The Waitsfield Select Board has approved more than $11,000 in elevator repairs and upgrades at the town office building, taking action to maintain accessibility and extend the elevator’s service life.
Town Administrator York Haverkamp presented two quotes from Otis Elevator Company: $8,525.75 to repair the elevator’s plunger packing components, and an additional $2,751.88 to replace the existing NZ oil with traditional hydraulic oil. The NZ oil, a biodegradable product common in Vermont a decade ago, was originally used to align with green building standards.
According to Otis, the current parts have a five-year life expectancy when paired with NZ oil, but switching to hydraulic oil would extend that to 10 years. Haverkamp said that despite initial concerns, the switch wouldn’t compromise the building’s energy-efficient status. The architecture firm that designed the office confirmed that replacing the oil wouldn’t impact any past or future LEED or green certifications.
“There was some back and forth to make sure we were in compliance,” Haverkamp said. “But based on what we’ve learned, there’s no reason not to proceed with the hydraulic oil.”
Board members agreed that the additional investment in the oil change would ultimately reduce long-term maintenance costs and prevent earlier-than-necessary repeat repairs.
Board members favored spending the funds now to save money over the elevator’s projected lifespan.
BUDGET SURPLUS
While reviewing the town budget, the board considered which maintenance line items would cover the expense. Members pointed to both the building maintenance and equipment maintenance lines, which include elevator servicing, generator upkeep, the town copier, and other facilities infrastructure. Though the elevator wasn’t an anticipated repair this year, the board noted the town ended the fiscal year with a $55,000 surplus – more than enough to absorb the costs without jeopardizing other projects.
Board members also acknowledged the importance of restoring elevator functionality for residents with mobility challenges. Staff have been accommodating by relocating meetings to the first floor to maintain ADA accessibility during the outage. Still, Haverkamp stressed the need for a permanent fix.
“The office has done an excellent job making sure everyone can still participate,” he said. “But this is a service we need to restore as soon as possible.”
The board unanimously approved the motion to proceed with both the repairs and the oil replacement. Work is expected to begin as soon as Otis schedules the service.
