Town Hall Project Sheds Committee and Architect
NEWINGTON - The Town Council has dismissed both the Town Hall renovation project architect and construction management firm, as well as the building committee as it looks to move forward in crafting a plan for the aged municipal structure and the campus around it.

       Council Republicans opted not to retain architectural firm Kaestle Boos and construction management company Downes Construction-against objections from Democrats and Maureen Klett, an Independent-at the May 10 regular meeting.

       The move was made shortly before a disbanding of the building committee, and the formation of a new one-membership will be filled over the course of the coming months.

       Republicans called it a â€"fresh start”, while detractors considered it a step back in a project that Democratic Councilors and Klett said would benefit from retaining individuals with intimate knowledge of the building.

       â€"You’re not going to meet two companies that know this building as well as these two,” said Councilor Jim Marocchini. â€"To keep things streamlined and cost-effective, I would prefer to keep them.”

       But the Kaestle Boos and Downes-although respectable firms-may not have the â€"public’s confidence” due to a failed September 9 referendum, followed by last year’s then-Council rejection of a new construction blueprint, Republicans said.

       â€"We’ve been through two tries,” said Mayor Roy Zartarian. â€"Time for a fresh set of eyes and hands.”

       Democrats and Klett argued that the two rejected schematics may have been reflective of what the firms thought officials and town residents at large were looking for.

       â€"They’ve already seen everything,” said Councilor Diana Serra. â€"If you gave them a different charge, couldn’t they do the same thing [as someone else]?”

       It would take $24.3 million to renovate the Town Hall building as it stands, and no more than $37 million to reconstruct part of it, according to a report delivered by the Hamden-based DTC engineering analysis firm at the previous Council meeting.

       Previous cost projections-from project architect Kaestle Boos and construction managers from Downes Construction-had a renovate in place blueprint costing around $7 million more than a full reconstruction, which was priced at $37 million before a 10,000 square foot reduction knocked it down to $34 million.

       â€"We were going to build a smaller building,” said Committee Member Rodney Mortensen. â€"How much would that have saved?”

       DTC’s $24.3 million cost estimate includes construction, moving expenses, temporary office space, the referendum, and insurance/bonds. It also contains a contingency-20 percent for the design phase and 10 percent for construction.

       With escalation projected to bump costs up 5 percent over the next two years, the town can save by pushing for a November referendum-an endeavor that would be more challenging for the partial reconstruction because the approach would require the hiring of an architect prior to voter approval, DTC said.

       â€"I don’t think the delay is the important part,” said Councilor Tim Manke at the May 10 meeting. â€"I think the important part is getting it right.”

       Kaestle Boos and Downes can bid again for the work, Republicans said.

       As for the building committee, members will be able to put their names forward for consideration as the Council forms the next one.

       â€"I don’t see it happening any better than what it is now,” Marocchini said.

       And Mortensen, who spoke during the public comments segment at the end of the meeting, said that he will not be seeking a position on the new body.

       â€"We looked at every single facet,” Mortensen over the phone. â€"There are experts on that Committee.”

       Mortensen said that the renovation path-while projected cheaper-would not provide as much in the way of extra parking on a site that has drawn widespread complaints about congestion. He also expressed concern regarding any energy costs that might be associated with not constructing a new building for maximum efficiency.

       â€"The stingy man pays the most,” Mortensen said.

       At the meeting, Klett pointed to the language of the committee establishing resolution, which does not denote specific qualifications and background the Council would be looking for in potential members.

       Zartarian said that the last member search did not either, and that the committee still came together with expertise in construction, electrical, and engineering fields.

      
STORY BY MARK DIPAOLA  |  May 12 2016  |  COMMENTS?