Date: Fri 02-May-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

Booth-Library-project

Full Text:

with photo... Pace Of Library Project Picks Up

B Y S TEVE B IGHAM

Officials are a little more upbeat about the Cyrenius H. Booth Library

construction project, following a meeting of the minds last week, which

appears to have helped make the final push toward the library's completion.

While the work on the $4.1 million expansion/renovation job is starting to

move more quickly, those planning the ribbon-cutting ceremony are still

waiting to set a definite date. They were anticipating a June ceremony, but

that was pushed off until July. For now, a firecracker opening is a tentative

plan, however, contractors won't guarantee anything.

"I know it will be done this summer," said an optimistic librarian Janet

Woycik Tuesday. Summer ends September 21.

Since last Thursday's meeting at Fairfield Hills, the library's roof work is

moving faster, the new 21,000-square-foot building is nearing completion, and

sub-contractors are again working inside the existing building, where a

six-month asbestos clean-up has been completed.

"We had a nice little review there (last week) and since then there has been

substantial progress," said library trustee Bill Lavery Monday.

But getting things done on the job hasn't been easy. Town officials had to all

but demand that the project be finished by July at the meeting, refusing to

accept a letter from general contractor Building Technologies, Inc, (BTI) of

Prospect, requesting a six-month extension. BTI's Keith Crumb said the

asbestos removal work kept sub-contractors out of the existing building for

seven months, delaying the completion date.

The building recently received a clean bill of health for asbestos from

HYGENIX, Inc, of Stamford. Nevertheless, BTI has been hesitant about putting

its sub-contractors back into building, citing a report filed by state

sanitarian William Stapleton, who reported finding levels of dust and debris

still too high. Town officials disagree with Mr Stapleton, saying the

substance in the air is normal construction dust.

"The potentiality for asbestos is still there," Mr Crumb said. He reminded

town officials that it was BTI who was fined $42,000 by the Occupation Health

and Safety Administration (OSHA), not the town.

Nevertheless, Mr Crumb informed First Selectman Bob Cascella that he would

accelerate things this week, making a July grand opening seem possible.

"If we're not touching the plaster and there's no chance of us being cited,

then I have no problem," the BTI contractor said. However, he declined to

guarantee when he'd start inside.

"Can we get this done in six weeks?" asked Mr Lavery.

"No," Mr Crumb replied.

Asked if it would be more like eight weeks, Mr Crumb said he'd check on that

with the sub-contractors, but seriously doubted it could be done that soon.

"My guess is more like three months," Mr Crumb said. "We've been shut out of

the existing building for seven months."

Mr Lavery believes the project can be done in eight weeks.

"Sometimes the leader of the orchestra, when the bass is not going well, has

to shake things up a bit to make the music sound good," he said to BTI. "The

level of anxiety in town is up high about this library being finished."

A lot of work was done before asbestos was found, he added.

Members of the town's highway department, trained in asbestos work, have been

drilling holes in the walls of the existing building for sprinkler systems,

electrical conduits and wire work.

Frank Krasnickas, chairman of the Public Building & Site Committee, said that

the only thing holding the job back now is a lack of men on the job. Asbestos

is no longer an excuse.

"It all comes down to manpower," he said. "It's just a matter of putting

people on the job and giving it hell."

Clerk-of-the-works Ed Callo said the job could be done by early July, but he

suspected it will end up being more like mid-July.

Work still needed to be done in the existing building includes duct work,

electrical work, plumbing, sprinkler work, and sheet rock to the ceiling.