Newfield Town Board focuses on recreation, utilities

Time-sensitive decisions on recreation and utilities led the Newfield Town Board’s Jan. 25 work session.

Aa planned, a new facility at the Town’s Recreation Center, 66 Main Street, would include a kitchen concession area, bathrooms, and a shelter for picnic tables.

Stream Collaborative’s designer Brandon Ebel said the building would be between the Center’s basketball courts and soccer field, noting it would be both cost-effective, and address the challenges of potentially having to build an accessible single-story structure on a slope.

“This is the area that from a constructability and accessibility standpoint made the most sense,” said Ebel, “with this site being as difficult as it is, with limited space.”

Ebel added, “The good thing about moving it over there is it doesn’t really impact us in any other way in terms of septic, water, (and) electric. It’s not going to require us to rework any of that.”

Before finalizing the revised plans, the Town Board and Ebel will get inputs from Town of Ithaca Recreation Department Director Mike Jordan in order to ensure the proposed changes align with the community’s recreational needs.

The Board also addressed a boiler function that malfunctioned in Town Hall, necessitating urgent action. The board received quotes for natural gas boilers for a straightforward replacement, in addition to a proposal aligning with air-source, heat-pump standards.

According to Town Board member Heather McCarty, the town possesses a $10,000 Clean Energy Communities grant earmarked for heat pumps. Originally reserved for future use, the grant became a key consideration in deciding between heat pump conversion or a conventional natural gas boiler replacement.

“The most practical approach right now is probably thinking about just getting the boiler swapped,” said Ebel. “Get yourself up and running and functional.”

Given the potential of an emergency situation with no heat during the winter, the board deliberated the feasibility of a heat-pump system, which might take a month or more to install. Ultimately, they decided on a natural gas boiler for the replacement to address the immediate heating needs of the Town Hall.

“We’re at a point here where we have to replace something just to keep this building running,” said Town of Newfield Supervisor Mike Allinger.

With three quotes for a natural gas boiler replacement, the board also identified a need for a new water heater. Consequently, they explored combination boilers for heat and water. Only two of the received quotes were for this type of system. 

To make an informed decision, a motion forwarded by Town Board member Christine Seamon was passed to leave the final choice to Allinger, pending an additional quote for a combination system. The speed of installation was identified as a crucial factor in the decision-making process.

The next Town Board meeting is scheduled for Feb. 8, 7-9 p.m. at the Newfield Town Hall. The public’s attendance is encouraged and appreciated, with meeting agendas available in advance on the Newfield Town Hall website.

In brief: 

Planning Board meeting

The Newfield Planning Board will convene at the Newfield Town Hall from 7 to 9 p.m. on Feb. 7. The agenda for the meeting can be found in advance on the Newfield Town Hall website.

Capital Project Vote

The proposed capital project will be open for voters to weigh in through a vote on March 12 between noon to 9 p.m.

Board of Education Meeting

There will be a Board of Education Meeting on Feb. 15 at 6:30 p.m. in the Newfield Elementary School Weaver Conference Room.