Task Groups for Boiler and West Yard
As we heard after church on April 12, this year two Task Groups have taken on projects to improve our building: the West Yard Project (the parking lot side of the church) and the Boiler Replacement Team. Both of these projects are important due to the age of the infrastructure. The West Yard sidewalk has deteriorated so much that the Property Committee installed a temporary surface last year. The boiler broke down on a bitterly cold day earlier this year. The projects are also opportunities to enhance the safety, functionality, and esthetics of our building’s exterior and to support greener technologies to meet our energy needs.
Paying for these projects is as big a decision as how to design the parking lot and what type of heat to install. The options for funding are loans, using the endowment, accessing funds from the endowment with a plan to return the money on a schedule, or a fundraising campaign for just these projects. We could also pay for these projects now and include their costs in a future capital campaign with the plan to replace endowment funds from that campaign. There is a lot to consider and we are just getting started on the congregation-wide discussions that we need in order to create a plan.
Asbestos Tiles Project
On April 8, church leadership was contacted by an OSHA officer about a complaint regarding possible employee exposure to asbestos from cracked and broken floor tiles. We have been in regular contact with OSHA and we are complying with their guidelines.
We are now working up a plan (to execute this month and next) to seal the floors in the church office and RE office, where we will then install carpeting. In the library we will also apply a sealing layer and then a new plank floor. Using funding from the Gifts and Bequests, we will then paint both offices and refresh the furnishings. We are also discussing how to address the tile floors in the basement, which is a larger job that will incur significant spending. Please feel free to contact me with thoughts, questions or concerns at President@melroseuu.org
Gratitude for Our Volunteers
Thank you to our Property Committee; Chair David B, Lee D, Mary H, Linda I, Gerry M, Carol N and John R. Thank you also to our two Task Groups: West Yard Project Team; Janice B, Doug D, Maryellen F, Linda I. Boiler Replacement Team; Dan F, Randall G, Eric L, Gerry M, Lisa W.
The slides from the forum can be found here or are available on the members only section of the website. Please feel free to email me at President@Melroseuu.org with any questions, thoughts or concerns. — Liz F
