Salem - The Board of Education and the Board of Selectmen are considering a recommendation by the Capitol Region Education Council (CREC) to renovate the roof of the 1994 addition to Salem School a year earlier than scheduled in the school board's 10-year capital plan.

CREC made the recommendations in a presentation to the Board of Education at its meeting last week.

CREC's recommendation also includes installing solar panels and an upgrade of the interior lighting system to LED technology. Solar panels have been installed on other town buildings, including the Town Hall, Salem Free Public Library, Gardner Lake Fire Company and the Public Works building, which have saved the town about $8,000 a year according to First Selectman Kevin Lyden.

At the selectmen's meeting a few days after the presentation, school board member George Jackson, liaison to the selectmen, relayed the recommendations. Lyden said he did not support the proposal, and asked the school board to consider, and ask CREC for, a proposal for installing solar panels on the two-thirds of the roof that was renovated as part of the recent $6.2 million school renovation, leaving the upgrades for the 1994 addition for the 2016-17 fiscal year, as scheduled.

"Even at that time, it would be assessed to see if it needs to be done at that time or if it could last a couple of years," said Lyden. "Rarely do you see things funded ahead of time, unless it's an emergency-type thing, especially something this expensive."

The renovation to the 33,950 square feet of roof is estimated to cost around $1 million excluding the addition of solar panels. Under a state school construction grant, the town could receive a reimbursement for a much as half the cost of the renovation for a roof 20 years or older.

Lyden said that while there have been two minor leaks in the roof, both have been fixed and he would like to see a thorough inspection before any decisions are made about a renovation.

"What we have to determine is the life expectancy of the roof. Sometimes there's no reason to (renovate) it unless it's failing," said Lyden. "When it's 22 years old they'll still give you that reimbursement. That's not something that goes away."

Lyden said he believed the Board of Finance may discuss the recommendations at its regular meeting Thursday if given a presentation from a Board of Education liaison.

As for the addition of solar panels, Lyden would also like to see more information about their cost effectiveness.

"It's still got to be cost effective," he said. "We don't just put solar on because solar makes us feel good. We still have to crunch the numbers."

j.hopper@theday.com

Twitter:@JessHoppa