Board approves limited extension of Colliers contract for communications work; some members voice concern about spending before site located

The Wallingford Board of Education approved an amendment to extend Colliers Inc.'s scope of services to cover additional communications work, with an allowance not to exceed $17,160 and an hourly rate of $220.

Superintendent Belizzi told the board Colliers’ original contract (from 2023) did not anticipate extra work related to a “10-year waterfall plan” and extensive public meetings; those additional demands contributed to use of the original contract hours. Belizzi asked the board to authorize covering the extension from the district’s unallocated 2% funds.

Board members and commenters raised concerns about authorizing additional consultant spending before a final site is identified. One board member told meeting staff they had received “tons of feedback” from the public opposing further payments until a site is located.

Board member discussion included requests for an accounting of hours billed under the contract. The superintendent said the communication portion of Colliers’ contract had been depleted and that other contract components (for site work) still had budget. She said the district could provide invoices and that the district’s unallocated 2% funds contained approximately $94,854 available to cover one-time expenditures.

Board members approved the contract amendment by motion and vote. The motion passed and the extension will be funded from the district 2% account for one-time expenses. The board directed staff to provide invoice accounting and continue work on site due diligence; the contract extension explicitly covers communications and related consultant support, not site acquisition itself.