FARMINGTON — The Board of Selectmen agreed to work with one company for repairing and reroofing of the Waste Water Treatment Plant’s control building.

Built in the early 1970s, the roof has concrete single tees supported on masonry walls. Pieces of mortar have been dropping, Stephen Millett, department director, told the board. There are leaks in the roof.

In previous discussions about the roof, the board authorized a design only for the structural work by Lincoln/Haney Engineering Associates Inc. of Brunswick for $2,300. The structural work is expected to be done in conjunction with replacement of the roof. 

The department previously requested estimates from Lincoln/Haney and Independent Roof Services Inc. of New Gloucester, a consulting company.

Early estimates for structural repair are around $18,000 and roof replacement at about $75,000. The total likely will be around $100,000, Town Manager Richard Davis said.

With the age of the building, there is the potential that asbestos will be found when they take off the roof. Testing will have to be done. There maybe abatement fees to consider, he said.

“The roof has to be fixed,” Board of Selectmen Chairman Ryan Morgan said. 

But he wanted to see more accountability and felt the architectural designer should be responsible for overseeing and contracting the roof work.

Lincoln/Haney previously suggested they coordinate their work with the Independent Roof Services under one contract with the town.

The board agreed, authorizing the town manager to do that.

The board also agreed to include a new Class I operator position in the department’s budget and eliminate a part-time position held by Steve Moore, who will retire in May.

While Millett is working on the budget, staffing concerns were brought to the board.

With only three full-time and one part-time worker, the department is understaffed. Department of Environmental Protection inspectors made note of it, Davis said.

A plant this size is designed to run with six workers, Millett said.

When the workers are called out, it can take three workers; two to direct traffic and one to work. There is a potential for a liability issue, he said.

To have a fourth person working five days a week would be huge, Millett said. The salary for an operator is estimated at $35,000 with benefits bringing the cost closer to $50,000.

The board and manager agreed it was more important to seek the fourth position and eliminate the part-time position.

The board reviews and accepts the department’s budget usually after town meeting, because it doesn’t require a vote of the town. Only the sewer customers are responsible for the cost of its operation.

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