Finance committee approves $2.45 million transfer to finish South Main community recreation center

The Norwalk Finance and Claims Committee on Jan. 9 unanimously approved moving $2,450,000 from the Cranberry School Improvement Project into the Noah Community Recreation Center project at 98 South Main Street to cover a construction shortfall.

The capital transfer makes up the remaining gap after bids for the renovation and new gym addition came in roughly $3 million above earlier estimates. Alan Lowe of Building Management told the committee the bids reflected current market conditions, and the city and its construction manager trimmed the project through value engineering and other scope reductions before seeking the additional funds. "The bids came very high," Lowe said, "over $3,000,000 higher than our bid estimates." The committee action was split into two formal steps: approval of the special capital appropriation of $2,450,000 to Parks & Recreation and a matching reduction of $2,450,000 from the Cranberry School account; both items passed unanimously and will go to the full Common Council for final approval.

Why it matters: the city has already assembled multiple funding sources for the South Main project, including a $1.2 million state Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) allocation, $2.0 million in HUD funds, roughly $1.5 million from a GGP/mall fund and previously authorized city capital. Committee materials showed about $6 million already committed to the project before the added $2.45 million. Jared (staff member) told the committee the Cranberry School bonds had been issued and that a technical reallocation resolution will be needed for bond-covenant and accounting purposes.

Public comment: resident Diane Loricella, of 21 Little Fox Lane, addressed the committee during public participation and urged members to oppose a blanket transfer of $2,450,000 from Cranberry to the recreation center. "Please vote no on a general exchange of $2,450,000 and instead suggest that with that extra money in Cranberry, that that goes back to general fund and that the recreation center does with less," Loricella said, adding concerns about underfunded health department positions and the project's lack of on-site solar generation.

Project timing and next steps: Alan Lowe said earlier partial guaranteed maximum price (GMP) approvals were obtained so the city would not lose grant commitments, and construction is scheduled to start in February with an expected roughly 12-month schedule. Robert Sowers, Director of Parks and Recreation, told the committee the department has budgeted some staffing and part-time/instructor funds in the operating budget and will return with additional operating requests for the 2027 budget cycle once the facility opens.

Formal actions taken: the committee voted to (1) appropriate $2,450,000 to the Recreation & Parks Department for the Noah Community Recreation Center and (2) reduce Cranberry School Improvement Project free balance by $2,450,000. Both measures passed by unanimous voice/hand vote and will be considered by the full Common Council at its Jan. 14 meeting.

The committee packet notes that the city performed value-engineering to reduce the construction shortfall by roughly $1.1 million before requesting the balance from Cranberry School project funds. The city will follow up with a bond reallocation resolution to align the prior Cranberry School bond issuance with the new use of proceeds.

The Common Council will consider the appropriation and the Cranberry School reduction at its next meeting.