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05/27/2021 12:00 AMThe scale and scope of the project hasn’t changed, but the estimated cost of the Dan Cosgrove Animal Shelter expansion/renovation project has just shot up by 60 percent; from $2,895,000 to $4,595,000.
While the likely culprit is the volatile construction market and skyrocketing materials and labor costs, Branford’s Board of Finance (BOF) is holding off on a request to possibly increase bonding for the project while the Town expedites work to provide details on what caused the cost estimate increases, as well as bringing back possible scenarios to help foot those extra costs. At its May 24 meeting, the BOF voted unanimously to take no action on an amendment seeking to increase the project’s appropriation and bond authorization from $2.895 million to $4.595 million, tabling the agenda item to what is expected to be a special BOF meeting in the coming weeks where more information will be provided to the board.
The BOF will scrutinize all options presented, said BOF chair Joe Mooney on May 24.
“We’re fortunate this town is in financial good shape, but that doesn’t mean we’re willing to accept a 60 percent increase of the project without good scrutiny,” Mooney said.
The Town of Branford owns the shelter building at 749 East Main Street and is responsible for the animal control officers staffing the department, which also provides services to the Town of North Branford. North Branford currently has an agreement with the Town of Branford which assigns approximately 30 percent of the shelter’s municipal operating expenses to North Branford.
On May 24, Branford First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove told the BOF that the Town Engineer and the shelter project construction management firm, Enterprise Construction Management Company, would work up more cost details for review by the BOF over the coming weeks. Cosgrove said the extra costs weren’t revealed until construction bids for the project were opened May 17. Every bid revealed a large variance between the Town’s estimated costs and those submitted for the work, said Cosgrove. Cosgrove also emphasized there has been no change to the scale or scope of the project, except perhaps very minimally, since it was first approved for bonding in September, 2020.
“The project is the same that the town openly went out to bid for,” said Cosgrove.
Prior to putting the project out to bid, Cosgrove said he did have “some concerns” regarding what impact the uncertainty of the market would have on the bid results. However, when the bids were opened May 17, “...I think we were surprised on the variance between what we had appropriated and what had come in, in the bidding process.”
Cosgrove said in each bid opened May 17, “...pretty much every scope of work, I think, exceeded what was budgeted – everything from site work to building envelope to mechanicals.”
Cosgrove said it was safe to say that a number of contributing factors are adding up to the variance.
“Of course, maybe the number was off to begin with,” Cosgrove said of the original project appropriation. “But I think also you have to understand the full process. I think everybody in this room is aware of the volatility that’s happening both in the commodities building materials [and] labor markets. But also, when we go out to bid, we’re asking those responding to bid to hold that number for 3 months before they even sign a contract,” and then purchase materials for a project taking place over the next 10 to 12 months.
Cosgrove also noted for the BOF that the shelter expansion/renovation project has a “wide range of support throughout the community.”
“The [shelter] commission has just gone through a very successful capital campaign where they not only met but exceeded their goals,” said Cosgrove.
He said the commission’s success was thanks in part to the support of the Branford and North Branford communities which the shelter serves.
“For that reason, and in the spirit of transparency, I thought it was important to bring this forward at this point for the board to consider. I wouldn’t expect action tonight...I would like the opportunity to have the project team to come before this board and speak to what they’re seeing in the market, what they’re seeing in the industry, and what’s driving the cost of the project, therefore giving the board an opportunity to consider and perhaps make a decision at that time,” said Cosgrove.
Looking at the Numbers
In September, 2020, the Branford Representative Town Meeting (RTM) approved bonding $2,895,000 to renovate and expand the shelter, which will double in size to become a 6,350 square-foot facility. The RTM approved the bonding with the knowledge that $1 million of the cost was expected to be covered by a shelter campaign fundraiser.
To date, the shelter campaign has raised $1,254,471 in pledges, donations and grants from 1,257 people or organizations, according to Shelter Director Laura Burban. Funds donated ranged from $2 to $175,000.
With support from contributed funds, the approximate $1.7 million cost increase facing the project now would net down to an additional debt cost to the Town of $1.230 million, Branford Finance Director Jim Finch explained to the BOF on May 24.
Finch said he’s been speaking with North Branford Finance Director Anthony Esposito about the project potentially requiring more funding, and reviewing past reimbursement agreements between the two towns for ideas on possible terms for any payment support coming from North Branford. Finch said all project stakeholders – the Towns of Branford and North Branford, the shelter’s commission and others, “...need to coalesce around a strategy and present that strategy back to the board.”
Recognizing the additional expenses now facing the shelter expansion/renovation project, Burban said, “...we anticipate raising quite a bit more money...we’re planning fundraisers... we’re hoping to raise a significant amount toward this project.”
Burban said that, remarkably, more than 60 percent of the funds raised by the campaign to date have come from beyond the borders of Branford and North Branford – including far flung locations such as Hawaii, Texas, California and Florida.
The no-kill shelter’s funding support comes in part from building a huge social media following thanks to its remarkable track record of rescuing and re-homing animals. On Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, the shelter often shares videos, photos and stories of animals in its care. Numerous animals have arrived in dire condition only to thrive in the care of the staff and volunteers, with support of emergency funds raised to cover unbudgeted medical costs and other expenses.
“We’re a bit of unicorn as far as municipal animal control goes, and people really appreciate the things that we do, and want to see it happen in other communities,” said Burban of the shelter’s successful fundraising efforts.
She said the shelter is planning a benefit, “Paws for Celebration” June 24 at the Pine Orchard Yacht & Country Club to help raise funds. The event was originally intended to celebrate ground-breaking for the renovation, Burban said.
Also, due to anticipating a late June 2021 ground-breaking for the project, the shelter was moved out of its East Main Street location this month (bringing cats and small creatures only; dogs have been adopted out). The shelter is now in its temporary home at Branford's former Canoe Brook School, 11 Cherry St., and will reopen to the public on June 2. For more information on events, fundraising and contacting the shelter, find Dan Cosgrove Animal Shelter on Facebook.
On May 24, Animal Shelter Commissioner Marilyn Vailette urged the BOF to continue the Town’s support of the shelter expansion/renovation project.
“We’re grateful to the town for showing support,” said Vailette. “It has been something we have been working on for quite some time as a commission. We’re anxious to move it forward. It’s been a long time coming. We hope that we have your continued support to do that. It’s important at this moment. Our shelter needs it; our community needs it.”
Donations to support the shelter fundraising campaign can be made online at https://p2p.onecause.com/cosgrovesavinglives