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Council approves $52,500 extension for CREC project manager on high school project after debate
Summary
The City Council voted 6-1 to approve a continuation of CREC project management services for the New London high school construction closeout phase, adding up to $52,500 to complete change orders, punch lists and final financial submissions.
The New London City Council approved an amendment on Feb. 3 to increase the CREC project manager contract by up to $52,500 to cover project closeout services at the city’s high school construction project. The motion passed 6-1.
Why it matters: The high school construction program is a multimillion-dollar, state-reimbursed effort; councilors and the mayor said completing closeout properly is essential to secure remaining state reimbursements and avoid audit liabilities.
Council debate and vote
Councilor Sadie moved approval of the contract increase, which the council discussed at length. Councilor Sadi (voiced concerns) questioned why additional funds were needed for services that the council believed had been covered earlier. "We have a $110,000,000 budget… now we're going to spend an additional 52, up to $52,500," the councilor said, and said he planned to vote against the measure.
Mayor Pasler and other councilors defended the extension, describing CREC’s project manager as instrumental in closing previous school projects and in protecting the city from large audit liabilities. The mayor said the extension would be "pennies compared to the $110,000,000 project" and noted unresolved technical issues — enrollment projections and space waivers — that affect state reimbursement and require careful closeout work.
The council approved the amendment 6-1. The municipal minutes record that the motion carried by a 6-to-1 vote.
What the extension covers
The extension covers project closeout activities through June 2025, including final change orders, punch-list work, subcontractor accounting, and preparation of financial documents required for state audit and reimbursement processes. City officials said funds will be drawn from the school construction project budget and contingency lines; the finance director confirmed budget availability.
Ending
Councilors said they expect the extension to expedite closeout and preserve the city's eligibility for state grant reimbursements; dissenting members said the request reflected poor earlier planning and expressed concern about additional taxpayer costs.
