[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-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",[32,76,88,100],{"_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":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",5972838,"mediaKeyId","5864156-5a5e02ecb290bf84d34dc1f67c1dca5e","parentId",5864156,"title","Concerns raised about Board of Education bathroom project process and RFP posting","audioSeconds",500,"startMs",5716000,"endMs",6216000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5864156-5a5e02ecb290bf84d34dc1f67c1dca5e&start=5716&end=6216","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5864156-5a5e02ecb290bf84d34dc1f67c1dca5e/thumbnail_5716000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/5972838/Connecticut/Concerns-raised-about-Board-of-Education-bathroom-project-process-and-RFP-posting","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5972838-dab41778f59bfea327789c7dbc4369d5/orig.mp4?Expires=1773768162&Signature=LIk3A4IiXmJR1IU58Qa4QHUaimdYIxHeN1dOHmE5pvq7h~zaH1A7cQw4HB6363dfJ4EGRqc2wOsXjd6tJJpo~6PGVKcEUPlHlEN8tip9fu0pWGtHn9xzJ~5w3AwbgXIh5Ov-On3OZSOfTJQrPKoalH-4aD55rwCd-eYtkLAjtMcXDyjHDRAYzO2lcw3jWAadggWk8RX5Ywk12BGHYg-Bj8NpXSPu1n8y5fLJnqGSdJuwnUB~Nshm2GCE9zwhzD3wF79z3W9ObzO2sJ355pcHR0NLwh1oyQ~3iT4HB7iKS5891FegcMSYkTvqnZqaRSt0PBmba8UEykNusM0O94fSDw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Tolland School District ","date","2025-09-29T20:59:46Z","article","Andover, Conn. — During the Board of Finance meeting on Sept. 24, members raised concerns about the Board of Education’s handling of a proposed elementary school bathroom project, asking why the project’s RFP and committee activity were not clearly posted for public review.

Members said the Board of Education had discussed the project, formed a subcommittee and named consultants during prior meetings, but that the town’s website and the Board of Education webpage lacked a posted RFP or meeting notices for the subcommittee. Town Administrator Eric said he received a request to post information from the Board of Education’s staff and would have posted an RFP document if the town had received the RFP package for posting.

Board members said the lack of posted materials created confusion at recent public meetings and asked that the Board of Education provide copies of the RFP, confirm subcommittee meeting dates and make the procurement process and schedule available to other governing boards and the public.

Why it matters: Procurement for school capital work, especially projects funded or overseen through a subcommittee, is subject to public‑meeting and town purchasing policies. Board of Finance members said better cross‑board communication and timely posting of procurement documents will help elected boards and residents understand scope, schedule and budget implications.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Andover Board of Finance - September 24, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Board of Finance members questioned transparency around a Board of Education bathroom project, noting a reported subcommittee and named consultants but limited public posting of the RFP and no clear public notice of subcommittee meetings.","taxTitle","Tolland School District, School Districts, Connecticut","taxId",49401,"location","Connecticut","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},5972842,"Andover Board of Finance schedules tri-board budget meeting Oct. 15, sets 1.5% target and will invite moderator",1113,3641000,4754000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5864156-5a5e02ecb290bf84d34dc1f67c1dca5e&start=3641&end=4754","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5864156-5a5e02ecb290bf84d34dc1f67c1dca5e/thumbnail_3641000.jpg","/articles/5972842/Connecticut/Andover-Board-of-Finance-schedules-tri-board-budget-meeting-Oct-15-sets-15-target-and-will-invite-moderator","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5972842-b196688bb04f70b8641f90800194cc46/orig.mp4?Expires=1773768162&Signature=Be7rW2hxg0FbGXiiN42eELhxOWMFZFP0LorRR0p~FV16luZ9YXc0icG-n8840WGx751v92EZ78IcF55oBaA4dE9aWCaTI0OwJksiVRBLoV-bVIAGqaaQcHYi88I6ujw4GBD18cUxR82zj31PvUR6Ds6-z1f2LjsZmZNVUgxUBLsmo~b5VaI7asUy0kBE2yBjtavgQxXx3Itbg3OkcaiPc8~J-8EqjOjLz73ruXNrlJIfF3NHEIm6jnY~P3IWxzb31skoYw23Dj9w9YBPbAHTkjyY~mazGvSK6V7kbBVuy17XM0QADcQpbS~2SIkLb4XlZAVr1NtOu4iEt8aiThyLew__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Andover, Conn. — The Board of Finance voted Sept. 24 to schedule the charter-required conference with the Board of Selectmen and Board of Education at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15, to be held in the Town Hall community room with hybrid capability. The motion was made and seconded and carried by the board.

Members also voted to recommend a nonbinding target asking departments and the Board of Education to present budgets that do not exceed a 1.5% increase from current levels. The board discussed that the target is advisory, not binding, and that departments may justify higher requests with supporting information.

The board agreed to ask the town administrator to invite an experienced moderator to keep the tri‑board meeting on task; the board said Jed Larson was a preferred moderator if available. Town Administrator Eric agreed to prepare a proposed calendar/schedule of budget events and to circulate it to the board about 10 days before the Oct. 15 meeting.

Why it matters: The tri‑board meeting is the charter mechanism for setting goals and objectives for the upcoming budget season. The 1.5% target is an advisory figure the Board of Finance will use to frame discussions with the Board of Education and the Board of Selectmen during the budget cycle.","The Board of Finance voted on Sept. 24 to hold the required tri‑board (scribe) meeting at 7 p.m. Oct. 15 in the Town Hall community room (hybrid option), to recommend a nonbinding 1.5% target for next year’s budgets and to invite a moderator for the meeting.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},5972847,"Andover updates grant-funded capital projects: Veterans Field, senior hub and multi-use trail design shortfall",1042,418000,1460000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5864156-5a5e02ecb290bf84d34dc1f67c1dca5e&start=418&end=1460","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5864156-5a5e02ecb290bf84d34dc1f67c1dca5e/thumbnail_418000.jpg","/articles/5972847/Connecticut/Andover-updates-grant-funded-capital-projects-Veterans-Field-senior-hub-and-multi-use-trail-design-shortfall","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5972847-bb87dc8b67fc107bd7479f0fbc17dedd/orig.mp4?Expires=1773768162&Signature=e7MNMlkRN4FJh3yNi3P~iRRfXJ~DMMofdOzZ1HvohpFvekac~wXYWsn06Ffw6JW4S1l8F5OfVg5uZuC1bHr-8fAMXZHkBtHVtdB34i~MhyMaUY1rUofPck8XappCm9jEJ89Isn6nIiJRo1Q67CqcS~5iF5-o02S6nmtfqLqHH8bdOxabudUsmnpCroBUMixGyIrx9pZMzMxNZpZn-Q-KJqBb1USVK6oknlNOdWUorRG0ywgeuSD8dKyD~PkF8v4kIVAkj2cNRnkCSwAfQh7uZBZ7UvIvCK3UXx~CJUh6fm7jgsYI4RQxOOYtxgJWCbLDLm9eeNcrBJAweBrcrf3teQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Andover, Conn. — At the Board of Finance’s Sept. 24 meeting, Town Administrator Eric outlined the town’s portfolio of active grants and capital projects and said the town has secured roughly $14 million in grant funding over the past six years. He described progress, funding sources and design gaps on Veterans Memorial Field, the senior transportation hub, the multi-use pathway and larger recreation projects.

Eric said the Veterans Memorial Field work is now ready for procurement under the EZIQC cooperative contract program administered through the Capital Region Council of Governments; that approach uses competitively bid unit prices that local governments can piggyback on and streamlines administration. He said the Board of Selectmen authorized signing the EZIQC contract and that execution is pending a revised budget submission to the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) because the town added funding from a second DECD-administered source.

On the senior transportation hub the town originally received a $275,000 grant with a $75,000 town match approved at town meeting. Eric said the project scope was revised to add second-floor storage; the town contracted for a $12,000 final design that will count against construction costs. He cautioned that once demolition and asbestos abatement are included, total project cost estimates have risen toward the $475,000 range and could approach $500,000, which would exceed the originally budgeted grant-plus-match package.

On recreational improvements, Eric said a 2023 grant (described in the meeting as a STEAP-type recreational improvement grant) originally covered $500,000 with a $150,000 town match and that the town subsequently received a $250,000 legislative appropriation this fiscal year. With additional Hartford Foundation grant funds and in‑kind public works labor, Eric estimated the full program near $910,000, with municipal contributions of about $150,000 of that total.

Eric also described progress on a multi-use pathway connecting the municipal campus to the rail trail. He said the town has secured construction funding through LOTCIP (the state Local Transportation Capital Improvement Program) that typically pays full construction costs, but the town faces a shortfall of about $100,000 to complete final design work so the construction grant can be used. He said the town will ask the Board of Finance for funding to complete the design so the construction grant can be drawn.

Other notes: the town submitted an application for a handicapped-accessible van (which would require a 20% local match if awarded) and has sought federal appropriations to complete the community center and to add a backup generator for town hall; Eric said the federal request has moved through the Senate appropriations process before but that federal funding remains uncertain pending federal budgeting and continuing resolution activity.

Why it matters: The projects affect recreation, senior services, emergency back-up power and multi-use connectivity in town. Most are primarily funded with state or legislative appropriations; however design cost growth and program changes mean the town may need to allocate more local funds to complete projects or revise their budgets.

Eric said he will provide the board with a master grants list and an updated capital-improvement (CIP) report showing outstanding items and suggested priorities.","Town Administrator Eric reported at the Sept. 24 Board of Finance meeting that multiple state and legislative grants will fund several Andover projects but rising costs and incomplete designs leave the senior hub and multi-use pathway requiring additional town funding or revised budgets.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},5972853,"Andover officials say Bunker Hill bridge work is back on schedule; Long Hill set for April closure",234,198000,432000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5864156-5a5e02ecb290bf84d34dc1f67c1dca5e&start=198&end=432","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5864156-5a5e02ecb290bf84d34dc1f67c1dca5e/thumbnail_198000.jpg","/articles/5972853/Connecticut/Andover-officials-say-Bunker-Hill-bridge-work-is-back-on-schedule-Long-Hill-set-for-April-closure","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5972853-5d178acdf73d26f288d091916cc6c13d/orig.mp4?Expires=1773768162&Signature=cU8HuKht30bzBfX4jBk3T-o5zOE8jK83RiQC7~VetJXaDCzMGa4JgxTHsACatVFgl2DvdQ8NYJaZdqS0Jpict5t9bJQTBV4zqlcNdhm~SeCf1cxKuhXiNUTh~S02XpXke9s1dMdEDZypzyyz7nt4t7lVM8-KCGOoVL7mo6Ut5Rmp6n9J8lzFoWxXmlVmLe8mUdBMy~mel~va5kpjmPb7k5j4ataMU9qV7CywGp3cPu~4yYmppBooS24zVLoTsp3CpN7qtKH11qnutVuq6uOjUobSFwgJCynNkG7AfWVyKEWTokoTPK6Aowt2R-Hf59qTKlCX1jCggte9BKWMKS6dEA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Andover, Conn. — Town Administrator Eric (Town Administrator) told the Board of Finance on Sept. 24 that work on the Bunker Hill bridge has resumed under the contractor’s crews and that the town expects the bridge to be paved and reopened sometime in December. The meeting was held in the Town Hall community room and via hybrid connection.

Eric said the bridge contractor has installed the main deck beams and will begin sequential concrete pours for the deck slab next week. He said the town and the Connecticut Department of Transportation rejected the contractor’s original proposal to repair manufactured beams, citing likely reductions in load-carrying capacity, and required replacement to DOT specifications.

The administrator also described a recent test on one set of micropile grout samples that returned a low strength reading. Eric said engineers re-ran calculations assuming weak grout and concluded the installation still meets structural requirements, noting the bridge is “massively overbuilt” and that the town does not expect a structural longevity issue.

Separately, Eric said the Long Hill Bridge project, funded through the federal–local bridge program with state design funding, has been advanced in the schedule to avoid potential federal funding withdrawals. The town will begin tree trimming and utility relocation in November and December, and construction is scheduled to start April 1; Eric told the board the bridge should be closed for a minimum of eight months.

To reduce traffic impacts during Long Hill construction, the town and state have agreed to install a temporary signal at Hendy Road for the period of construction. Eric said this was a long-running negotiation with the state DOT.

Why it matters: Both bridges are significant capital works for Andover’s road network. Bunker Hill’s anticipated December reopening would restore a local crossing; Long Hill’s April closure will require traffic management and is expected to last at least eight months, affecting school, library and food bank access along the corridor.

The board asked for continued updates on schedule, reimbursements from the state for advance contractor payments and any traffic-management changes before construction begins.","Town Administrator Eric reported on Sept. 24 that work on the Bunker Hill bridge is progressing and the town expects it to reopen, paved, by December; Long Hill Bridge design is complete and construction is scheduled to begin April 1 with an estimated minimum eight-month closure.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Concerns raised about Board of Education bathroom project process and RFP posting

Andover Board of Finance schedules tri-board budget meeting Oct. 15, sets 1.5% target and will invite moderator

Andover updates grant-funded capital projects: Veterans Field, senior hub and multi-use trail design shortfall

Andover officials say Bunker Hill bridge work is back on schedule; Long Hill set for April closure