The School Committee turned to the Devens fund again this week to cover two unforeseen costs at the Bromfield School. Almost $20,000 from the Devens fund—MassDevelopment’s payments to the Harvard School District for educating Devens students—will pay for repairs to a leaking roof drain at Bromfield and also allow the purchase of a water softener.
Facilities Director Jon Snyer told the School Committee the water softener is necessary because water at the school is “super hard.” “Welcome to Harvard,” quipped committee member SusanMary Redinger.
The problem, Snyer explained, is that the hard water shortens the life of appliances and makes it difficult to get water up to 180 degrees for the dishwasher. Snyer had a firm estimate of $9,800 for buying and installing the water softener. The four members of the committee who were present—Chair Mary Traphagen, Jon Green, John Ruark, and Redinger—unanimously approved the expenditure.
The second unexpected problem Snyer reported was a leaking roof drain that has caused damage to an interior wall. Estimates for those repairs were not so firm, Snyer said, because it won’t be clear where some necessary welding can be done until the work starts. Committee members approved up to $10,000 from the Devens fund to make the repairs.
