Annual Report of the Building and Grounds Ministry 2025

Members were as follows: Edmund Clavette (Chairman), Peter Gaw, Peter Granville, James Koepfler, and Dana Manton.

This year, we continued to maintain and repair our buildings and grounds. We’ve upgraded our security system with a central, 4-camera system. We cleaned up the grounds and had our sanctuary heating system repaired.

During 2025, we performed and oversaw the following actions:

• Scheduled and oversaw the installation of a new 4-camera security system and recorder by HELP.
• Scheduled and oversaw the replacement of all steam vents (12) in the sanctuary, along with furnace adjustment to eliminate steam pipe hammering.
• In April, we held a Grounds cleanup event, removing leaves and branches on the grounds of the church back lot, kitchen garden, and schoolhouse. Thanks to Ed Collins, Ed Clavette, Jim Koepfler, Bob Marshall, and Student Volunteer Samantha for a great job.
• Cleared back lot and kitchen garden brush in May. Thank you, Bruce Kraeutler, for help with this project.
• Had Cobbs Lock & Key replace the broken locks on our church’s front sign.
• Thanks to Pat Meyer and Tara Santsaver for repairing and painting the two parking lot posts and cleaning along the stone wall.
• Replaced the light switch in the copier office.
• Replaced the schoolhouse window casement lock.
• Ventilated the sanctuary when it hit 104 degrees in July.
• Sprayed and removed two wasp nests on the exterior of the church.
• Had Marshall Food Equipment Service replace a leaking Pressure Relief Valve and circuit breaker for the kitchen’s dishwasher.
• Installed new Welcome signs next to the front doors and ramp door. These were handmade wooden burnings by Kait Russo for the church.
• Ensured that the church parking lot is plowed when necessary, along with clearing and sanding the ramp, fire escape, bulkhead doors, front of the church, and the path to the schoolhouse and its oil tank fill point. Also cleared the access to the church’s mailbox. Thank you Ed Collins and Dana Manton for your attention to this.
• Ensured church and schoolhouse oil tanks were filled as needed.
• Managed pond level to prevent water damage to the church.
• Replaced batteries in the programmable thermostats, emergency lights, and various blown-out lightbulbs.
• Scheduled and oversaw the completion of the annual NA Building Certification inspection. Passed without any discrepancies except that we had to schedule a 90-minute burn test of our emergency lighting fixtures. This is a new annual test required by the town. Completed by ENCORE.
• Oversaw two semiannual tests of the back-flow valve on the dishwasher by NAWD. Passed without findings.
• Oversaw the annual inspection and testing of the church’s fire alarm system of 9 smoke detectors, 29 heat detectors, 3 pull boxes, and the reporting system to the NAFD. System test passed.
• Assured A/C unit installed and removed from the pastor’s office. Thank you, Leo.
• All lawns and grounds maintained by Peter Gaw, Thank You, Peter!
• Shut off the garden water tap, drained and stored the garden hose before freezing weather arrived. Thank you, Bruce.

These and many other tasks were accomplished by the B&G Mission and our congregation. Thanks to Henry Chretien, Peter Gaw, Peter Granville, Jim Koepfler, Ed Collins, Bruce Kraeutler, Pat Meyer, Tara Santsaver, and so many others who continue to care and make our church a beautiful, welcoming, and holy place.

Respectfully submitted,
Edmund Clavette
Chairman, Building & Grounds Ministry