Date: Fri 09-Aug-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

projects-Krasnickas

Full Text:

Capital Projects Keep Building Committee Chairman Running

B Y S TEVE B IGHAM

Frank Krasnickas made his rounds this week, updating town boards and

commissions on the various capital projects going on in town.

The chairman of the Public Building and Site Committee has been especially

busy lately with additions and renovations underway at the Cyrenius Booth

Library, Newtown High School and Hawley Elementary School.

He has been putting in six to seven hours per day five days a week on the

projects as a volunteer.

"I'm busier than hell. It's like a full-time job," said Mr Krasnickas, who

says he's been chairman of the committee for more than 10 years.

He met with both the Board of Education Tuesday and the Legislative Council

Wednesday and fielded questions.

Mr Krasnickas reports the asbestos removal at the high school continues, and

though the work is a bit behind schedule, it was is to be completed late this

week. He said one of the problems came about after the contractor put down the

wrong floor sealer.

Also, the NHS parking lot's resurfacing is expected to be completed by August

19. Ceiling demolition and new footings for the NHS addition are also being

done, according to Mr Krasnickas.

In all, 13 contractors for the high school project have still not been signed,

though Mr Krasnickas said all have been committed. According to Mr Krasnickas,

a mechanical contractor has been doing work on site, even though the company

has yet to sign a contract.

Mr Krasnickas said a contract was signed with ACMAT, the company hired to

build the Hawley addition, on July 12.

In the meantime, workers are putting up a divider in the library, transforming

it into two classrooms, and a temporary septic system is being installed in

the front of the building.

At Hawley, a temporary access-way will be built to the playground behind the

school.

The two school projects, expected to cost in excess of $30 million, are mostly

under the control of the Board of Education and the Public Building Committee,

but council member Pierre Rochman believes the council needs to be better

informed about financial matters and not "left in the dark" as he claims it

has during past school projects. He questioned Mr Krasnickas as to where the

buck stops with the high school and Hawley projects.

"Who are we reporting our financial concerns to," he asked.

Member Joe Borst reminded the council that it is not responsibility of the

council to "micro-manage" large capital projects.

The council voted Wednesday to have Mr Krasnickas report quarterly on the

projects.

At the library, Mr Krasnickas said 80 percent of the steel has been erected

and the major demolition of the existing building will begin at the end of the

month and run through September 12. During that time, the library will be

closed.

The Building Committee chairman reported that duct work is currently being

installed in the old section of the library. Mr Krasnickas told the council

that he and the building inspector had agreed that the duct work so far should

be changed, prompting an angered outcry from First Selectman Robert Cascella,

who expressed frustration about quality of the work being done and materials

being used at the site.

In June, H&H Construction was replaced after some concrete forms it poured

were defective because supplementary plywood used was not properly reinforced.

That, plus other unspecified problems have plagued the project, prompting the

outburst from the frustrated first selectman.

"The library has been a problem for three consecutive months," he shouted.

"It's not the selectmen's fault. It's not the Legislative Council's fault.

It's not the Building Committee's fault. Who's fault is it?"

Through the harsh words came a bit of humor.

Mr Borst, who once served on the Building Committee, was under the impression

that when bills are paid for construction costs, signatures from both the

school board chairman and building committee chairman were required. Mr

Krasnickas said he's been the only one signing checks of late.

"I remember needing two signatures when I was on the Building Committee," Mr

Borst noted.

"They trust me. They must not have trusted you," Mr Krasnickas replied in

jest.

Wondering how he found time to do all that he does, council member Melissa

Pilchard thanked Mr Krasnickas for his dedication to the town of Newtown.