Bloomingdale to Apply for Energy Efficiency Grant

The approved a resolution to apply for grant funding for energy efficiency upgrades to three borough buildings Tuesday after Mayor Jon Dunleavy broke a tied 3-3 vote. The three buildings that will receive upgrades, which include updated lighting and repairs to air conditioning and heating units, are , the firehouse connected to Borough Hall and the

The grant would be for $101,000, with 60 percent being funded through the grant and the borough having to pay about $41,000. The projected savings, as far as the percent of energy reduction and dollar amount, are as follows, according to Borough Administrator Ted Ehrenburg:

During a council meeting Tuesday, Ehrenburg said that the long-term savings would continue, but that the borough would be paid back for its investment within two and a half years.

Dunleavy was strongly in favor of moving forward with the grant because of the savings. "I support it. It's an investment," he said.

Councilwoman Linda Shortman said she noticed several errors on the energy report which documented which buildings required the upgrades, including the wrong address on the firehouse and the wrong years for when two of the buildings were built, and said this caused her to be untrusting of the recommendations.

"I don't know how trustworthy these figures are on our savings," she said.

When voting against applying for the grant, Shortman said, "I know that it might be a good thing, but everything in that report is wrong."

DPW Employee Al Allegrino said he walked around each building with the consultants and watched the consultants assess and explain the energy upgrades that they recommended.

"In my opinion, it's a no-brainder," he said. Allegrino said there are many utility systems currently in place in the buildings' basements that have not been updated in several years.

Councilman Glenn Schiffman said he would want to be sure that there is a significant savings in what is being replaced to make it worth the money the borough has to put in.

Councilwomen Shortman, Jo-Ann Pituch and Council President Linda Huntley voted against the resolution, while Councilmen Shiffman, Mark Conklin and Bernie Vroom voted for the resolution. In a case of a tied vote, the mayor has the power to break the tie.