Norwalk approves $90,000 supplement to finish Station 1 apparatus floor repairs

Norwalk City commissioners voted unanimously to approve a $90,000 special appropriation to finish repairs at Fire Station 1, 90 New Canaan Avenue.

The funding was requested after contractors opened the apparatus floor and found substantial additional damage, including wiring in the floor, a failing deck, a damaged sliding door and a two‑inch copper plumbing line beneath the slab. "We recently received funding to replace the apparatus floor at Station 1… the floor has been moving for many years," said Mark Conte, assistant chief in the Norwalk Fire Department. "As after we opened it up, there was quite a bit of electrical, and there was quite a bit of extra damage in that building."

Conte told the commission the department has relocated electrical and utility lines above the ceiling to avoid future issues. He said crews had to open walls to cap the discovered copper line and reroute hose bib connections. "We had to open up everything just to access it," Conte said. He added the work reduced the project from a four‑phase to a two‑phase schedule, producing early savings of about $32,000 and allowing the department to return a reserve bay to service.

Commissioners asked about temporary coverage and station operations during construction. Conte said one ladder truck temporarily relocated to the Fairfield Avenue facility while engine companies continued operating from Station 1; crews are in the final phases of the project. After discussion, Commissioner Shulman moved to approve the appropriation and the motion was seconded and carried in a roll call vote. The roll call recorded unanimous approval: Mister Williams, Miss Langalis, Miss Lankowski, Mister Kanter, Mister Shulman, Mister Bryce, Mister Batchnick and Miss Wells voted yes.

The appropriation record identifies the item as 202573 SA, City of Norwalk, and the extra $90,000 was described by the fire department as required to "finish the project properly." The department did not provide a breakdown of the $90,000 into specific line items during the meeting.

Commissioners did not attach additional conditions to the appropriation. The department indicated the floor replacement and the additional work are effectively complete or in final phases and that the changes should prevent similar problems in the future.