Voters approve funds to make Town Hall ‘green’

NORTH CANAAN — In addition to the routine items up for consideration at the annual town meeting on Dec. 13, voters also approved an expenditure of up to $65,671.77 for energy efficiency improvements to Town Hall, as recommended by the boards of selectmen and finance.Details of the project are yet to be determined as the selectmen work on collecting bids for various parts of the job.Plans include a new airlock vestibule at the main entrance as well as improvements to two entrances in the older part of the building. Some windows are slated to be replaced, as is carpeting in some offices.Digital thermostats are expected to bring significant cost savings on heating.Motion sensor light switches will be installed in restrooms, because lights are often left on there.Not all of the work is expected to be done at the same time. Selectman Susan Clayton told The Lakeville Journal her goal is to find ways to spend far less than the appropriation.Funds would come from the capital and nonrecurring expense account.