DEERFIELD — Henry Komosa has owned three multi-million-dollar companies and he feels they’ve given him experience that would make him an asset to the Deerfield Board of Selectmen.
Komosa, a member of the Planning Board, is running for a three-year seat as a selectman against incumbent Mark E. Gilmore and fellow challenger Jonathan Prosperi.
Polls will be open at Deerfield Town Hall from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday.
Komosa told The Recorder he has owned Komosa Construction, Deerfield Suzuki and New England Candle Co.
“I’ve been self-employed for 44 years. … I’m used to handling multimillion-dollar budgets. I understand the importance of having quality people around you,” he said. “Quality personnel is really key.”
He said he built 250 homes as the owner of Komosa Construction and he believes construction is one of the bigger issues facing Deerfield. He mentioned the Deerfield Elementary School project as a major bone of contention in town.
The school was built in 1992, with a 25-year life expectancy for its roof. The $2.9 million repair and replacement project involves stripping the current shingles and re-covering the roof sheathing with 2 inches of foam insulation and another layer of plywood under new shingles.
“It should cost $1 million instead of $3 million,” he said. “You take the number of square feet of roof, which is about 76,000, and make a material that needs to be there. And then you add hours, time, labor.”
Deerfield Building Commissioner Richard Calisewski has said Raymond Design Associates was assigned by the state and the Rockland-based firm was applying to the Massachusetts School Board Authority for reimbursement. He has said reimbursement should cover $1.4 million of the $2.9 million.
Deerfield Interim Town Administrator Douglas C. Finn has said once the project goes out to bond, it will likely cost the town $125,000 in the first year.
Komosa said he also wants to help make improvements to the town’s senior center and two wastewater treatment plants.
“The town needs some good leadership,” he said, adding that friends in the community had convinced him to run for a selectman seat. “I’ve got a lot of experience I can bring to the table.”