On Monday night the RTM meeting considered item #10, an interim appropriation for $545,000 for flood response and repair of damages to the Havemeyer building, and #11 for $275,000 to restore the print shop equipment that was lost during the flood.
The $545,000 breaks down to: $542,000 for flood project plus $3,000 for overtime.
The historic building located on Greenwich Avenue was severely damaged in a flood on Saturday, February 4, 2023. The Board of education has its administrative offices in the building, which is in poor repair.
Item #11 was an interim request for funds
Education Committee
Steven Rubin, vice chair of the Education Committee, who took up the item, noted that the flood took place over a weekend and by the time the leak was discovered, the flowing water had damaged two offices on the top floor, the board room on the main floor, and the entire print shop on the lower level.
“As they assessed the damage they found that these areas contained asbestos and lead paint, which required abatement,” Rubin said. Blaize Levitan, COO for the Board of Education, explained that they expect the entire amount of these repairs to be covered by insurance, minus the $100,000 deductible.”
“He said this request was based on estimates from their contractors. He noted that in the print shop area, they will restore the walls, ceiling, and floor of the room, but will not specifically set it up as a print shop until a further determination on its use is made,” Rubin said.
He said the Education Committee noted that district’s buildings had in the past suffered multiple similar incidents with extensive water damage that also went undiscovered for a prolonged periods of time, and had asked about the installation of water sensors or increased monitoring by the maintenance staff.
“We were told that they are speaking with our insurers about having water sensors installed. There does not seem to be a plan to increase monitoring by the maintenance staff,” he added.
He said the committee had also asked about the need to do the work given the future use of the Havemeyer building was under discussion.
The future of the building is being considered.
Last fall a special advisory committee appointed by First Selectman Fred Camillo was formed. It is chaired by former BET member Andy Duus. Members include from the BET Bill Drake (R) and Miriam Kreuzer (D), and from the BOE Joe Kelly (R) and Christina Downey (D).
The stated purpose of the special committee is to identify, evaluate and possibly recommend potential options for the future use of the Havemeyer building and the site.
“Since there are no immediate plans for the renovation or re-purposing of the building, any future work would likely be several years off,” Rubin continued.
“Additional areas have been rendered unusable. For example the superintendent’s office is closed because it is adjacent to the damaged board room,” he added.
The Education Committee voted 11-0-1 to approve the interim appropriation.
Finance Committee
Brooks Harris said the finance committee was concerned the item was coming before the RTM prior to it being recommended by the BET, which he said was out of normal order.
“Finance has repeatedly emphasized the need to invest in maintenance and questioned whether we need more water sensors or automatic flow interrupters since we’ve experienced several flooding incidents recently,” Harris said. “Director of Facilities Dan Watson indicated that it was not a maintenance issue although the unit that failed was very old and the last of its kind in the building.”
“Finance questioned how much of the cost would be covered by insurance and what would happen to our premiums and deductibles,” he said. “Are we doing all we can to prevent incidents like this in the future?”
Mike Spilo from the Public Works committee said Mr. Watson had explained that the flood stemmed from “a failure in the joint in the piping of an air chiller and that the unit was off at the time of the failure.”
“Mr. Watson did not know why the internal water loop between the evaporator and the air handler had an unlimited supply of water,” he added. “Mr. Watson did not know why the water supply to the unit was left on during the winter when the unit itself was off. Mr. Watson indicated that all building shut off switches were manual and there were no automatic cutoffs anywhere. He indicated there were also no water indicators, alarms or automated switches. The flood was detected by fire alarms set off by the water running through the ceilings. The BOE is looking into installing such cutoffs and sensors.”
Spilo said his committee voted 6-5 in favor of item 10.
Lucia Jansen, Chair of the Budget Overview Committee
Lucia Jansen, chair of the Budget Overview Committee, said her committee had given close review of items 10 and 11, which totaled $820,000.
She noted that “uncharacteristically,” the BET had not yet vetted or approved the two appropriations before coming to the RTM for approval.
“Since there was no school press release, nor was it written up by the local media, many of the BOC members were not even aware of the significant Havemeyer flooding event that occurred in the first work of February 2023 that damaged three floors, including the superintendent’s office and took out the town’s centralized printing capability.”
Jansen said she attended a BET audit meeting as they updated the BET on the Havemeyer insurance claim.
Jansen said the town’s director of risk management Megan Damato had informed the BET that it appeared the flood was based on a mechanical failure and was not weather related, that the cost was inconclusive, and that Chubb’s inspection was active and ongoing.
“The real compelling information however, was Damato’s reveal that both the town and the schools were offered, at no cost, Chubb Insurance’s water sensor program that would install water monitoring, leak detection and water shut off equipment to prevent property damage and any disruption in keeping the town and school buildings open and operating,” she said. “Damato relayed that the town had accepted Chubb’s free offer and implemented the water sensor program. However the school administration had curiously declined to implement the water sensor program.”
“This was an unusual response for BOC committee members to learn, given the numerous school flooding incidents – MISA flooding in 2016, 2018 an 2020; the Cos Cob School flood in 2018, and the North Mianus School roof collapse flood in 2021, with a mis-installed heavy sprinkler system placed over a drop ceiling that collapsed due to the weight.
“Damato shared that she has contacted the school administration once again, and they are now set up to meet with Chubb in early May to consider Chubb’s water sensor program. However, it is no longer free, but still a relatively low cost.”
She said Damato warned the BET that because of the Havemeyer flood incident, a likely insurance premium increase will occur.
“The costs are likely to rise 16% from $2.1 million to $2.5 million, which the BET incorporated in the fiscal year 2024 proposed budget. The deductible also will likely increase due to the flooding from $100,000 to $250,000 for a significant 150% increase.”
Jansen noted the district’s flooding incidents have not only had short-term costs, but also lasting, permanent long-term ones.
“Insurance liability costs are not in the BOE’s budget, but rather the town’s budget,” she added.
Jansen said that while the BOC voted to both approve items 10 and 11 (10-2-0) they wanted to relay to the schools’ administration that they hope that the water sensor management program will be prioritized and implemented district-wide in a phased manner far beyond co-locating near HVAC mechanicals.
Ms Jansen said the BOC would also appreciate if in future the superintendent would inform the community immediately when a major flooding event occurs in the district.
BOE chair Joe Kelly said the same comments Ms Jansen made had been brought up to the BOE staff and elected BOE members, who asked about water sensors.
“We want to make sure we follow all these recommendations by the insurance companies,” Kelly said.
Mr. Kelly noted the Havemeyer building was in the middle of “prime property” on Greenwich Avenue and was “falling to pieces.”
He said his understanding was that the BOE wanted to relocate to a different facility.
“As far as addressing flood issues, we don’t have the process moving forward quickly enough to find an alternative location,” he said. “We need the conference room and the superintendent’s office.”
But, he said, “This is an opportunity to get out of the printing business…I have some friends in the (printing) business who say their businesses are horrible. What a great chance to take it away from us and give it to someone else to do for us as a savings. And also with this opportunity with the flooding, to collect insurance money.”
As for item #11 for $275,000, Steven Rubin from the Education Committee said the request to cover damaged equipment from the print shop from the same Feb 4th flood.
The use of funds was still to be determined because there was not a plan for use of the funds was still to be determined.
He said Blaize Levitan had explained that both items 10 and 11 would be part of a single insurance claim.
“The BOE print shop has been handling printing for both the BOE and the town departments. previously the town and BOE had operated separate print shops, which had been consolidated into the BOE print shop. Mr. Levitan said that both the BOE and the town were outsourcing printing at competitive rates. He said there was a group working on what the future of the print shop should be and whether it sold be operated at the BOE, town hall or outsourced. He acknowledged that it was likely that it will be at last three months before there is a plan in place.”
Rubin said the Education Committee discussed whether item 11 should be postponed.
They voted therefore voted to reject item 11 (0-8-4).
Brooks Harris said the Finance Committee had a visit from Levitan and Dr. Jones.
“Several members with experience in related businesses indicated they thought it was likely the town would find outsourcing this business to be the better model,” Harris said.
Item 11 and a Motion to Postpone
Motion to Postpone Item #11 to June
The finance committee, through Brooks Harris, offered a motion postpone item #11 until the June RTM meeting.
Mary Flynn objected to the motion to postpone.
“The BET approved the money on conditions so that they’ll have to approve whatever is purchased,” she said. “It’s just a delaying tactic as far as I’m concerned.”
The vote on the motion to postpone passed:
161 in favor
30 opposed
0 abstained