The Wiscasset Primary School is not eligible for property insurance, town officials were informed following a loss control survey conducted by Wiscasset’s insurance company. The Maine Municipal Association Risk Management Services will offer general liability insurance on the building until it is sold.
Due to a number of structural concerns identified during the survey, the company is not willing to underwrite a property insurance policy for the primary school, set to close and return to town ownership on July 1.
Water-damaged ceiling tiles, water intrusion throughout the building, evidence of mold, a roof in poor condition, wood rot on the exterior trim at the base of the copula, and a sprinkler system that has not been inspected since April 2012 were the concerns highlighted by the insurance company.
Wiscasset Town Manager Marian Anderson was encouraged by the insurance company’s loss control supervisor to address those issues before the town assumes ownership of the building.
According to the insurance company, it will not be able to offer property insurance unless the building is evaluated by a professional and renovated to its recommendations.
Anderson told Wiscasset selectmen at their meeting Tuesday, May 19 that she intends to speak with RSU 12 administration about the maintenance of the building when it was under RSU 12’s control.
“Were they aware of these deficiencies? Did they do their due diligence in maintaining the building?” Anderson said. “We have some questions.”
Wiscasset withdrew from RSU 12 in 2013 after approximately five years with the regional district that served, at the time, eight municipalities that stretched from Wiscasset to Chelsea.
As part of the withdrawal agreement between Wiscasset and RSU 12, Wiscasset agreed to pay a percentage of the debt from construction projects at Windsor and Chelsea elementary schools, in addition to reimbursing RSU 12 a percentage of its contribution to the Wiscasset Middle School roof and ventilation system projects.
“This is serious,” Anderson said. “We had to pay for repairs at other schools – I would like to know what repairs were done at the (primary) school.”
Selectmen supported Anderson in speaking with RSU 12 about the condition of the primary school to determine which entity is responsible for paying for repairs. Anderson said she intends to obtain a list of repairs conducted at the primary school when it was under RSU 12 control and will work to determine what damage was known about and when.
