Ground Breaking Soon For Community House Expansion

The Board of Selectmen (BOS) awarded a $9.9 million construction contract for the Community House/Senior Center expansion to A. Secondino & Son of Branford, clearing the way for an October start date.

In a related matter, it was announced that there will be a public auction on Wednesday, Sept. 27, at noon at the Community House on Church Street for some leftover furniture and office equipment.

Before the contract was approved at Wednesday night’s meeting, there was a discussion about ​“value engineering,” which is the practice of reducing costs of various project items.

Several items were changed to reduce estimated costs since Secondino’s bid came in at $10.4 million. The town previously approved about $12.1 million in overall costs, including $9.5 million for construction costs, and about $2.5 million for soft costs, such as architectural fees and furnishings.

First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove said the exact amount of the construction contract was $9,949,085. The BOS voted unanimously to award the contract, and approved the proposed cost-saving changes.

“These items wouldn’t impact the quality of the project or the programs,” Cosgrove said in regard to the changes. He said that adjusting project items to reduce costs ​“is a common practice on any project.”

The Public Building Commission unanimously recommended the contract and cost-saving changes earlier this month. 

Secondino’s bid was the lowest of 14 bids, with the next lowest bid from Enfield Builders at $11.5 million. The Secondino company has been family-operated since 1895.

No More Pricey Lights

Prior to the vote Wednesday, Third Selectman Jack Ahern asked what cost items were changed.

“A number of things were changed,” said Tom Arcari (pictured) of Quisenberry Arcari Architects. He estimated the savings at about $600,000.

Arcari said they discovered that the lighting package that had been selected was very expensive and called it, ​“the Cadillac of systems.” He said they saved $50,000 by choosing less expensive fixtures.

Building on a Flood Plain

He said a $65,000 savings resulted from not using concrete blocks for the entire walls on the first floor. Now concrete will be used for 4 feet, and the upper walls will be drywall. Arcari said the 4‑foot level will be above the flood level, since the building is in the floodplain.

“The goal of the project is to make the lower level flood-resistant,” he said.

Another change included selecting a more standard paint, for a savings of $6,000. He said Secondino will donate an emergency generator valued at $66,000.

Arcari said they already have some savings in soft costs, such as moving expenses, so some money can be transferred from the soft-cost budget to the construction budget. He thanked Alex Palluzzi, Jr., director of the Parks and Recreation Department, for the work he and his staff did when they volunteered to do the moving, which he estimated saved upwards of $50,000.

Arcari met with town personnel and department heads to discuss possible item changes. He said some items, such as movable partitions, weren’t eliminated because they’re needed to divide sections of the rooms on the upper floors where the senior programs will be held. He said eliminating them ​“would affect the flexibility of the programs.”

Ahern also asked when the building permits would be issued. Arcari said the Building Department is reviewing the applications now. He said the building plans have to be updated to reflect the items that were changed.

“The goal is to have the contractor mobilize Oct. 1‑ish,” Arcari said.

With the renovations and the expansion, the Community House will become a multi-use facility with senior programs on the upper floor, and recreation programs remaining on the lower floor. The entire building including the gym will be renovated, and an elevator will be added.

The programs that are normally held at the Community House will be held at other locations for the coming year. It is estimated construction could be complete in about one year.

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