Jan. 7—WINDSOR — Residents unanimously approved the authorization of $2.4 million for HVAC upgrades at Sage Park Middle School during a town meeting on Tuesday.
The upgrade is the last step in a multi-phase capital improvement project to improve the HVAC system at the middle school, which was built in 1968.
The first two phases included new electrical services, a heat pump system, and air conditioning of the first and second floor at Sage Park, Town Engineer and Director of Public Works Robert Jarvis said at a Town Council meeting on Dec. 19.
The recently approved final phase will replace all classroom wall unit ventilators, roof exhaust fans, unit wall heaters, boilers, domestic hot water heater, heating pumps, and valves.
Of the 25 residents in attendance, Eric Weiner was the only one who spoke during the meeting. He said that though he was in favor of the project, he had concerns about the project not including window or insulation upgrades.
“In my view, this was backwards,” he said. “You should start by improving the envelope of the building before spending money on a new HVAC system.”
Town Manager Peter Souza said that work will start in May and will be completed in the fall, with a bulk of the job being done in July and August when school is not in session.
He said that HVAC systems need upgrades every 20 to 25 years and some of the equipment was replaced in the 1980s.
Collin covers South Windsor and East Hartford for the Journal Inquirer.
