The Berlin
Cit itiz ize en Berlin’s Only Hometown Newspaper
Volume 13, Number 52
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Air quality at McGee worse than anticipated By Olivia L. Lawrence Associate Editor A teacher has a rash on his face. Students are half-asleep slumped at their desks. Floors ooze an unidentified substance that, after it’s cleaned, “comes back with a vengeance.” “We have to fix it,” said John Pajor, superintendent of building maintenance, describing conditions at McGee Middle School at the Dec. 16 Town Council meeting. Unacceptable air quality and moisture problems have plagued McGee Middle School for about 15 years. “It is imperative that we don’t band-aid this again,” he said. The council agreed and unanimously voted 6-0 (Councilor William Rasmussen was absent) to a nearly $6.8 million overhaul. A new HVAC system will be installed and major drainage issues that cause serious moisture problems at the building also will be addressed.
“The problem is a lot larger than we originally assumed.” Mayor Adam Salina. The plan is to start the renovations next summer and then work around the school schedule to phase in the improvements. “The problem is a lot larger than we originally assumed,” said Mayor Adam Salina. While there are problems with the air quality in the “new” addition, built in 1995, a 2008 study showed that there are problems throughout the entire building. Public Building Commission Chairman James P. Ouellette called the study “eye-opening” and that the commission’s investigation into the situa-
Vet hopes to give flags to the town By Olivia L. Lawrence Associate Editor Anthony Amato has a gift for the town. But he’s not sure if anybody will be interested. Amato, 58, is a Vietnam veteran, an Air Force staff sergeant, who enlisted at age 16 (after his father signed permission) and went to war at age 17. He served overseas from 1969 to 1975. “We fought for a cause— people are forgetting about that era,” Amato said. Stationed at De Nang Air Force base, he also served at various other sites on temporary duty assignments. When the base closed, Amato brought home a United States flag and a POW/MIA flag that flew there. Now he’d like to donate those banners to Berlin. “I just want to see the flags fly…and give them to the whole community,” Amato
said. He got the idea to donate them after seeing a story in The Citizen about former Town Councilor Robert McGee’s initiative. McGee wanted to see POW/MIA flags flown at Paper Goods Pond, and other parks around town, to honor those who had served and not returned home. For example, in World War II there remain nearly 75,000 soldiers whose whereabouts are not known. When he was told about the proposed donation, McGee said Amato’s flags were “treasures.” Amato said he’d considered other options for the flags, but finally decided “It’s time to let go.” Amato moved to Berlin about a year and a half ago. He grew up in Meriden. His twin brother was in the Navy and their father was a World War II veteran who served See Flags, page 2
tion convinced the panel that there are no short cuts to correcting it. The PBC reviewed the town’s statement of need on the project in May and subsequently selected the engineering firm of BVH Integrated Services Inc. of Bloomfield for the job. While there are no contaminants, there are serious issues with the air flow and “negative air pressure” in the building which contributes to its tendency to hold moisture, said Public Works Director Art Simonian. School district business Manager Roman Czuchta described complaints students and staff have reported such as stuffiness, eye irritation, headaches. Principal Brian Benigni spoke about safety concerns for students and staff. He said cork strips that were used to display students’ works, as well as other permeable surfaces, had to be removed
See McGee, page 3
Thinking of warmer weather
Citizen photo by Olivia L. Lawrence
After the big storm over the weekend, flamingos frolick in the snow at Gary Schmidt’s Harris Street yard. Schmidt said the nontraditional tropical holiday theme reminds him of his home in the Florida Keys.