Bids $1.1 Million Under Budget—

NHS Expansion Is A ‘Go’

By John Voket

What a difference a year makes.

Following a protracted planning process marked by a frustrating delay after bids for a high school expansion came in more than $6 million over budget in 2008, a new and expanded set of bids that were solicited earlier this year have come back more than $1 million under budget.

That means Newtown will have its long-awaited and badly needed high school expansion, according to Superintendent Janet Robinson who spoke to The Bee Tuesday, April 21, moments after receiving the news from representatives of The Morganti Group, the management firm overseeing the project.

“We’re more than a million under budget, and that includes all the alternates including the driveway relocation,” Dr Robinson said. Dr Robinson subsequently reiterated news of the bidding outcomes at a Board of Education meeting.

“I’ve been informed by Ed Barrett that the current estimates for the high school expansion puts the cost $1.1 million below the town’s funding,” said Dr Robinson.

Dr Robinson said the schedule has equipment being placed at the school during the week of May 12, “And we will be organizing a groundbreaking ceremony.”

“Did you all hear that? That the high school has come in under?” Board of Education chair Elaine McClure said to applause by the board.

The superintendent said based on expectations for beginning construction on site, she is planning for a groundbreaking ceremony by mid-May. Nearly a month ago, on March 25, a table surrounded by representatives from the town and The Morganti Group tore into envelopes containing bid offers for more than a dozen select bid packages. At that time, town Finance Director Robert Tait said Morganti representative Ed Barrett appeared cautiously optimistic about the results.

“I was sitting with him, and he was scribbling different notes between the bid announcements,” Mr Tait said. “After we finished he said he was quite comfortable the bids were going to be under, including the alternates.”

The morning after bids were opened, Mr Barrett said he and other company representatives were “pleased with the results.”

Arthur Lindley, who was presenting the bids to Mr Tait during the bid opening activity, said the total amount of offers exceeded any he has ever seen for a project of this size, and that he, too, was confident that the sheer volume boded well for competitive offers.

Mr Barrett said that economic issues that drove bidding up by millions over the $38.8 million budget last spring likely drove bidding below budget just a few months later.

While discussing the news earlier this week, Dr Robinson said she hoped that the remaining balance between the final bid outcomes and the $38.8 million taxpayers authorized in a 2008 referendum would be applied to the owners’ contingency fund, which would address any unexpected expenses outside the scope of bids, as well as any unforeseen or emergency developments.

But Monday evening, the Board of Selectmen, which must authorize the borrowing, failed to act, saying the town’s Public Building and Site Commission (PBSC) had not yet advised selectmen that bids were approved. It its advisory capacity, the building and site panel must report the bid totals and verify they are less than the bonded amount.

While First Selectman Joe Borst and Republican Selectman Paul Mangiafico reserved comment on the matter, Democratic Selectman Herb Rosenthal said he would only consider borrowing for the amount of the project. Mr Rosenthal said he was unwilling to apply any balance to a contingency account saying, “We approve the borrowing. If it is more [than the PBSC authorizes based on the bid outcomes], let them come back and request more.”

Upon hearing the news, Legislative Council Finance Committee Chair Joe DiCandido said the public should be reminded that “an emotional outcry nearly ended up costing taxpayers $6.045 million more than they would have had to pay for the project.”

Mr DiCandido was referring to the failure of a referendum that asked taxpayers to endorse borrowing to meet the original bid outcome last spring, which came out $6-plus million over the sum originally authorized by taxpayers for the high school expansion.

During the selectmen’s meeting this week, Mr Rosenthal echoed that sentiment, saying taxpayers in Newtown “should thank the 26 voters” whose plurality defeated the additional $6 million in borrowing with 2,421 Yes votes and 2,447 No votes Tuesday, October 7.