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09/14/2018 08:41 AMWork is progressing, but due to some common delays and issues tied to expanding and renovating a building that's been standing for over half a century, the completion date for the Branford's Community/Senior Center expansion project continues to be a bit of a moving target. At last note, the project completion date, orginally set for October 2018, had been pushed into the beginning of February, 2019.
Work began in late October 2017. First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove discussed the changes and delays briefly on Sept. 12, in response to a request for an update on the project's completion date made by Representative Town Meeting (RTM) member Tom Brockett (D, District 7) at the end of the Sept. 12 RTM meeting.
One issue was the need to install a new underground sewer connection after excavation revealed issues, said Cosgrove. That replacement prohibited some work planned to take place on the building's lower level, impacting the schedule further.
In May, 2018, project contractor, A. Secondino and Son (Branford) reported to the Public Building Commission (PCB), which is overseeing the project, that new sanitary sewer lines would need to be installed instead of tying into the old system of the existing building, according to the PCB's meeting mintues.
According to August 2018 minutes of the PBC, another delay experienced was the arrival of steel for the building addition. Expected originally to arrive in June PBC meeting, project architect Thomas Arcari (Quisenberry Arcari Architects, LLC Farmington) noted the steel had been delayed but was now going up as of August. Steel installation, when completed, would be followed by roof installation. Also in the August 20, minutes, it was noted the anticipated project completion had been pushed to the first week in February 2019. It was also noted that, "...this slide in the schedule presents a problem with the paving of the site."
On Sept. 12, Cosgrove said the PBC is expecting to soon receive a firmer update on the project's anticipated completion date.
"We're working with the contractor to have an updated schedule, based on changes we've had with the project," said Cosgrove.
The project's $12.1 million price tag received bonding approval from the Town in late 2016. Branford's Recreation office moved out of its Community House home of 54 years in June, 2017 and has been operating from temporary ground-floor offices at the BCTV/Registrar of Voters building at 40 Kirkham Street.
Town leaders held a groundbreaking ceremony at the former Community House on Oct. 27, 2017; followed immediately by construction getting underway.
While the changes have impacted the original schedule since that time; Cosgrove said all of the measures that have been taken have been "prudent" and will improve the project.
"The project is moving along, certainly there have been things that have come up along the way; which is common when you're doing a construction project tying in a 50-year-old building with a new building," said Cosgrove. "But [its] nothing out of the ordinary, nothing that wasn't anticipated. That's why we put appropriate funds aside for those measures. At the end of the day, it will be a great project."