Date: Fri 08-Aug-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

library-Crumb-Cascella

Full Text:

Library Opening Slips To September

BY STEVE BIGHAM

Last spring, an exasperated Janet Woycik said she could at least find solace

in knowing that the library would be done before the end of the summer.

The original completion date of June 1 is long gone as are completion dates of

July and most recently, August 4. Now it appears as if the project will still

be continuing when autumn hits in late September. The librarian continues to

hold out hope that the project will be done before the first snowfall.

Earlier this week, BTI's Keith Crumb estimated that the $4.1 million

addition/renovation job would run well into September, although the building,

he said, would be ready for a Certificate of Occupancy (CO) inspection by

September 1.

But why was it not complete by August 4, First Selectman Bob Cascella wanted

to know at Monday's meeting of the Board of Selectmen. After all, he

threatened to fire BTI back in May due to a lack of manpower and the slow

progress on the job. A behind-closed-doors meeting, however, helped BTI keep

its job, as long as it guaranteed the project be done by August 4.

Just two weeks ago, Mr Crumb stated that things wouldn't be ready until August

18. Now, that date has been pushed back into September. There are two reasons

for this most recent delay, he said.

For one thing, the general contractor claims the town's inability to get

change orders approved in a timely fashion has impeded progress, as has a set

of concrete stairs that were built without a railing. The job has also been

slowed because the town has not promptly paid its bills. Some contractors

arrive for work half-heartedly, wondering when and if they'll ever get paid.

Also, Mr Crumb said a better line of communication needs to be set up. Mr

Crumb said he's been receiving mixed directives from different people in town.

He's been taking orders from an architect, a building committee, a Board of

Selectmen, and a Library Board, all of which have a vested interest in the

library.

Recently, Mr Crumb and Clerk-of-the-works Ed Callo received word from Mrs

Woycik about a video/book drop-off that needed to be put up near the library's

rear entrance. This was a day after the building committee agreed that the box

should not be put up because a gate at the front would negate its use. This

angered Mr Cascella.

"Do you see Janet Woycik's name on the checks?" he asked. "There's only one

board that runs the town. We're the three people who make the decisions."

Since the Library Board started this project, I guess they figure they can

still run it, noted Public Building & Site Committee Chairman Frank

Krasnickas.

Selectman Jim Mooney suggested that if Mr Crumb receives a call from Library

Board members he should tell them they are talking to the wrong person and

promptly hang up.

In a letter to architect Bruce Tuthill of King & Tuthill Architects, Mr

Cascella reiterated that it is only the Board of Selectmen that can authorize

further changes.

"Any changes from our current agreements (written or oral) not approved by my

office will be done so at your own risk," the first selectman wrote. "Failure

to follow these directions will be considered cause for withholding funds and

possible termination."