Robinson Roof Repair Causes Hard Feelings for Selectmen, School Committee

Mansfield Town Manager Bill Ross issued a long and detailed report Wednesday on the snow removal efforts during the past two months of repeated storms, and defended his statements at last week's meeting regarding the school department's actions removing snow from the Robinson School roof.

A school committee meeting this week revealed several members of that board took offense at the comments of Ross and selectmen last week. Ross and some board members said the school department had not responded soon enough after being warned by the building inspection and fire departments that the snow load on the Robinson roof was approaching dangerous levels.

In the report, Ross gave a blow-by-blow description of exactly what the town actions were, saying Walter Parker of the school department, was contacted of the possible roof issues on Jan. 3, and he stated the situation was under control. However, the Robinson school was evacuated several days later when sprinkler heads began to lean in the ceiling in one area of the kindergarten building.

Ross reported the school had a copy of a contract with a roofing company that had already been retained by the town, where snow could have been removed earlier at far less cost than the amount paid out for the emergency action that resulted over the weekend after the evacuation.

Selectmen received a request last week to authorize payment of a $66,000 bill due to three companies that responded to clean off the roof after the incident.

"I understand the sensitivity with the School Department on any issue involving student safety," Ross wrote. "However, I refuse to accept responsibility or blame for raising a concern about the issue of snow removal on the roofs."

The report contains statements from Nick Riccio of the building inspection department, Fire Chief Neal Boldrighini, Deputy Fire Chief James Puleo, Mike Ahern from the DPW, and a report from the Dempsey Group, a structural engineering consultant. All reported to the scene at the Robinson kindergarten wing at the time of the ceiling concerns on Feb. 4.

According to the consultant's report, snow was found on the roof at the time of the incident that was over a yard deep in some areas, twice the maximum recommended snow load.

Ross told the board Wednesday he never said students were in danger. Individual board members had expressed safety concerns at the meeting, however, including member Doug Annino, who is an architect with knowledge of weight-bearing capacity in building roofs.

Ross noted at the end of the first major storm in December he had met with all involved departments to rehash what could have been done better as he was convinced the storm response was not what it should be. He said responses to such events should be evaluated by town officials right away and any deficiencies acknowledged so they can be corrected.

"People are intelligent and understanding," Ross said. "We will continue to work honestly with you and the citizens."

Member George Dentino said the selectmen were not aware of all the school department had done to remove snow that week and said he had apologized to the school board for what may have seemed to be overly critical remarks from selectmen. "We took them more to task than they deserved," he said.

He also said he did not want to see a reappearance of the school/municipal "rift" that used to be daily fare for the town.

"We have to put this aside," he said. "We have bigger fish to fry. We need to fight our way out of this financial situation."

But Chairman Kevin Moran said differences are bound to arise with individual board members and the school committee, and when they do, he wants to hear them expressed.

"We need to communicate better," he said, adding he knew various people had pride injured by the back and forth comments.

"Over the last several years, we have had a difficult relationship," he added. "The town deserves better than we had in the past. All of us are here because we want to do a good job.

"It's been a difficult week with bruised egos, but this is very small compared to what we will be going through."