Torrington approves construction addendum for Homesteaders Museum and waives performance bond

The Torrington City Council on March 4 approved an addendum to its pre-construction agreement with Goshen County Construction to complete the Homesteaders Museum and voted to waive a $10,854 performance and payment bond tied to the project.

City staff and the museum’s representatives told the council the museum project is being funded by a private trust left by donor James Kelly. Sarah (identified in the meeting as the museum representative) told the council the trust funds were intended “for this building,” and that the city would own the finished building and property. Construction manager Ken Ferrier, representing Goshen County Construction, told councilors the pre-construction phase is complete and that the team value-engineered the project downward from an earlier estimate to a final contract amount presented to the council.

Councilman Diehl moved to approve an attachment to the existing CMAR (construction manager at risk) contract; the mayor called for a voice vote and, with no nays recorded, the motion passed. The council then considered whether to waive the performance and payment bond of $10,854. Councilman Victorin moved to waive the bond, Councilman Warren seconded, and the mayor again called for a voice vote; with no nays heard, the waiver was approved.

During discussion, Ferrier said the project had been reduced by cost‑cutting measures — for example, specifying less expensive furnace equipment and switching a person-rated elevator to a cargo lift to reduce cost — but emphasized the work will be finished and “you still have to leave a good product there. Nothing unfinished.” He also said he reduced his own initial pre-construction fee during value engineering to help fit the project within available funds.

City attorney Mark Eddington told councilors the contract language permits the council to waive the performance bond in this circumstance because the source of funds is a private gift. Finance director Lynette Strecker later confirmed the Kelly Trust balance available for the project is $938,975 and that the trust funds are being held in restricted accounts for the building.

The council approved the contract addendum with a stated contract total in the meeting of $926,805 (as read into the record during the motion) and separately approved waiving the $10,854 performance and payment bond, with both actions passed by voice vote and no nays recorded.

Councilors said a timeline for construction will be set in the attached contract; Ferrier said the parties were “mostly shooting for the end of the year” and that a completion date would be included in the finalized attachment. The museum’s representative said the planned building will provide exhibit space, an archival and research area and artifact storage, and that some funds from the trust are expected to remain for future maintenance and furnishings.

Notes: the council’s approval covered (a) the contract attachment to finish construction under the existing CMAR agreement and (b) a separate motion to waive the performance and payment bond. Both motions were carried by voice vote with the mayor stating “hearing no nays, that’s approved.”