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First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove plans to announce the proposed slate of appointments to the new Public Building Commission in the next few weeks — roughly six months after the Representative Town Meeting (RTM) gave him the green light to move ahead.
“We’ll be making appointments soon and hopefully we’ll be moving forward,” Cosgrove told the Eagle during an interview Friday. He didn’t give a specific time frame, but said the announcement could come “in the next couple meetings.” All appointments must be approved by the three-member Board of Selectmen.
When asked by the Eagle why it has taken so long to get the commission up and running, he said it would not have been beneficial to establish the commission before any projects were on the horizon. “I think it’s senseless to have a commission with no projects,” he said.
Cosgrove spoke about the commission during a broader interview about his first year in office. He said he feels the town’s making progress, especially in resolving old disputes. Meanwhile, he was asked about a number of pending issues that remain unresolved. Like the building commission.
Naming A Commission
During an interview with the Eagle last December, Cosgrove said one of his main priorities was establishing a building commission to begin moving forward with building projects. (Click here to read about that.)
When Cosgrove took office, the town had been grappling with three separate building projects for several years — - a new public works building, a new senior center, and the proposed multimillion dollar renovations to Walsh Intermediate School and the former Branford Hills School.
“I think they’ve all been identified as real needs, so I think we need to continue the discussion on fulfilling those needs and begin to move forward,” he said last year.
Cosgrove received recommendations from both political parties, and people also contacted him directly to express their interest in serving on the new commission. “There are a number of qualified candidates,” he said.
In late January, Cosgrove submitted a draft ordinance for the new commission to the Rules and Ordinances Committee of the RTM. He later presented a revised draft which was approved by the committee in May and by the RTM in June.
According to the ordinance, the Public Building Commission will consist of five members, but two additional members may be added for a specific project. The commission’s task is to manage and oversee projects assigned to it by the first selectman.
The Long Road To Public Works
The public works department still does not have a permanent home.
The department has been in a rental facility along Route 139 since its building was torn down in 2011 to make room for the new Fire Headquarters on North Main Street. A Public Works Building Committee, convened by former First Selectman Anthony “Unk” DaRos, spent nearly three years searching for sites before it was disbanded in September 2013.
When Cosgrove was third selectman, he cast the only no vote when the Tabor site was approved 2 – 1 as the location for public works in November 2012. (Click here to read that story. Tabor neighbors rallied against the location, and the process stalled.)
When Cosgrove was third selectman, he frequently spoke up at Board of Selectmen meetings about the lack of progress and said the public works project was in limbo. (Click here to read about that.) In May 2013, Cosgrove presented a seven-point plan to speed up the site selection process. At that time, Cosgrove suggested thoroughly evaluating four properties that had been proposed for the site, re-examining the size of the proposed facility, and setting a construction budget at $7 million.
One of Cosgrove’s first actions when he took office in November 2013 was to repeal the decision to use the town-owned Tabor property for the proposed public works facility.
“Now we can truly move forward,” Cosgrove said at that first meeting.
In subsequent months, there has been little apparent movement and the public works project is rarely discussed at Board of Selectmen meetings.
This past January, Cosgrove asked the Board of Finance to allocate $7,500 to hire consultants to continue the search for possible public works sites. Cosgrove told the Eagle Friday that a consultant has not yet been hired, but he said some sites have been looked at.
“No decision has been made. There’s some locations that have been looked at further,” Cosgrove said. He did not identify them.
The Eagle asked what’s holding up the process. “I wouldn’t say anything’s holding it up. I think it’s following the course it needs to follow,” Cosgrove said. “I‘m still committed to finding an appropriate solution for public works.”
When asked if a site could be selected during the coming year, Cosgrove said, “There’s movement on it.”
Seniors Searching For A Center
One project under discussion recently is the senior center. In September Cosgrove hired Sandra Vlock, president and co-founder of Arbonies King Vlock PC architectural firm, to assess the needs of senior citizens and the need for a new senior center. That action was spurred by members of a grass-roots group, Voices for Branford Seniors, who have been rallying for a new senior center. During workshops in November, there was considerable discussion on whether the center would be a seniors-only building or a community building. Click here to read about the workshops.
Cosgrove initially said the assessment would be complete by the end of November.
“That’s coming along great. There’s a lot of information that has been gathered,” Cosgrove said, adding that he is reviewing the information with the consultant.
The Eagle asked if a date has been set to make the results public. Cosgrove said he’s “reviewing the alternative models to make sure we’re meeting the needs of the community.”
He said the next step will be “making a decision on the model.” When asked who makes that decision, Cosgrove said, “It’s not my sole decision to make a recommendation” and that other entities would be involved, such as the Board of Finance and the RTM. He also said that additional public meetings will be held as the proposal moves forward.
Cosgrove said he will also look into possible transitional solutions to address the current needs of the seniors while long-term answers are sought. This issue of transitional solutions was raised by State Rep. Lonnie Reed (D‑Branford) during one of the public workshops.
The senior center has been located at the former Canoe Brook school since 1975. The school was built in 1898, and the building was renovated in 1986, but it does not meet current accessibility standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act. It is impossible for many seniors to enter the building, since the only means of access are stairs or an outdated, multi-level ramp. Other complaints focus on limited parking, and insufficient rooms for programs. Click here to read a story about Canoe Brook.
School Renovations Now On Hold
Branford’s Board of Education (BOE) voted unanimously in May 2012 to recommend multimillion dollar renovations at both Walsh Intermediate School and the former Branford Hills Elementary School. The board asked town officials to form a building committee as one of the first formal steps in the process. The BOE’s decision was based on a feasibility study conducted by the architectural firm of Silver/Petrucelli & Associates. Renovation costs at that time were estimated at about $124 million after state reimbursement.
School districts and towns are required by the State Department of Education (SDE) to establish a building committee as one of the multiple steps in the complex process of applying for a state grant for partial reimbursement of school construction costs. The new Public Building Commission can serve as the school building committee, according to language in the new ordinance.
Cosgrove has spoken in opposition to the high-cost projects proposed by the architects and said there should be less costly alternatives.
Cosgrove said last week he has talked with the BOE chair and the superintendent about the proposed renovation projects. “I know they would like to continue with moving forward with addressing their needs. I do support that.”
Looking Ahead
During the year ahead, Cosgrove said he wants “a continuation of what we’ve been working on.”
The Eagle asked if he thought the past year has been productive.
“I absolutely do. Looking at what was accomplished in the past year…we’ve come a long way,” he said.
As an example of accomplishments, Cosgrove cited the recent settlement of the lawsuits that Wayne Cooke filed against the town. Click here to read about that.
He also said the board of selectmen meetings have had a very constructive tone over the past year.
The meetings have been concise, with the selectmen frequently remarking about the short timeframe. Many meetings have adjourned in 15 minutes or less. Few residents come to meetings to speak about issues as Cosgrove supporters did in years past.
Cosgrove said he wants people to remember that the door to his office is always open. “Feel free to come see me or give me a call and voice all your concerns or ask any questions,” he said.
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