The new Newtown Police Department at 191 South Main Street was opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony this past November, and the Public Building & Site Commission has another anticipated milestone approaching: the close of the project.

Following a Public Building & Site Commission virtual meeting on March 23, Chair Robert Mitchell reviewed the meeting in a phone interview, sharing that he expects the Newtown Police Department building project to be officially completed at his commission’s next meeting.

“Our next meeting should be the last one related to this project,” Mitchell said, adding that the project is noted as 98.8% complete on invoices.

All that is left on the project now is getting the final paperwork together, making sure warranties and guarantees are in the package. One item is being worked on and is expected to be done shortly: According to Mitchell, air leakage was noted in one section of the existing building, and that is expected to be fixed prior to the commission’s next meeting.

“It was very nicely put together by the project team,” Mitchell said, referring to the fix.

Overall, Mitchell reported, the Newtown Police Department building project followed the same project model used for building Sandy Hook Elementary School, and as that model has now worked well twice, it may be the model used for future projects.

In other building project news, Mitchell said that Downes Construction Company of New Britain has been selected to complete pre-construction services on the Hawley Elementary School HVAC project. Some issues on the project are being verified, like additional costs. Mitchell said the company is looking at the costs associated with two options for completing the project: moving students to a different area or location while the project is underway, or completing the project over the course of three summers. Once all the details are worked out, Mitchell expects that project to be presented to the public for the November referendum.

The Sandy Hook Permanent Memorial project is expected to be on the April referendum. Mitchell’s commission is preparing for a virtual town presentation at the start of April, when its contribution to the project will be specified. The Public Building & Site Commission, he explained, will be on the project to make sure it is done on time and on budget.