Tenants press authority on duct cleaning and handbook updates; director to bring revisions to board

A tenant asked the board about cleaning vents and ductwork in apartments, saying the vents appeared not to have been cleaned in years. Residents described a cleaning approach that can often be done from an attic or basement without entering individual units and said some service providers do not perform full ductwork cleaning.

One resident said a cleaning company told them it would provide a price the next time it was on site. The tenant described the common method: technicians can insert a wand or vacuum from attic or basement access and clean the ducts without entering every apartment.

The Director said several residents had already reviewed the resident handbook and suggested updates; staff will incorporate those updates and said they can bring a revised policy/handbook to the board for approval in the coming weeks. The authoritys web pages are tied to the town website, so posting an updated handbook will require coordination with the town manager's office, a point raised during the discussion.

Residents said they hoped a new handbook would address long-standing items they have highlighted in their copies. The board closed the meeting after the discussion and a motion to adjourn.