UPDATES FROM THE GROUNDS

Following are some notes from the Building and Grounds (B & G) Team to keep you posted about what’s happening with budgeted building upgrades and projects:

Canopy – The south canopy above the sidewalk between the east and west entrances to the building is tentatively scheduled to be torn down no later than August. The gray-blue posts holding it up will remain, and will be repainted with artistic designs and high-gloss colors for an eye-pleasing finish. If you have ideas, please send them to dell.salza@gmail.com.

Second Floor Renovations – The scheduled installation of the new dropped ceiling has begun, including required electrical upgrades with LED lighting fixtures. Then the new flooring system will be installed, followed by volunteers painting the walls with No VOC paint. This should all be completed by the end of May.

Safety on Stairwells – Back in January, during the Congregational Conversation about safety concerns, some people expressed concern about lighting on the staircases, particularly the one going from the narthex to Fellowship Hall. The Safety Committee presented a list of areas of concern to the Facilities Manager. He is working with the Operations Council to get illuminated light switches installed, make sure stair edges are clearly visible, and perform LED lighting upgrades for greater safety.

Ventilation – Considering that our building has no ventilation (except opening windows), the Facilities Manager has presented to the Building & Grounds Team ways to improve air quality. Plans are in progress to implement an annual program for interior and exterior drain cleaning, restroom and kitchen plumbing fixture cleaning, and restroom and kitchen exhaust fan functionality.

Interior Wall Leak – The Facilities Manager is in the process of engaging a waterproofing company to dig out the outside wall of Room 108. Waterproofers will lay about 60’ of drain tile and then backfill it. The inside wall will then be scraped and painted.

Tree Down – The maple tree that fell on the southwestern corner of the parking lot will be chopped up by a local tree company. They will leave a pile of wood chips there which will be moved to and distributed on the pathways in the Community Garden by volunteers on an upcoming work day.

Roof Replacement, Ovens – Because the cost of needed renovations to our building (roof replacement, front steps, window repair, kitchen equipment, etc.) have turned out to be so high, some members have raised the possibility that tearing down this building and constructing a new, smaller building on this site might be more cost effective and environmentally responsible. Decisions about replacement of the roof and ovens have been put on hold until the Board has finished the monumental task of finalizing the Strategic Plan. The Strategic Plan currently being crafted by the Board will include a process for making this major congregational decision. Decisions on replacements and repairs will follow.

Submitted by Dell Salza