nothin New Haven Independent | Timeline, Funding, Outlined for Walsh School

Timeline, Funding, Outlined for Walsh School

Marcia Chambers Photo

Rep. Josh Brooks asks First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove a question at RTM meeting.

The timeline and funding for the Walsh Intermediate School renovation was front and center at the Public Building Commission and Representative Town Meetings (RTM) meetings last week, as questions were raised about state funding for an $88 million renovation. 

Charles Warrington Jr. of Colllier’s International, the owner’s rep for the Walsh Intermediate School renovation, updated the Public Building Commission last week with an anticipated timeline for the project.

Sally E. Bahner Photo

Building Commission meeting

The Walsh Intermediate School project is the most expensive project undertaken in the town with players that include, in addition to Colliers, Antinozzi Associates, architects; and Fusco Corp., construction manager working with the trades and subcontractors. A commissioning agent will soon be added to the roster.

The high-powered Fusco Corporation of New Haven was selected as construction manager for the project at the Public Building Commission’s July meeting after the field was narrowed down to four (including O&G, Gilbane, and Downes) from nine.

For Branford, reimbursement is 35 percent of the project cost of $88.2 million, which is $58 million to the town. However, the anticipated square footage of the Walsh project is slightly more than 170,000 square feet, which may reduce state reimbursement.

The state’s share is between $25.7 million and $28.4 million toward the Walsh school.

The projected state funding for the school was raised at a Representative Town Meeting (RTM) last week by Rep. Josh Brooks (D-Stony Creek.)  He asked how realistic it was to expect the state to keep to its $25 million plus reimbursement, given the state’s fiscal unrest. What happens, he asked, if the state doesn’t come up with its project share?

Cosgrove Gives Update

RTM moderator Dennis Flanagan asked First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove to respond.

Cosgrove took a seat at the table. He said he was cautiously optimistic, saying a recent meeting with school construction and finance officials in Hartford went well.

At the same time he reiterated that the state’s funding has not yet been determined but the town would probably know the state’s commitment this spring, probably in April. “We are focused on the town’s share,” of $55.8 million, Cosgrove said.

Brooks pressed further, asking Cosgrove what happens to the project if the state doesn’t give the town what it sought come April.

“I think at that point we reevaluate it,” said Cosgrove.

Brooks asked if there might a new RTM vote in April or if the RTM might revisit the project. “Yes,” Cosgrove replied. “They will set reimbursement rate. Then we will make a decision of what we are going to do. If something drastically happens at the state level, we will have to evaluate that at that time.” However, he added that at a meeting last month at the state level with school construction officials, the Walsh plans, including photos, were submitted and received “a favorable response.”

Meanwhile, Warrington said that the program for the schematics schedule is being finalized with Fusco, the construction manager, and Antinozzi Associates, architects. A completed design is expected for September 2017, which will then be subject to a third party code review and to review by building officials; that’s expected to be a two-month process. Warrington said it’s hoped the project will go out to bid by December 2017.

He said construction of the phase 1 addition should begin in March 2018 and take 14 to 15 months, anticipating a fall 2019 completion. Construction will begin in the current music and art wing.

Superintendent Hamlet Hernandez said that the school calendar is being modified to maximize the construction during summer 2017 by minimizing holidays.

Architect Paul Antinozzi said he was editing the education specifications with Hernandez, taking into account enrollment and the space standard requirements for state reimbursement and expects to have a draft to present at the Oct. 19 meeting. He added, “We’re taking rudimentary conceptual plans into schematics and interpreting goals.”

A space waiver will be required to obtain the full anticipated state reimbursement – 35.36 percent, approximately $28 million.

Commissioning Agent Selection Narrowed

The commissioners went into executive session to discuss the hiring of a commissioning agent, which has been on the agenda for a couple of months. Warrington explained that a commissioning agent is mandated by the state and ensures that various building systems – electrical, HVAC, security – are being incorporated by the design team and installed and function properly.

Chair Peter Banca said in an interview afterwards that they had narrowed the selection down to two: Colliers International (which is also the owner’s rep) and Horizon.

Banca said he didn’t any conflict of interest with Colliers since they have “two different functions… divisions.”

He said Horizon has “experience with comparable projects” and that 90 percent of its work is commissioning work. Based in New York City and Canton, Massachusetts, the company has done a lot of work in New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut.

Banca said there is no line item in the budget for the work, which is expected to cost around $100,000, “a small amount of the overall budget of $88 million.” Banca added, “Their work is important. It’s mandated by the state. They will be helpful with the whole process… in planning as well as the final stages.

The final decision will be made at a special Public Building Commission meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 4, at Fire Headquarters

Marcia Chambers contributed reporting for this article.
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