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Politics & Government

BoF Approves Additional Funds for Fire Pump

At its first meeting since adjourning for the summer, the Suffield Board of Finance approved a transfer of funds to pay for a fire pump at Suffield High School to correct a drop in water pressure.

The Suffield Board of Finance resumed regular business after a summer recess. They approved a transfer of $175,942 for the purchase of a new fire pump at Suffield High School and accepted the resignation of long-time alternate Jim Lennon.

New Director of Public Works John Cloonan reported that the water pressure at Suffield High School has dropped by 10 percent since the installation of the system. Additional demands on the system from residences and the new agriscience building accounted for the drop in pressure.

Aside from the $200,000 already budgeted for the project in capital expenditures, an additional $175,942 will be required for the fire pump. Haynes Construction was the lowest bidder for the project at $346, 847 with an optional brick exterior at an additional cost of $15,000. The deadline to assure the pricing is Nov. 1, after which an increase of approximately $30,000, due to parts and labor cost increases, would likely apply.

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The town and school can apply for a grant from the state of Connecticut for reimbursement of roughly $165,000.

The Board of Selectman had already approved the additional expenditure. Board of Finance member Dennis Kreps questioned why the cost of the final project was substantially higher than the estimates for budget purposes.

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"We have all seen some bids come in slightly different than the estimates, but to me this is more than slightly," Kreps said, echoing dissapointment felt by the selectmen at their meeting on Sept. 7.

The required electrical system for the new pump was more complicated than initially anticipated and represents the reason for the additional expense.

Ultimately, the Board moved and accepted a motion to transfer the funds from the Town Hall improvement line instead of contingency funds. First Selectman Tom Frenaye said the improvements to Town Hall were still far enough in the future that the transfer would not affect those plans.

The board rejected a motion to transfer the funds from the capital line item designated for farmland and open space preservation.

Jim Lennon's resignation as an alternate brought kind words from the board's chairman.

"On behalf of this Board of Finance and the citizens of the town of Suffield, for 18 years of volunteer service on this committee, I want to say thanks," said Chairman Justin Donnelly, "I can't say it any better or any more than that."

Lennon thanked the Chairman and the committee and expressed how much he has enjoyed his time serving the community. Though "I will not be totally absent, I will be here sometimes and be a gadfly," Lennon joked.

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