[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6750742,"mediaKeyId","5124414-4f557d8b20f91a374f44745d7e359078","parentId",5124414,"title","Committee approves Eversource easement, authorizes $3.16 million contingency increase for Norwalk High School","audioSeconds",642,"startMs",276000,"endMs",918000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5124414-4f557d8b20f91a374f44745d7e359078&start=276&end=918","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5124414-4f557d8b20f91a374f44745d7e359078/thumbnail_276000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6750742/Norwalk-City/Fairfield/Connecticut/Committee-approves-Eversource-easement-authorizes-316-million-contingency-increase-for-Norwalk-High-School","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6750742-1261061c90e4dd88a4dcf6c1b2421973/orig.mp4?Expires=1776226114&Signature=cEMA0fYrBV8HlZG2fWDIKqaQVsNseC1xpSgppsoWRJxl2DFemA2Lte93fM9Jvy9Nxu6na0tvlUTZ0WhuFAjD63eIvJn~W90TMG8jbxZCAXT7KEZ~7aQUEgvPAWqcB~26MQmsx83urRlspj8eCc-4Wa3bBnkat~4m4Zht-l-hglYGE9jYAGkfm6wZfqpcUdGnET-rsEyhTzqvH30DSTZemHmb5TDa5yGV1Wk9AWYEfM2GjUN3dR1~PVHVF5g09gVT2MZPR0KgsRBOXGgYMYGlLidtgP9pSBnUEScAR1VyfJEFr3IyoDHZ4c4J72uefeeeFAXbt3bXE7JGlL6nhNa1jQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Norwalk City, CT","date","2025-07-03T09:29:56.2Z","article","The Land Use and Building Management Committee on July 2 approved two actions related to Norwalk school construction. The committee unanimously approved an Eversource Energy easement to provide new electrical service to the Norwalk High School project at 23 Calvin Murphy Drive and later voted unanimously to increase the owner's contingency with Gilbane Building Company by up to $3,159,034 and reprogram certain set‑aside allowances to accept a demolition bid.

The easement vote followed a public hearing that produced no speakers. Chair Barbara Smith said the easement is part of the multi‑step process and noted the project will also require planning and zoning approvals. “We have already… approved the line with Eversource, and this is part of the process,” Smith said before calling the vote. The easement was approved unanimously.

During new business staff explained the contingency request in detail. Project staff said demolition bids came in substantially lower than earlier projections and recommended shifting money between allowance line items to lock in the lower price. Alan, a city project staff member, reported, “The bids are coming $7,000,000, 7.2, $7,100,000 or something like that,” and said staff proposes combining roughly $4 million already in Gilbane’s allowances with approximately $3.7 million set aside for owner furniture to create the funds needed to accept the demolition bid.

Committee members asked whether the money shift affects the project’s overall budget. Council member Greg Burnett asked, “So we're moving money from one line item to another, and not affecting the bottom line?” Alan replied that the move does not change the approved project total at this time and that staff anticipates seeking additional state funding to cover a remaining 5–8% expected gap when final bidding for remaining work is complete. Committee members also confirmed with staff that demolition costs are reimbursable at 80% under the state reimbursement framework discussed in the meeting.

The motion to authorize the contingency increase and reprogramming of allowances passed unanimously.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Land Use and Building Management Committee 07-02-2025","oneSentenceSummary","At its July 2 meeting the Land Use and Building Management Committee unanimously approved an Eversource Energy easement for electrical service to the Norwalk High School project and authorized a contingency increase of up to $3,159,034 with reprogramming of set‑aside allowances to accept a demolition bid.","taxTitle","Norwalk City, Fairfield, Connecticut","taxId",4245,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6750729,"Norwalk to consolidate city leases in new lease‑management system; staff begin data entry and process changes",701,2604000,3305000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5124414-4f557d8b20f91a374f44745d7e359078&start=2604&end=3305","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5124414-4f557d8b20f91a374f44745d7e359078/thumbnail_2604000.jpg","/articles/6750729/Norwalk-City/Fairfield/Connecticut/Norwalk-to-consolidate-city-leases-in-new-leasemanagement-system-staff-begin-data-entry-and-process-changes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6750729-ba8a2029eef241821e392983a6325cd2/orig.mp4?Expires=1776226114&Signature=GppP~P32hNL9iSG0LaKk3mk-wIVcmgcQpX5OJ3Oe7perFkiW-FUiNOOVD0vQa9JjdarQQlUH31MvCm7sVAeeBRF3IclDLhp3a1CoCkKWRItJnKqkFbwI4kM~sRY9ud0aTzwwzi9Pw9ar2fG0KpY87yyasOXoEAG4QS2i8J-yxKPo~XYG6fy9nMjoEgWZMV3b7EAy7FRhV1JALQM2MfFme2oLhSEnQ3g7NkFShX1ewFT1qKaTXMRSp44zcpDedKnMfTdEK~KJYr1hlVAI5N-tDpUyf6AkHn8NVndGc9FCYjst1P8puivq-yHWKQegIA2qJqICujHg2CWXGgCYKJ9fQQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the July 2 meeting, building management staff presented a review of city leases and demonstrated lease‑management software intended to centralize records, track expirations, store lease documents and certificates of insurance, and record payments.

Joanne (Building Management) said the city currently has roughly 20–25 active leases under Building Management and has begun to import Parks and Recreation leases into the system. She demonstrated the software’s dashboard and document links and showed invoice and check history for tenants. “Here is my dashboard, and you can see all of the active leases. So here's my dashboard. I can see what's going on, who am I expecting to get payments from, where are the signed leases, where when are they coming up,” Joanne said.

Staff explained that historically lease payments were routed to the controller’s office and deposited, which made it difficult for departments to reconcile payments against lease records. The new workflow keeps a copy of payment and lease records in the management system and staff said they will coordinate with the controller and finance to improve deposit and reconciliation procedures. Staff also said the software vendor they found provided a free tier and that the department uploaded certificates of insurance during the meeting.

Committee members praised the effort and asked about payment processing. Joanne said the system supports online payment and the department will pursue online card payments and closer coordination with the comptroller’s office; for now staff will continue to upload copies of checks they receive and forward deposit information. Alan noted the consolidation will help centralize records that previously resided in several departments and make reminders and expirations easier to manage.

Next steps identified by staff include working with the law department on expiring leases, continuing data entry of Parks & Rec leases, and implementing online payment capability.","Building Management presented a plan and live demonstration of new lease‑management software to consolidate city lease records. Staff said roughly 20–25 leases will be centralized; certificates of insurance and invoice histories are being uploaded and the system can send reminders and support online payments in the future.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6750737,"South Norwalk Elementary near completion; Norwalk High School structure rising, on track for fall 2027",921,1012000,1933000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5124414-4f557d8b20f91a374f44745d7e359078&start=1012&end=1933","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5124414-4f557d8b20f91a374f44745d7e359078/thumbnail_1012000.jpg","/articles/6750737/Norwalk-City/Fairfield/Connecticut/South-Norwalk-Elementary-near-completion-Norwalk-High-School-structure-rising-on-track-for-fall-2027","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6750737-d0fbb53c139176728e4ae27f276d2793/orig.mp4?Expires=1776226114&Signature=AUivQQhtBnQsvdRVP9iaoYkK-8w2Ia88noCqRUjAMOOTLWZX0S7f10H11lLp7cy20oFLciAB9H6xTs1krjipHcvK91Y9sAfvwfqAIu5QwfEelehQPJ5HRk0KftqKlTyL2Bu00wofuPVqJY73meTkmeFbe0jVX0DTUbeVIEr5OJj9tis4pLZm7B9THF1npUgRwoJHWhUspWVlhwY~ER5Pvv6fohPqhnkzeE9CA9AfK06LHl7Mwou5t1AnT-dtgE4PCzecqe9qLy5I04mdkIzXms40NrXTPDzSZu-piPlDdqoa7Yw2tx-5-BUeEypHd2F1MLqWUk4Ma9RWk~NgfI3keQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City construction staff updated the Land Use and Building Management Committee on July 2 about progress at two major school projects and on a portfolio of HVAC upgrades across the district.

South Norwalk Elementary: Dan presented photos and a schedule update, saying site landscaping and final asphalt work are underway and that the building has permanent power and network connectivity to support equipment start‑up and commissioning. “The building does have permanent power currently installed with, network connectivity, which is, Internet. That allows them to continue with the equipment start up and commissioning,” he said. Classroom finishes were described as substantially complete and staff said smart boards and furniture deliveries are scheduled for late July, with a targeted move‑in for staff in August and partial student occupancy in the fall.

Norwalk High School (P‑TECH): Dan reported ongoing underground utility work on Calvin Murphy Drive for the project’s main electrical feed (linked to the earlier approved easement). He said steel erection is roughly two‑thirds complete and highlighted work on the gym, pool steel, auditorium, stair towers and exterior sheathing. ‘‘The building is still on schedule, will be completed for the fall of 20 27 semester with the final completion with all the site development fields and parking lots tennis courts in fall of 20 28,’’ Dan said. Staff noted some site amenities (for example a later‑added basketball court) could finish a month or so later than classroom spaces.

HVAC program: Alan reported on six HVAC projects across the district. He told the committee that recent bids for many mechanical contracts came back ‘‘very, very high,’’ and staff reworked scopes and funding allocations to proceed where possible. One project (Marvin) requires a scope rewrite and rebid; others will proceed after inter‑project fund moves and special appropriations where necessary. Alan said the shortage of mechanical contractors bidding on municipal school projects is driving volatility in prices statewide.

Committee members asked for a future update from Traffic and Mobility about sidewalk and drainage work tied to school access; staff said those items are being coordinated with DPW and Traffic Mobility and could take one to two years to implement.","City staff reported that South Norwalk Elementary is nearing substantial completion with permanent power and classroom finishes in place. Norwalk High School construction is progressing with roughly two‑thirds of the steel erected; staff confirmed building occupancy targeted for fall 2027 and full site completion (fields, parking, tennis) by fall ","actionData","errors"]

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Committee approves Eversource easement, authorizes $3.16 million contingency increase for Norwalk High School

Norwalk to consolidate city leases in new lease‑management system; staff begin data entry and process changes

South Norwalk Elementary near completion; Norwalk High School structure rising, on track for fall 2027