Wanted: HVAC miracle

MILLBROOK — While some are hoping a spiffy ski hat or a snuggly handknit afghan will show up under their Christmas trees, Millbrook Library director Courtney Tsahalis’s one and only wish is that Santa will drop a general contractor down the chimney so that critical repair work can be done and get the library’s functioning back to normal.

Although the library’s HVAC system, which has been in place for 20 years, has always had some difficulty, the problem became critical in 2021 when a refrigerant leak developed. The heating system was quickly replaced and staff and patrons are comfortably warm inside no matter what the winter days bring, but not so with the cooling portion of the system, which has been shut down since that time.

Tsahalis said that while the majority of funds needed to complete HVAC and roof work is available, local contractors are busy and so the library has yet to find someone who is willing to take on the complex job. It will require a licensed general contractor with an HVAC electrical sub contractor and a roofing expert, because the flat, leaky roof with heavy AC units also  needs attention.

She said board members are continuing to work hard to find someone local who can do the job and do have “a couple of leads,” but so far no one has submitted a bid.

Fundraising for the project began in 2021, with approximately $1.2 million now in hand. They may be able to raise the remaining $500,000 needed through grants, but applications are on hold because they cannot be submitted without a contractor being listed.

About licensed contractors from outside the area, Tsahalis said, “At this point if they want it and give us a good bid,” they would be welcome, adding, “We wanted to work with local businesses, but we want the work to be done.” 

While they could try to track the leak, Tsahalis said, “there were some things that were never done properly, like the thermostat, so it makes sense to replace the whole system and make it more energy-efficient rather than try to put Band-Aids on it.”

Since the problem began, there has been a major impact on the library’s functioning. There is not an OSHA cutoff for temperatures, Tsahalis said, but “it just gets super uncomfortable... In 2022 we had to close early 35 times during the summer because it was just so hot.”

In order to continue to serve the public and beat the heat, the library opened early on the days the staff knew it was going to be especially hot, with staff volunteering to stay and provide curbside pickup until the inside temperature reached 85 degrees.

Making the best of the situation, Tsahalis said: “This [past] summer we were pretty lucky. We put in window AC units and thankfully it wasn’t as hot as the last summer, so we managed to get through without closing early,” which they do  when it get over 81 degrees in more than one room. 

Despite the window units, it was nevertheless uncomfortable rather than being the cool oasis that some patrons, particularly the young and old, often seek. Because of the temperature issues, the library took itself off the list of county cooling centers, a designation Tsahalis hopes to regain once the work is complete. 

Tsahalis concluded: “I really appreciate the community’s patience on this so far.  I know it looks like nothing is happening, but we really are working hard behind the scenes to try and get this fixed. And it will be fixed. It’s just a matter of when at this point,” Expressing both optimism and hope, she added that this is, after all, in “a season of miracles.”