NHS Expansion Project Clears Public Building And Site Commission

By Eliza Hallabeck

The Public Building and Site Commission unanimously passed the Newtown High School expansion project to be put before the Board of Selectman during the commission’s meeting on Tuesday, April 28.

“What we’re going to do today is take a look at the numbers in a general term within the bonding issue,” said Commission Chair Robert Mitchell at the start of the meeting.

He said the guaranteed maximum price to the town for the project was presented by the Morganti Group, the management firm overseeing the project, as $33,729,052. That number includes everything other than what was listed below the line items, such as furniture.

“We’re looking at a total project budget of $41,576,000, which is approximately $1.1 million under the approved amount for the total budget,” Mr Mitchell said.

Ed Barrett, project manager with the Morganti Group, said the firm vetted all of the bidders on the different bid packages, and, “We feel they are qualified.”

Public Building And Site Commission member Anthony D’Angelo made the motion for the commission to advise the Board of Selectmen that the bids received by the Morganti Group for the high school expansion are within the authorized amount.

In total there will be $38,826,000 worth of bonds to the town, as read by Mr D’Angelo.

The motion passed by the commission unanimously, and Arthur Lindley, a representative for the Morganti Group, said the firm made a lot of effort in its logistics plan to make sure students can move as much as possible during the construction process.

Mr Barrett said temporary fences will be part of that plan.

“Excellent gentlemen,” said Mr Mitchell to the representatives. “Good job.”

Shovels in the ground as soon as May 11, according to Mr Barrett and Mr Lindley during the meeting. A groundbreaking ceremony has not yet been planned, but was briefly discussed as a possibility.