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Trustees get detailed construction and finance update on Carbondale Aquatic Center; fundraising gap remains
Summary
The town’s owner’s representative presented a detailed construction update and budget reconciliation for the Carbondale Aquatic Center project. Trustees were told the pool is largely out of the ground, contingencies remain, and the town is about $866,000 short of a $2.5 million fundraising goal that staff hope to close this summer.
Town trustees received a multi-page construction and finance briefing on the Carbondale Aquatic Center project, where contractors have completed major earthwork and much of the in‑ground piping but the project budget has increased beyond early estimates.
An owner’s‑representative presentation summarized how the project reached its current budget. Staff described three phases of contracting — preconstruction services, a partial GMP (guaranteed maximum price) for heavy underground work, and a final GMP that captured pool house and other amenities. The presenter said the initial GMP and later approved change orders brought the direct construction budget above earlier estimates.
The presentation included the project’s direct construction cost, owner soft costs (design, permits, FF&E, technology) and contingencies. Trustees were shown that the contractor’s contingency in the GMP is roughly $300,000 and the town’s owner contingency is more than $500,000 — together about $800,000 in contingency funds. The owner’s representative noted most of the major unknowns tied to deep excavation are behind the team now because the pool was backfilled and piping installed.
Trustees discussed several change items under review, including additional underwater pool lights, site lighting and exterior cameras for safety and security; staff said pricing for those items will be available at the next meeting. Brian Freylich, the town’s health, wellness and aquatics coordinator, told trustees that extra pool and site lighting were requested to extend useful hours, improve lifeguard visibility and enable potential evening programming.
On fundraising and the project’s overall budget, staff said the town has met a $1.6 million fundraising milestone but still seeks a $2.5 million overall fundraising goal tied to add‑alternates and amenities. Staff reported two grant awards totaling about $848,000 and additional grant applications totaling about $260,000 are pending; the town has also realized higher‑than‑budgeted interest income on project funds. Executives said that without additional fundraising the town can still complete the core project but would draw more heavily on the recreation sales‑and‑use tax fund balance.
Trustees asked staff to provide clearer reconciliations at the next meeting. Trustee Jess urged that contingency numbers not be presented as “available cash,” noting industry practice is to assume contingencies will largely be spent; staff acknowledged contingency funds return to the town if unused per contract terms.
The trustees asked for a site tour of the pool under construction; staff said they will schedule a short (20–30 minute) walkthrough with construction staff and trustees at a time that minimizes impact on the crew.
Ending: Staff and the owner’s representative will return with updated pricing for lighting and security items, an updated contingency log and clearer reconciliation of fundraising dollars and fund‑balance effects.
