The Farmington High School Building Committee Meets, Again—And This Time, It’s About Noise, Closeouts, and the Long Goodbye
The Farmington High School Building Committee convened virtually on December 15, 2025, at 5:06 p.m., advancing a meeting that felt less like a debate and more like a careful inventory of a project approaching its final chapter. With no public comment offered and minutes from November 19 approved without dissent, the evening quickly turned to unresolved details—most notably, an HVAC unit that refuses to rest.
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HVAC Noise on Norwood Road
Correspondence received between November 18 and December 15 focused on complaints from residents along Norwood Road about noise tied to rooftop HVAC equipment. Project representatives identified RTU-8 as the likely source. While the unit remains within the town’s noise ordinance limits—barely—it has been operating nearly nonstop.
The unit is not supposed to run 24 hours a day. Engineers are now investigating why it is doing exactly that. Once corrected, the noise level is expected to drop. If it does not, a visual screening and noise barrier may follow.
Committee members also raised a secondary concern: energy costs. An HVAC unit running around the clock could contribute to higher-than-expected utility usage. While correcting the runtime may help, it is not expected to return energy consumption to pre-construction levels.
Liaison Reports: Transitions Everywhere
The Town Council liaison noted that the December 9 council meeting was her final one, with a new council set to be sworn in January.
The Board of Education liaison reported that the board’s last meeting of the calendar year took place the prior Monday. New board members will be sworn in January 12, alongside the arrival of a new superintendent. The outgoing superintendent will overlap informally during the transition.
The 1928 Building Nears the Finish Line
The committee received an update on the 1928 Building, which is now in its final phase. Occupancy is anticipated in February 2026. The team offered to coordinate a tour with the committee, acknowledging the overlap in oversight and the significance of preserving the building’s historic character. Several members noted the long arc of the project, measured not just in years, but in children growing up.
Closeout Season
Project management reports confirmed that the Farmington High School project is in closeout. Punch list items remain. No change orders were presented in December, though several are expected in January, primarily related to reconciliation of allowances and contingencies.
The architect reported substantial completion of landscaping around the central office and tennis courts. Remaining change orders and payment applications are being processed.
The construction manager confirmed that handicap parking improvements are largely complete. Line striping will wait until spring due to cold temperatures. Demobilization for winter is underway, with crews temporarily focused on the 1928 Building. State change order reviews have improved in tone, and the town is expected to receive additional reimbursement.
Invoices Approved, Calmly
Two invoice packages were approved:
- Farmington High School
- Project management services: $5,158.24
- Architectural services: $540.00
- Central Office
- ONG Industries pay application: $433,855.28
- Architectural services: $2,237.50
No changes were made to contingencies.
A Half-Year More
The committee approved its 2026 meeting schedule, covering the first half of the year, with the January 7 meeting removed. Members joked—gently—about the committee’s longevity, now entering its seventh year. Babies have been born. Children have grown. One even made a cameo on screen.
At 5:25 p.m., the committee adjourned. Merry Christmas was exchanged. The work continues.
About the Author
Jack Beckett writes for The Farmington Mercury fueled by coffee that has gone cold because meetings run long. He believes municipal governance pairs best with caffeine and a sense of humor ☕️.
On WeAreFarmington.com you’ll find zoning debates, editorials, police reports, historic preservation, wetlands matters, school news, and the occasional raised eyebrow. Browse Editorials, For Sale, Law Enforcement, Historic District Commission, Wetlands, High School, Zoning, Board of Education, and Positions Available.
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This article, “The Farmington High School Building Committee Meets, Again—And This Time, It’s About Noise, Closeouts, and the Long Goodbye,” by Jack Beckett is licensed under CC BY-ND 4.0.
“The Farmington High School Building Committee Meets, Again—And This Time, It’s About Noise, Closeouts, and the Long Goodbye”
by Jack Beckett, The Farmington Mercury (CC BY-ND 4.0)
