Date: Fri 10-May-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

schools-Hawley-project

Full Text:

Building Panel Wants Hawley Project To Be Re-Bid

B Y S TEVE B IGHAM

The Public Building and Site Commission wants to see the price on the Hawley

School addition lowered and has requested that the project be reopened for

bidding.

The commission, in an effort to keep the process flowing, recommended the

proposed project be passed on to the Legislative Council for funding request,

but only on the condition that funding not exceed $4.2 million. The board

hopes that number can be reduced even more.

Bidding on Hawley School pushed that project's costs up $409,000 over budget,

which was originally around $3.5 million.

"Hopefully by rebidding, we could come in at a lesser amount," explained

building chairman Frank Krasnickas. "That's our rationale."

Architect Rusty Malek of Kaestle Boos said value engineering and a $150,000

contingency cut would trim about $284,000 worth of costs from the project, but

the building commission said it would like to see new bids from companies in

the hopes that figures would drop even more.

The building commission also endorsed the $26.2 million high school project,

which came in $1.5 million below school estimates. The panel made its

decisions Tuesday night at a special joint meeting with the Board of

Education, which also endorsed both projects.

Superintendent John R. Reed pointed out that in order to re-bid, all previous

bidders must be rejected. Mr Krasnickas said he hoped the second bid process

would not delay the project

Charles Boos of Kaestle Boos said the concept of value engineering is better

handled in re-bid process. Boos said the procedure could be done quickly,

avoiding a major delay and said the possibility of the bids coming in higher

was not realistic. Only parts of the project would be re-bid, he said.

Paul Des Biens was the only building commission member not in favor of

re-bidding, pointing out that the town might end up being sorry for

concessions made in the school.

"Some of the niceties in the proposed plan would create a tremendous

difference in the public's view of the final product."

School board member Susan Hills agreed, voicing her concern over less quality.

There was some concern that parts of the NHS project would have had to be

reduced or eliminated after the Legislative Council cut $350,000 in debt

service for the bonding of the project, which would have equaled a $3.5

million cut in the plans. But the low bids prompted Mr Malek to suggest the

school board include all of the project's options, which feature such

amenities as a double-decker gymnasium, a new track, and renovated locker

rooms.

The construction management firm of O&G Construction of Torrington continues

its review of the bids for the high school to confirm the low bidders.