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Committee approves Eversource easement, authorizes $3.16 million contingency increase for Norwalk High School
Summary
At its July 2 meeting the Land Use and Building Management Committee unanimously approved an Eversource Energy easement for electrical service to the Norwalk High School project and authorized a contingency increase of up to $3,159,034 with reprogramming of set‑aside allowances to accept a demolition bid.
The Land Use and Building Management Committee on July 2 approved two actions related to Norwalk school construction. The committee unanimously approved an Eversource Energy easement to provide new electrical service to the Norwalk High School project at 23 Calvin Murphy Drive and later voted unanimously to increase the owner's contingency with Gilbane Building Company by up to $3,159,034 and reprogram certain set‑aside allowances to accept a demolition bid.
The easement vote followed a public hearing that produced no speakers. Chair Barbara Smith said the easement is part of the multi‑step process and noted the project will also require planning and zoning approvals. “We have already… approved the line with Eversource, and this is part of the process,” Smith said before calling the vote. The easement was approved unanimously.
During new business staff explained the contingency request in detail. Project staff said demolition bids came in substantially lower than earlier projections and recommended shifting money between allowance line items to lock in the lower price. Alan, a city project staff member, reported, “The bids are coming $7,000,000, 7.2, $7,100,000 or something like that,” and said staff proposes combining roughly $4 million already in Gilbane’s allowances with approximately $3.7 million set aside for owner furniture to create the funds needed to accept the demolition bid.
Committee members asked whether the money shift affects the project’s overall budget. Council member Greg Burnett asked, “So we're moving money from one line item to another, and not affecting the bottom line?” Alan replied that the move does not change the approved project total at this time and that staff anticipates seeking additional state funding to cover a remaining 5–8% expected gap when final bidding for remaining work is complete. Committee members also confirmed with staff that demolition costs are reimbursable at 80% under the state reimbursement framework discussed in the meeting.
The motion to authorize the contingency increase and reprogramming of allowances passed unanimously.
