Repairs to Community Center look to be 'significant'

It's going to cost real money to fix the foundation problems at the Springfield Community Center.
http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20150107/NEWS02/701079875

Large sheets of plastic are used to protect the basement ceramics shop form the effects of crumbling brick support pillars at Springfield Community Center in Springfield at the Main Street facility. Photo: Photo by Len EmeryPublished January 7, 2015 in the Rutland Herald Repairs to Community Center look to be ‘significant’ By SUSAN SMALLHEER Staff Writer SPRINGFIELD — It’s going to cost real money to fix the foundation problems at the Springfield Community Center. Town Manager Tom Yennerell told the Springfield Select Board and Budget Committee on Monday night that the building’s problems were more serious than originally thought. Yennerell estimated the fix to the foundation and the brick pilasters in the building’s basement represented a “pretty significant project.” Yennerell said the town’s recreation department currently had about $80,000 in its reserve fund that could be used toward the building’s repair. “It would take the bulk of it,” he said. The issue came up during a budget workshop involving several of the town’s departments, including the recreation department. Gay Mobus, a Budget Committee member, asked Yennerell what the status of the building was, and also asked about the future of the ceramics program at the Springfield Senior Center, which is located in a portion of the Community Center. Yennerell said he was meeting in the next day or so with a contractor to get an estimate on the repairs, based on the preliminary engineering report, which he received Friday. He said a more detailed report would also be done by the engineer. “It’s a pretty sizeable project,” Yennerell said. He said the brick foundation, which is visible from the sidewalk along Main Street, was severely decayed. The foundation not only holds horizontal beams, but also vertical beams that hold up the building, he said. Thus, any repairs will involve “suspending” the building. He said it was likely the building would have to close while the framework for the repairs is put in place. He said also it’s likely the sidewalk would have to close. As a result, Yennerell said, the ceramics program at the senior center, which was suspended last month because of safety issues from the decaying bricks, may not be resumed “any time soon.” “It may not be until summer,” he said. The building was the original home of the Jones & Lamson Machine Tool Co., and was given to the town in the 1940s. It was built in the 1800s. Last year, the town paid for repairs to a retaining wall outside the building, as well as the fire escape on the back of the building. Selectman George McNaughton questioned whether the repair project would close the entire building, including the recreation programs run by Director Andy Bladyka. Yennerell said he hoped to time the repairs during the summer when the building is used the least. He said he expected any closure would be for a short time period. “Until we have a design and a contractor, it’s sheer speculation,” he added. Select Board Chairman Kristi Morris urged Yennerell to get some cost estimates in time to be included in the new budget, which will be finalized by the board later this month. “It would be handy to have a cost estimate,” Morris said. Bladyka said the reserve money is usually set aside for the department’s ongoing capital needs, such as repairs to the town pool and replacing the department’s truck.