Council discusses employee illness from vehicle exhaust, directs inspection and HVAC options

Council members spent an extended portion of the meeting addressing a workplace air-quality concern at the town shop after the chair said staff reported immediate illness when trucks were started inside the building.

Chair described the situation: "We have employees that get sick instantly" when the truck runs and said he had discussed shutting off the upstairs furnace and running a camera to inspect a suspected leak in the wastewater-related systems. He raised two possible fixes discussed with an outside contact: two end-mounted fans (which may not effectively remove low-lying carbon monoxide) or a direct connection to vehicle exhaust systems to vent fumes outside.

Council member said the cascade system issue may be a small parts failure ("It's just a little plastic washer that holds the O-ring in there") and recommended checking filters and equipment. Members warned that a mini-split heating system might not be adequate as the sole heat source in extreme cold and agreed to treat such a change as a backup option.

Action and next steps: The council asked staff to contact plumbing and heating contractors to inspect the furnace and vehicle-exhaust layout and to provide cost and feasibility estimates. The council emphasized worker safety and the need for a prompt inspection before making major equipment changes.

Context: The discussion also noted related operational needs (keeping ventilation filters clean) and the potential cost of fixes. No binding capital-approval decision was made at the meeting; the council directed staff to return with estimates and recommendations.