Buildings and Grounds

Buildings and Grounds Workgroup

The Buildings & Grounds workgroup was pleased to welcome Art Peterson as our Building Superintendent. Art has had a long and impressive career in landscape design and building management; since joining the staff, he has done an outstanding job identifying and resolving a host of building-related issues.

Thanks to our workgroup members for their engagement. Members, as pictured, included (in front) Art Peterson, Ralph Worth, Paul Truebig, (in back) Bob Cave, Joe Tobin, Court Lewis, Doug Evarts, and Jim Warner.

Special thanks must go to Bob Cave who invested so much time and energy in the successful renovation of the Steeple. Behind the scenes, he spent fully three years getting the project off the ground and overseeing its completion on behalf of the Congregation.

Air-Conditioning Updates

The Buildings & Grounds workgroup heard you!  It’s hot in the Meetinghouse during the summer and air conditioning would be great!

In 2017, we explored cooling the Meetinghouse but given the huge volume of the space, it really wasn’t feasible . . . now with the advent of technologically advanced heat pumps, we think it is a viable option.  And because heat pumps both cool and heat, a well designed system should be able to provide 80-90% of our heating needs, making the investment easier to justify.  In addition, based on our Building Assessment in 2022, the projected life expectancy of the south boiler (which steam heats the Meetinghouse) is now less than five years.  It should continue to function as a back-up source of heat as needed for temperatures below zero outdoors.

We have engaged a professional HVAC engineer who has designed a couple of options.  Invitations to bid have gone out to qualified commercial HVAC contractors with the expectation that bids will be returned by 10/24/25.  Since Eversource rebates past the end of the year are likely but not assured at this time, we recommend every effort at prompt installation should the project be supported by the congregation.

To this end, please look for a call-to-meeting in early November.  Our by-laws would require approval by congregational vote for a project costing more than $10,000 which heat pumps clearly would.  More information will be made available over the next month.  Any member who wishes to review our consultant’s document may obtain the same by contacting Kathleen Allen.

Court Lewis, Chair
Buildings & Grounds workgroup

Sidewalk Dedication During Coffee Hour at the JPW Library

Sunday, October 19 following worship

Outside: South Sidewalk, JPW Library

Join the JPW Library work group and the Outreach team for Hospitality Hour in the JPW Library as we celebrate our new sidewalk on the south side of the church. Fresh paint, improved lighting, and a brand-new door now welcome visitors from South Main and Blue Back Square to First Church and the JPW Library. Perhaps you saw the article about it on weha.com – if not, read it here! And come celebrate with us!