A lengthy and significant meeting on Monday was noteworthy that there is no discussion about possible preliminary appropriation for public schools in the company budget.
This happened after a letter from 3 Bet Republicans who supported a preliminary appropriation, many public school families hoped that bus financing could be restored to keep the GHS start time at 8:30 a.m.
The Bet agreed in party lines to lead the decision of First Selectman Camillo to lead funds from three other approved security projects for a painting project to the housing authority, despite the recommendation of the Block Grant Advisory Committee to the housing authority.
Joan Lynch also appointed the bet as the city's new company, who replaced Pete Mynarski, who is retiring this summer and approved a mill for the city 12.041.
Hamilton Avenue School at dusk. Photo: Leslie Yager
Geothermal energy HLK Hamilton Avenue School
The meeting on Monday also included a controversial discussion of 325,000 US dollars for the financing of architecture and engineering work on the Hamilton Ave School HVAC system.
Work is the next step to renovate the existing geothermal system. It has not been in operation for about two years.
A temporary system was approved on an emergency basis, which cost the city $ 1,000 a day, $ 30,000 per month and $ 360,000 a year.
Temporary rent HLK outside the Hamilton Ave School. March 2, 2025 Photo: Leslie Yager
Leslie Moriarty, a democratic member of the bet, found that the application for $ 325,000 will be displayed on the RTM on June 9.
“Theoretically, the project could start as soon as this summer,” she said, warning of further delays.
Greenwich School's COO Ben Branyan previously said that the work could take 2 years because it can only be done if the school is not in the meeting.
He also found that the equipment alone could take months for the current lack of supply chains.
“Maybe the design funds are something that we are ready to finance ourselves and then pursue the construction funds,” proposed Moriarty.
She found that the amount of 325,000 US dollars came directly from the CIP leaf from the first Selectman budget.
“I am worrying that you are ready to give away the taxpayer's money,” said Republican Karen Fassuliotis.
Moriarty said that a five -month delay led to a longer use of the temporary system, which led to higher costs than the amount of a possible reimbursement of 10% or 20%.
Ms. Fassuliotis nevertheless proposed a condition for the approval of the funds that the Education Committee examines in the possibility of forming a building committee or exploring a possible state grant and reporting the bets in June.
The Republican Leslie Tarrington approved the application.
The representative of the Board of Directors of the Energy Management Consulting Committee – EMAC – Democrat Matt Deschamps said that the question of grants had been raised several times as ITC (Investment Tax Credit).
He said the condition was unnecessary.
“Because of the delay of this and other project, we no longer use ITC,” said Deschamps. “There is nothing that would prevent state reimbursement or other reimbursement of the grants, including Eversource, a reimbursement.”
“It is very clear that the public wants this. The RTM mostly voted for it,” he added.
Deschamps said he was worried that he was “overturning the project with conditions”.
Democrat David Weisbrod agreed.
“I agree to investigate yourself, but here there has to be a minimum degree of trust,” said Weisbrod. “Let's not put any further hurdle on it.”
“They were able to write a memo that they looked at. We cannot do every nickel that is issued,” he added.
The Republican Nisha Arora explained the lack of trust.
“Two years ago, the Boe said that they could not Do the geothermal energy. Mr. Watson (director of the Boe institutions Dan Watson) said we could not support the geothermal energy. That's why we supported the traditional … A year later, than the RTM to be more progressive, the Boe suddenly said that we can now do geothermal energy. There was a bet and we saw politics in the game and we said no. “
“We were obviously thwarted by the RTM,” said chairman Harry Fisher.
“Why shouldn't we do a study on both (systems) just to get information,” Asked Arora.
Ms. Moriarty said both studies were carried out.
“Each board has received the AECOM analysis …”, she said. “The analysis showed that the capital costs are relatively the same, but there are operating costs savings (with geothermal energy).”
Moriarty Read from the CIP leaf:
“After comprehensive consultation with AECOM and the EMAC of the city, the evaluation of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system of the building was completed. The 25-year life cycle shows that the geothermal costs of 158,443 $ 158,443 compared to a conventional system.
The proposed work area of the work includes the two-tube conversion system and uses it as a cooled water system, which replaces the water-to-water heat pumps with six heat ear coolers connected to the geothermal fields, and adding repetition coils downstream from the 8 head units to heat and merge.
The new configuration enables the heat pumps to generate hot water and chilled water for room conditioning at the same time. If the heating and cooling loads are not balanced, the geothermal field can be used as a sink or source. The current system only ensures heating or cooling. “”
Moriarty warned of delays again.
“If this board is still trying with” Gee “, we have to spend money to design a conventional system,” we waste time and resources, “she said.
Mr. Deschamps said Mr. Watson approved Geothermal energy after the AECOM report had raised his concerns.
He said that the Aecom report had been available for some time and both Mr. Watson and the COO of Mr. Watson and the schools, Ben Branyan, assured that the school system could maintain a geothermal system.
“The new system that you use is significantly different. It is easier to use than anything that has been used in the past,” said Deschamps.
“It is inexpensive,” he added. “And it deals with the problem of noise reduction, which is presented in the traditional system that was not evaluated and would increase the costs of a conventional system.”
“This is unfair to the boosts that deal with this temporary system – and it is not inexpensive to keep this on the spot for longer than necessary.”
Ms. Arora disagreed and wondered why geothermal energy was not implemented in other municipal projects.
“After bad, we shouldn't throw good money anymore,” she said.
“I understand that the RTM has turned this over, but in this one year nothing else happened than the fact that the RTM body has changed. It is now a bit more progressive,” she added.
“If you asked the Greenwich community, the majority would not say that we should do geothermal energy in municipal projects,” she said.
David Weisbrod disagreed.
“You do not have the competence, the background or the ability to overwrite a study by a world -famous engineering company, where I doubt that you have read, because when you read you, the conclusions are clear and natural,” said Weisbrod. “There is a saving of $ 158,443.
Arora said she has a degree in chemical engineering and has electric cars.
“I read the report and probably have more background and understanding of the assessment of the report than you. When I talk about what my personal opinion is, it is not based on the fact that I deny the climate.”
“If it is good enough for the private sector, the public sector begins to take over it,” said Arora.
Elliot Alchek, who used a geothermal system when he built his house, said two companies based in the national companies had recommended geothermal energy.
“There is not much adoption because there are higher template costs,” he said. “We have already dropped costs here. We have already drilled these (geothermal) holes … this is a well -known technology.”
“It is completely wrong to say that geothermal energy is not used in our state,” added Alchek. “If you want, we can provide you with a list of schools across the state that have already installed geothermal energy.”
“What the board really says is that I don't care what the RTM says. I don't care what school says,” said Stephen self. I reject this from democracy. “
“We have to ensure that every part of our city government respects,” said Leslie Tarrington.
“We are microragement and conditioning of things that I think is superfluous and unnecessary, but if it makes them comfortable, I see no reason not to do this,” said Deschamps.
The board agreed to increase the publication of 325,000 US dollars that the BOE forms in state or state grants or, if necessary, a building committee to use the state reimbursement and to bet on its meeting in June.
Mr. Deschamps joined the six Republicans to approve the disease. The vote was 7-5-0.
The application for the appropriation of $ 325,000 for the Hamilton Avenue School Geothermia A&E was adopted 10-2-0, whereby Fassuliotis and Arora were right.
On Tuesday morning, Mr. Fisher said in his WGCH reduction from WGCH 1490 that the bet wanted to return to a conventional system.
“This is what many people in the community served by the Hamilton Avenue School wanted, but the RTM has withdrawn,” he said.
See also:
Hamilton Ave School Anti-Geothermal HLK “Bots” Target Bet & Boe 26 February 2025
Somr
Boe looks at HLK in the Hamilton Ave School: “Morally wrong to throw away a geothermal system?” September 30, 2024
Patience wears thinly over noise from temporary HLK in the Hamilton Ave School August 21, 2024