Cap bgt (Fire and Energy)
Here's the Fire Department's request for $455,000 to replace a pumper engine this year:
Here's another FD request ($115,000) for replacement of old equipment, such as gear and breathing apparatus. This request is made every two years, maintaining a steady rotation of gear, etc.:
Here's an Energy Commission request ($125,000) for energy-efficiency improvements at the pool:
Tim WhiteTown Council, Budget Committee
14 comments:
There is no way I will ever support short changing either the fire or police departments. They need the best equipment we can get to protect the lives and property of our citizens in a manner that places their own safety as a priority. I do think that we must use our oversight to ensure that we are getting the best values for our money.
The pool, on the other hand is a nightmare from the start. There is little value, at this stage, in pointing fingers except to put a stop to the insanity. The more people I talk to, the more I find folks are furious about this. The problem is, that now we have this 800 pound gorilla we have to deal with it. This needs to be looked at very closely. Just throwing money at this project seems to get us little more than wet money that disappears. And the $20,000.00 consultant, Nice work guys, why didn't we just burn that money on the town green. It would make almost as much sense.
Lou you got the answers, I have not seen your name on the ballot have I?
I'd say Lou just has an opinion like everyone else. The purpose of this blog is to express opinions on different topics. Give him a break. If you're on the ballot, 9:02, then you should be listening to all the opinions, that is if you really want to serve the public.
$125,000 to take the water from the top instead of the bottom will save energy?
Shouldn't this have a cost benefit analysis?
The reverse flow system could have a cost/benefit analysis attached to it, if the Town would call the firm that does the work. The Town and Energy Commission have known now for almost 3 years about this concept and the savings associated with it. The firm is locate din Tustin, California, the fellow is named Mark Urban and he has been designing and installing energy efficient pools for almost 30 years. His track record is very good, savings are proven and actuals are available. There is a cost to bring him out, review the facility and create a quotation, scope of work. Historically the payback for this system is short and will save the cost of heating the water, additionally if a pool cover was made large enough to fit the pool this would bring additional savings, but after 3 years of searching I have yet to find one. If you or someone else is interested contact the Energy Commission and ask for the Pool report written by myself and submitted to the Town Council, Park & Rec members and others two years ago. The pool may not be able to be breakeven facility, but energy savings ideas can be implemented that will reduce the energy cost of $400,000 per year by 70%. The YMCA in Milford/Orange had the same problem we have with bubbles, installed a polycarbonate glass structure over the pool, decreased their energy costs by 72% and increased memberships by 400%.
"Bill Kunde said"
Tim:
Bill has supplied a lot of good information. Hope you can find out if the power to be are familiar with it and if they will contact these people so that we don't reinvent the square wheel. It's gone so long, we should get all the info we can before another $125,000 is pumped into the pool.
Reverse flow systems are an interesting possibility. What is more interesting to me is the fact that Bill brings good information to the table. I am not sure how this might apply to us but it is well worth checking out
http://markurban.com/flowReversal.html
to see for yourself.
In today's MRJ is a letter to the editor by a south Meriden woman who feels the Meriden Mall should have a clover leaf exit and that they should get it before Cheshire's Northend strip mall.
Looks like the state taxpayers can just keep shelling out their hard earned money to pay for entrances and exits to these wealthy mall owners.
Which mall do you think will get their cloverleaf first?
Why doesn't the state rebuild my driveway?
The reverse flow equipment can usually be placed into any existing pool structure. Normally, the systems are included as an integral component of the pool design. The system saves large amounts of costs associated with heating the water; gas, electrical, pool owners that are concerned with minimizing energy costs put the system in.
All of the Council members have seen the pool report, the Energy Commission knows about reverse flow, the name of the designer; Mark Urban;has been brought forward. Additionally; the firm that designs and builds polycarbonate glass structures, their name was passed on. In fact in one meeting with the pool consultant, I passed on the names of the reverse flow person and the polycarbonate glass structure firm to the consultants. As a backup, the info was emailed to the consultants. There are viable solutions to make the pool more energy efficient, reduce energy costs by 70%. There needs to be a will to do it. We are subsidizing the pool at a rate of $400k per year. This is just to pay operational costs. Where is the cost/benefit analysis that looks at spending the 400k per year to pay for reverse flow, polycarbonate glass structure and a combined heat & power system that would heat the water, generate electricity, dehumidify the indoor environment during the bubble season, eliminate the problem of mold, mildew, reduce chemical use, reduce the chlorine smell, shall I go on?
if you really want to understand what we could have here for a pool facility, go to the Milford/Orange YMCA and look their structure. The case history demonstrates the success.
Anon 9:02 Lou Murray is on the ballot. Town Council 1st district. GOOD LUCK lOU..
how come you, Bill K, resigned from the energy comm?
Anon @ 6:24
I resigned from the Energy Commission because I am in the business of consulting and selling specific products that reduce energy costs for homes, schools, public buildings etc. I determined that as a member of the Energy Commission selling solutions to reduce energy demand and costs was a conflict of interest. If I ever sold any product or service to the Town of BOE someone would have criticized and brought up conflict of interest. I have spent the much of my career working on energy efficiencies in large corporations, one project the group I had the honor to manage was awarded the "Most Energy Efficient Building for 1996." To answer your question, personal ethics drove the decision. Thanks for asking.
Bill, It's our loss. I hope your ideas get the attention they deserve. If I ever have anything to say about it they will.
"personal ethics drove the decision."
Bill, you should be complemented for your decision to resign. I know you are not a person to profit from your position on a board, but for some that don't know who you are they might have been suspicious.
In contrast, there are other members on P&Z and Inland Wetlands that should seriously consider vacating, as it appears that there could be conflicts of interest.
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