Board approves new Milford Health Department building at Wauson Field site after extended debate

The Milford Board of Aldermen voted 9-5 on June 2 to approve Conn. Gen. Stat. §8-24 siting and related improvements for a new Milford Health Department building at the Wauson Field parking lot, clearing the way for design work funded in part by American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money.

The approval follows more than three hours of public comment and aldermanic questioning about parking, cost estimates and whether alternate sites had been fully vetted. Supporters — including current and former health department employees — urged the board to act so the department can consolidate services and expand clinic capacity.

Why this matters: The city has approximately $4.9 million in ARPA funds currently allocated to the project; city staff and the mayor said delaying the vote risks losing those federal dollars. City officials told aldermen they believe the Lawson/Wauson lot location best supports operational needs, mass-vaccination capacity and proximity to Parsons Government Center where related permitting and public-facing services operate.

Supporters and public-health rationale Roberta Silver, a resident of 55 Governors Avenue, told aldermen, “I am here in support of the new health department building. I think that will be a marvelous addition to our our town,” but urged caution about choosing a site that would eliminate event parking. Joan Cagnello, chair of the Milford Board of Health and a former health department employee, described cramped clinic space and storage shortages at the department’s current sites and urged approval: “I ask you to please approve these proposed construction ideas.”

Health Director Deepa Joseph and Public Works Director Chris Saleh answered aldermen’s questions about scope, timeline and parking. Joseph said the project cost is not fixed: “we estimate it is likely between 5 and 10,000,000. We don't have an estimate we don't have a true cost because we need this approval in order to move forward with the next steps in this project to really go through a design engineering phase to determine exact cost.” Saleh summarized the site-selection work: a third-party needs assessment identified roughly 28,900 square feet needed to consolidate existing health and human services programs that currently occupy about 11,700 square feet across multiple locations.

Funding, timelines and legal constraints Aldermen pressed how ARPA money would be used and what deadlines apply. Joseph said the city has $4.9 million in ARPA funds allocated to the project. City Attorney Bertram told the board the city previously approved an interagency memorandum of understanding to obligate ARPA funds and, as explained at the meeting, those funds must be obligated by the end of 2027. Saleh said borings and preliminary site work have begun and that approval by the Board will allow the city to hire designers to produce firm cost estimates; staff projected a 2–3 month design phase followed by bidding.

Parking, public events and design options Parking and loss of green/open space drew some of the most sustained questioning. Residents and several aldermen warned Wauson Field parking is used for farmers markets, parades and recreation; speakers said the plan initially showed a lease with the neighboring church but the congregation confirmed no such 365-day-per-year lease exists. Saleh acknowledged there will be a temporary loss of about 25 spaces with the proposed layout but said the design anticipates a net gain of roughly 30 spaces once reconfiguration and an overflow grassy parking area behind the field are accounted for; he also noted a nearby private property expected to open with 120 spaces. Saleh described the overflow area as a grassy, dual-use surface, not a paved lot.

Design, size, contingencies City staff said they will pursue full architectural plans after 8-24 approval, then go to bid. If bids exceed available ARPA funding, officials told the board the city will either value-engineer the project, phase the build (for example finishing two floors and leaving the third shell space), or return to the board to request additional funding. Public Works Director Saleh said typical construction estimates were being used as placeholders (roughly $220–$300 per square foot cited in discussion), and that bids will determine final cost.

Board reaction and vote Aldermen expressed split views: some said approving the 8-24 was a necessary step to obtain accurate pricing and secure ARPA funds; others pressed for more certainty on cost, parking and possible reuse of soon-to-be-available school buildings. After roll-call, the motion passed 9-5. The no votes reflected concerns about site selection, parking and uncertain final cost.

What happens next With the 8-24 approval, staff said they will solicit architects for final designs, proceed to public bidding and return to the board if bids exceed available funds. Officials repeatedly emphasized the city’s ARPA allocation is finite and urged moving promptly to design and procurement so obligated funds can be spent within federal/state timeframe constraints.

The final vote resolves the immediate siting question but leaves outstanding operational decisions — parking mitigation, exact building footprint and any phasing — to the design and bidding process. The board’s approval authorizes the mayor and administrative staff to proceed with the steps described to effectuate the project.