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Torrington council adopts resolution increasing school roof project cost to $5.28 million
Summary
The City Council approved Resolution 143-259 to raise the estimated total for a school roof project from $4.43 million to $5.28 million, citing inflation and more detailed construction documents; officials said bids will determine final costs and that the city faces an approximate $500,000–$600,000 funding shortfall until bids return.
The Torrington City Council adopted Resolution 143-259 on Jan. 21 amending a previously adopted resolution (143-249) to increase the total estimated cost for a school roof project from $4,431,152 to $5,283,720.93.
City staff said the change reflects both inflation since the initial estimate and a shift from schematic-level pricing to 60% construction documents, which produce more detailed — and higher — line-item costs. Donna Labbe, business director, said consultant Gail Associates completed additional research and the higher total includes a design contingency and updated inflation indices. Facilities Director Dean Pergola and the consultant team told the council they expect bid documents to be finalized and issued within about a month.
Council members pressed staff on the size and source of the increase. Councilman McEvanaro called the roughly 20% rise “a jump in a short amount [of] period,” citing prior metal-roof failures on school buildings and questioning whether labor and material markets moved that far. Pergola and the consultant replied the earlier estimate was schematic; the current figure is an estimate based on 60% construction documents and includes design contingency and an inflation factor (the staff estimate described an inflation component of about 16.925% and a separate 5% design contingency). Labbe said the numbers are industry-standard estimates and that the competitive bid process may lower final cost when contractors respond.
Council members also discussed oversight to avoid past roof failures. McEvanaro recalled prior problems linked to installation and attachment methods for metal roofing; Pergola said the city will use top-of-the-line materials, require bonding and insurance, and rely on Gail Associates to perform construction-phase inspection to verify work is built to specification.
On funding, council members and staff discussed school construction reimbursement and local bonding. Labbe said the current reimbursement basis used for estimates is approximately 72.5% (the exact reimbursement percentage used in the estimate was stated as 72.5). The council affirmed inclusion of $700,000 previously authorized for bonding and that the City will include the new bonding request in upcoming bond sales. Labbe and council members estimated a local funding gap of roughly $500,000–$600,000 that will need to be reconciled through the Board of Education capital plan, the city’s capital reserves or the budget process after contractor bids return. Council members noted the Board of Education’s capital improvement plan includes $500,000 for fiscal 2026.
The motion to adopt Resolution 143-259 carried on a voice vote; staff said the city will present returned bids to the council or Board of Finance as final numbers become available.
The council and staff emphasized that this vote authorized updated project paperwork and the city to proceed to competitive bidding, not a final contractor award or final cost commitment.
