12. The council will be approached for funding for Phase II. Final plans and bid documents will be prepared by March 15, 2010; the contract will be awarded in May 2010. Renovation includes partial ceiling replacement of the auditorium ceiling in McGee.

Director of Public Works Art Simonian explained Tuesday that because technology has improved a similar project in the 1990s would cost twice as much and take twice as long.

Mayor Adam Salina said the council needs to do a better job of getting information about projects such as this out to the public not just informing them of the price tag.

Deputy Mayor Steve Morelli said, “Clearly more people in town need to hear about the difficulties and challenges of this kind of project. They need to make informed decisions and understand what’s at stake.”

TV coverage on the way

BERLIN — Mayor Adam Salina said projects like the school HVAC system are a good reason to televise Town Council meetings.

Though the council did not formally vote Tuesday to televise council meetings Salina said discussions will be held with Nutmeg to work out the details.

“I don’t see this as a debate issue,” he said. “I think everybody’s on board with it.”

George Millerd, Republican Town Chairman, said the GOP has wanted to televise council meetings for two years.

“It was part of our platform in 2007,” he said. “Trying to attend a meeting every other Tuesday isn’t really sufficient for voters to understand the issues. When the public isn’t informed council members tend to make decisions without taking voters’ views into account.”

Elected officials “forget they’re elected to represent us, not decide what they believe is best for us,” he added.