The roof repair work at the Taber Library went a bit over budget, resulting in the Marion Finance Committee approving a Reserve Fund transfer for $16,000 to cover the excess cost.
Finance Director Judy Mooney reported that while Facilities Director Shaun Cormier and his employees were on the roof repairing the cupola and replacing the shingles, it was discovered that the entire roof would need re-sheathing.
Some sheathing was included in the original cost of the project, “but not the entire roof,” said Mooney, “and that’s what it needed.”
The town had to act quickly, added Mooney, because workers were already up on the roof and in the middle of the job when the unexpected discovery of the rotting sheathing was discovered.
The project is still a frugal one, Mooney said, since town staff within the Facilities Department is performing most of the labor.
“They are actually saving almost $10,000 just by doing it in-house,” said Mooney. “It’s $16,000 – we know it’s a lot. All of this will be enough in the reserve – we will wipe out the reserve, but we don’t see anything else out there.”
The Finance Committee also approved a number of other Reserve Fund transfers, including one for $7,2000 for computer and software upgrades in the Finance Office, and $55,000 for sewer matters related to the EPA administrative consent order.
“Whatever we don’t use … flows right back into the retained earnings in the sewer,” said Mooney.
The Marion Finance Committee has no plan to meet again until August.
Marion Finance Committee
By Jean Perry