Vermont Veterans Home seeks funding for sewer replacement, memory-care wing and other capital projects
January 31, 2026 | Corrections & Institutions, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative , Vermont
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Melissa Jackson, CEO of the Vermont Veterans Home, and finance director Steve McClafferty briefed the House Corrections and Institutions Committee on Jan. 30 about multiple capital projects and an emergency request for sewer replacement.
Jackson said $230,000 had been appropriated for resident furnishings of which roughly $133,000 remains and will be used to purchase wardrobes for B and C wings. On mechanical projects, she said a heat-pump/air-handling program shows $710,000 in bonded funding with $446,000 spent and the project about 65% complete; three recently installed units failed and the vendor will investigate before additional installations proceed.
Jackson reported the boiler RFPs were scored and contracting is underway; an elevator upgrade solicitation received no bids and will be reissued. The home also installed new washers and dryers with positive feedback from staff.
On A-wing (memory care) design, Jackson said the state is seeking VA grant flexibility and that the VA typically covers about 65% of construction costs and allows roughly 10% for overruns on qualifying grants. "Normally, it's 10 percent," she said regarding VA overrun allowances. She emphasized the project's scale and the state share required if cost estimates rise.
Jackson described an urgent sewer-pipe failure under B and C wings: cast-iron pipes are corroding and the administration requested $500,000 in the governor's capital budget (staff had originally asked for $750,000) to replace priority segments (about 7,800 linear feet was cited as the full replacement scope). She said the $500,000 would likely address the most critical sections (memory-care units) and that the full replacement could require future appropriations.
On emergency power, Jackson said investigators are reviewing whether $4.5M referenced in prior appropriations could cover a whole-house generator tied to the boiler work; she will follow up with technical staff.
Ending: The committee did not act on funding during the session; members asked Jackson to return with firm cost estimates, VA-grant timing outcomes and procurement plans ahead of budget markup in February.
Jackson said $230,000 had been appropriated for resident furnishings of which roughly $133,000 remains and will be used to purchase wardrobes for B and C wings. On mechanical projects, she said a heat-pump/air-handling program shows $710,000 in bonded funding with $446,000 spent and the project about 65% complete; three recently installed units failed and the vendor will investigate before additional installations proceed.
Jackson reported the boiler RFPs were scored and contracting is underway; an elevator upgrade solicitation received no bids and will be reissued. The home also installed new washers and dryers with positive feedback from staff.
On A-wing (memory care) design, Jackson said the state is seeking VA grant flexibility and that the VA typically covers about 65% of construction costs and allows roughly 10% for overruns on qualifying grants. "Normally, it's 10 percent," she said regarding VA overrun allowances. She emphasized the project's scale and the state share required if cost estimates rise.
Jackson described an urgent sewer-pipe failure under B and C wings: cast-iron pipes are corroding and the administration requested $500,000 in the governor's capital budget (staff had originally asked for $750,000) to replace priority segments (about 7,800 linear feet was cited as the full replacement scope). She said the $500,000 would likely address the most critical sections (memory-care units) and that the full replacement could require future appropriations.
On emergency power, Jackson said investigators are reviewing whether $4.5M referenced in prior appropriations could cover a whole-house generator tied to the boiler work; she will follow up with technical staff.
Ending: The committee did not act on funding during the session; members asked Jackson to return with firm cost estimates, VA-grant timing outcomes and procurement plans ahead of budget markup in February.
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