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Politics & Government

Roof, Boiler Projects Big-Ticket Items in Manasquan

Repair costs could total nearly $2 million, school board says

Money was on the minds of many at the Manasquan School Board's work session Tuesday night, as roof repairs estimated at $1.4 million to $1.6 million and requiring an estimated $400,000 to $525,000 to remedy were discussed.

Representatives from Trenton-based Fraytak Veisz Hopkins Duthie, P.C. (FVHD) Architects were on hand with a presentation on the boiler in question, located in , and the three rooftops of .

The boiler, which is "in need of replacement, definitely," confirmed BOE member Thomas Bauer, could run from either $400,000 to $450,000 or $400,000 to $525,000, depending on whether the board elected to repair or replace the boiler, firm representative Ted Hopkins said.

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Last month , and board members have since been mulling whether to repair or replace the nearly 30-year-old equipment.

A new boiler would have a life expectancy of 25 to 30 years, and government-issued rebates and grants are available for the project, Hopkins said when asked by board member Trisha Brown.

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Part of FVHD's client services are to help organizations apply for and obtain grants wherever possible, Hopkins said.

The BOE has not decided if FVHD will in fact be the firm chosen to execute the project, as several other will be able to bid on it, Bauer said.

However, FVHD will take care of the high school's trio of roofs from start to finish, he said.

Hopkins offered a multimedia presentation about the rooftops of MHS, explaining that the roofs on each of the facility's three buildings, with building dates of 1931, 1961, and 1998, have varying issues.

The two elder roofs have problems with "ponding" water, Hopkins said. Recent photos of the roofs showed both with substantial pools of standing water that is there "all the time," he said.

Such water deposits, if frozen, could prove extremely dangerous, Hopkins said.

Other problems Hopkins pointed out included some cracking in one rooftop, which is bound to attract a sideways-blowing rainfall, he said.

Replacement and repair options were estimated to run $1.4 to $1.6 million, depending on the ply of roofing used, Hopkins said.

"Whatever you want to do (cost-wise), we think it's time" to replace and or repair them, said Hopkins, who noted that Manasquan had "gotten the most" out of the existing roofs, and that some of the history on them could not even be found, due to their old age.

"We understand districts, we understand taxpayers," Hopkins said regarding the potential costs.

Though both options are strong choices, Hopkins said, the costlier option, at $1.6 million, offers "another level of protection" he said, that, "over time, is worth it."

But Hopkins said that there are no rebate options for the roof project at this time. Retroactive rebates, though, could be a possibility in the future, he said.

Both Hopkins and District Business Administrator Margaret Hom noted that estimates are just that -- estimates, and bids on projects can change those costs due to the nature of competition.

Timelines on the projects are expected to be similar, Hopkins said.

If both the boiler and roof projects are bid out according to plan, which is by early April, it is hoped the boiler would be in place by September or October, and the rooftops, no later than August 15, as student athletes are then back in the gym training for the upcoming season, Hom said. The gym roof would, therefore, be the first priority in that project, she said.

"The earlier you get (the bid specs) out the better," Hopkins said. "The later you go, the higher the costs go."

The board discussed that plans to look at solar energy systems for school rooftops have been tabled due to costs at this time, but will be revisited in the future.

Also discussed was an upcoming revenue shortfall of approximately $514,000 because 42 less students than anticipated will be coming to the high school from Manasquan's various sending districts, according to an enrollment projection, District Superintendent Geraldine Margin said.

Some of the possible reasons for shortfall included an increase in students accepted to schools of the Monmouth County Vocational School District, as these schools have expanded over the years, and a number of Brielle students headed to Point Pleasant Beach, board members said.

Resident Thomas Pellegrino, of Cedar Avenue, stood and asked where the money for these costs will come from, in light of the revenue shortfall.

Hom explained that the board is "in a decision phase" and that the board is going to have to look at options, excluding the boiler and roof projects, which appear mandatory at this point.

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