An emergency power generator located in the rear of the Southwick Town Hall is in the process of being moved after town officials found the generator exhaust fumes could enter the town’s intake air handing system, top right, causing carbon monoxide to enter the building. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
SOUTHWICK – The generator at Southwick Town Hall is being relocated further away from the building this week.
Building and Grounds Director John Westcott said the 250k diesel-powered generator has the potential to pump the building with carbon monoxide and had to be moved away from the town hall air intake on the backside of the building, which is right above where the generator has been housed.
“We discovered it during the October (2011) storm that it has the capacity to flood the building with carbon monoxide,” said Westcott.
“If it runs 15 or 20 minutes, it’s okay, but six days was a problem,” he added.
After exploring several options, Westcott said the only option was to move the generator.
Crestview Construction workers dug the pad last week where the generator will sit. The new location is directly across from where it rests now, just past the parking lot behind town hall.
Cost for the move is roughly $30,000 and will be paid out of the town’s capital fund, a request approved at town meeting this past spring.
“The pad will be poured and we are hoping to move it next week,” said Westcott. “A trench will be dug and pipes laid underground and an electrician will connect it.”
Westcott said the generator is “very powerful” and worked well to keep town hall running in the aftermath of the October storm, but the carbon dioxide was a major health concern.
Westcott said the early Nor’easter brought many concerns to light.
“It showed us a lot of things that could happen,” he said. “You try to be prepared, but we found out about things we never planned for.”
Once the generator is moved, Westcott will bring over a shed being stored at the highway department.
“I’ll use that for storage of signs and things that are taking up space in my garage now,” Westcott said.
Once the new animal control facility is complete, Westcott will also utilize the current shelter’s sheds for storage, making room to park the senior center bus in the town hall garage.
Wescott said moving the generator should take a total of two weeks.
