The Derby Board of Aldermen will hold a public hearing Wednesday, July 31 at 7 p.m. to discuss the particulars of a $5,806,000 borrowing project to replace roofs at Derby High School, the Irving School and the Bradley School.
The roof project could be put to voters later this year.
On July 31 on Derby City Hall’s second floor, an engineer will present plans, explain why the repairs are needed, and city officials will discuss how the project will be financed.
The public will be allowed to give their input as well.
Derby is eligible to receive 70 percent reimbursement from the state for the roof replacements, Derby City Treasurer Keith McLiverty said at a Board of Aldermen meeting July 16, but the city is required by law to get permission to borrow the full $5.8 million.
The roofs at the three schools have either met or passed their expected lifespans, McLiverty said.
Each roof is more than 20 years old.
The cafeteria at the Irving School was off limits for a few days at the end of the school year because of a roof leak.
Technically, Derby does not have to hold a public hearing on the school project, but doing so is a good idea so the public can learn about the project, McLiverty said.
Both Mayor Anthony Staffieri and Aldermanic President Barbara DeGennaro agreed, as did four other Aldermen at the July 16 meeting.
“For transparency, I say we should do it,” Staffieri said, referring to the public hearing.
“Obviously, I want people to be informed as to the scope of the project and what the financial end is,” DeGennaro said.
WPCA?
City officials have been working for months on a referendum that was to include $5.8 million for the roofs — plus, another question on $24,691,000 in borrowing to repair the city’s aging sewer system and waste water treatment plant.
However, engineers and members of the city’s Water Pollution Control Authority are still crunching numbers trying to figure out how much the repair projects will affect sewer bills and the mill rate.
McLiverty advised the Board of Aldermen July 16 to move forward with the school roof project and schedule the public hearing.
The WPCA is still working on its referendum and it was unclear as of July 16 whether that project will make it to the same ballot as the school roof project, Derby officials said.
