Capital Projects, RFPs & Bids

Revised June 24, 2020

First Selectman Column
July 2020, The Suffield Observer (abbreviated)

After recent difficult months, I am delighted to share great news! The Town Hall project will break ground in July, at a total cost of $5.108M. This is a remarkable $1.3M savings versus the $6.4M estimated in February 2020 and within the $5.130M approved by voters in 2015. Due to the comprehensive pre-construction due diligence undertaken over the last few years, the renovation and one-story addition will not proceed in the usual “Band-Aid” fashion. While this approach runs counter to many of the Town’s previous projects, I am confident it will ultimately yield a better outcome. Project timetable reflects a December 25, 2020 completion date. 

Highlights

• Of three options presented by the construction manager in February 2020, the option selected represents the one all stakeholders recommended – not the “Band-Aid,” nor the “Taj Mahal” options.
• Current pricing is not an estimate but rather a result of the competitive bid process, which I fervently insisted upon to provide a clear understanding of actual costs prior to potentially asking taxpayers for more money.
• Due diligence included multiple studies and reports addressing and fixing root building problems-- not simply covering unresolved issues. Studies included moisture investigation, hazardous materials inspection, indoor quality survey and an asbestos report.
• Upon completion, all Town employees will be located in Town-owned buildings resulting in annual savings of nearly $125,000 inclusive of 230C Mountain Road rent, carrying/maintenance costs, and regained real and personal property tax. Admittedly, I’d prefer all Town employees in the same building, but relent in this regard given the expense to do so.  

Lessons Learned

Given the Town’s recent experience with Kent Memorial Library, this project includes the following safeguards.

• Over $900,000 in healthy contingencies to protect against reasonably unforeseen circumstances.
• Closely monitored budget and contingency via regularly scheduled meetings among First Selectman, Facilities Manager, Finance Director, and Gilbane Project Manager.
• Additional oversight of construction process by Permanent Building Commission.
• Critical assessment of contract to ensure adequate protection of the Town’s interests. At its June 10^th regular meeting, the Board of Selectmen tabled acceptance of the Guaranteed Maximum Price until a special meeting on June 23^rd to allow construction counsel additional review.

Arriving at this juncture has been no small feat. I appreciate the patience and support of our residents and thank the many who collaborated successfully to move this project forward including the Permanent Building Commission, Boards of Selectmen and Finance; all Town employees and especially Public Works, Building Department; our construction partners at QA+M architects, Gilbane Building Company and edm architects. 

For questions, contact Chris Matejek, Facilities Manager

February 5, 2020

Update to First Selectman Column
November 2019, The Suffield Observer

In our Fall 2019 review of Town properties, our insurer (CIRMA) informed us that it may no longer cover the vacant Bridge Street School (BSS) based on its current state.  Despite the Town’s efforts to heat the inside of the building with space heaters over the last several years and hiring a roofing contractor to mitigate roof leaks in 2018, pictures posted on the Town’s website show a blighted building permeated by black mold, crumbling asbestos, peeling lead paint and collapsing ceilings from over fifteen years of deterioration.  Thereafter, on September 27, 2019, the Town of Suffield Building Official provided the Town with a Notice of Unsafe Structure and Order to immediately vacate the structure and make plans to either remediate the serious health hazards within the building or demolish it in accordance with the state demolition code. The building was posted and is unsafe to enter for any reason. 

1,176 residents voted by referendum to appropriate $8.4M to convert the BSS into a community center and authorized the issuance of no more than $8.4M in debt to finance the project in October 2015. The vote was not a mandate to do the project at any cost, but a permissive authorization to do the project if it complied in scope and dollar amount with the information presented by the Bridge Street School Ad Hoc Committee (BSSAHC) to the public, and the legal bond authorization upon which the residents relied to cast their votes.
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