Gilmanton Academy building repairs to cost $137,000

GILMANTON — Town Administrator Arthur Capello said yesterday that the town, its insurer and general contractor Conneston Construction, Inc. have agreed on $137,000 for repairs to the Academy building cause by a broken sprinkler pipe in January.

Capello said that with the agreement in place, crews have been working for about a week and he is optimistic employees could be back in the building by the end of March.

He said the entire hardwood floor in the attic needed replacing as did the ceiling and many of the electrical fixtures. On the main level, the ceiling and carpeting are being replaced as are the computer ports and insulation.

"The inside of the building in literally being painted from top to bottom," said Capello yesterday.

He said the town will get a new server, new computers and a new copier has been ordered.

Capello said he and selectmen are very happy with the pace and the quality of the work done so far by the contractors.

Capello said selectmen will be meeting Thursday at the Gilmanton School following the public hearing to revoke SB-2 that is scheduled for 6 p.m. One of the topics will be additional insulation in the roof and a few items that have little to do with the flood but should be addressed while the ceilings and wall are still open.

He said there is some money in a non-capital building maintenance account that could be used for these items should selectmen vote to have them done.

The Gilmanton Academy was heavily damaged by a frozen and broken pipe in the attic sprinkler system at 10 p.m. on January 11. Water cascaded through the attic to the third floor meeting room and down into the first floor offices, damaging or destroying all of the computers and furnishings in the building.

All of the town records were backed up and the town archives were in a secure vault in the basement and were undamaged.

Town employees have been working from a modular unit behind the Academy Building.

CAPTION: CCI project manager Ron Downes talks with Town Administrator Arthur Capello in the main room of the Gilmanton Academy builidng. Repairs are ongoing and officials hope to be back in the building by the end of March. (Laconia Daily Sun photo/Gail Ober)