Suffield opens buildings for tours Saturday

Jun. 24—SUFFIELD — Residents will have a chance Saturday to take tours of five town buildings as part of the development of a master plan for town facilities.

Community volunteers, members of the town's Joint Facilities Committee, and employees of Tecton Architects, the company developing the plan, will be at the sites to lead the tours and answer questions.

Residents who attend the tours will have the opportunity to complete a survey afterward.

First Selectwoman Melissa Mack said Wednesday that the tours are to let town residents see the state of the facilities for themselves and keep them involved in the process.

In its assessment of town buildings, Tecton found that they have generally been well maintained. But nearly every building has accessibility issues, and the older buildings are in need of renovations, particularly to their mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems.

The firm is proposing the town undertake preventative maintenance to extend the life of the buildings.

As for school buildings, the firm found that they have also been well maintained, but none have received comprehensive renovations.

Past modifications and adaptations have created inefficiencies in the buildings. In addition, a majority of the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems in the school buildings are at or near the end of their usefulness, according to the assessment.

Following the tours, two public hearings on the master plan are scheduled for August and September, and a town meeting is scheduled for October.

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