Stratford WPCA approves $25,000 amendment for flood wall design at treatment plant

The Town of Stratford Water Pollution Control Authority on April 28 authorized a $25,000 amendment to GZAs professional services contract to complete design of a flood wall at the towns wastewater treatment facility.

John Casey, town engineer, told the authority the firm had to make additional design changes as final plans were prepared and to answer questions from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) for a dam safety permit. "That dam safety permit has been recommended for approval and it's being advertised for public 30 day comment period," Casey said. He also described design changes to fence locations and to the water service utility line and said the town has been coordinating with Aquarion on potential concurrent service work.

Casey said the extra work and the effort to respond to DEEP questions justified the fee increase. "I do think he's he's due this money," Casey said of the consultant request. Board members voted to approve the amendment unanimously.

Casey also described the projects grant timeline and said the town has asked for a FEMA grant extension and is awaiting a response. He said town staff plan to provide the finalized permit and a construction schedule to the state partner and FEMA once the permit is issued so the project can move to bidding and construction.

The vote authorized the contract amendment and does not itself authorize construction; the next steps are permit finalization, bidding and, if awarded, a separate construction contract and schedule.