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Torrington council signs off on audits, grants and infrastructure purchases
Summary
City Council authorized a three‑year audit contract with CliftonLarsonAllen, approved multiple DECD grant applications including a $2.5M Safari apartment request, awarded an RTU heat pump contract to Air Temp Mechanical ($279,913), and authorized bridge change orders and other capital items.
At its Nov. 17 meeting, the Torrington City Council authorized several administrative and capital actions: awarding a three‑year financial audit services contract to CliftonLarsonAllen LLP for fiscal years 2026–2028, authorizing multiple state grant applications, approving an HVAC replacement at the water resource recovery facility, and approving bridge rehabilitation change orders.
Following a Board of Finance review and selection‑committee recommendation, council authorized the mayor to execute a three‑year audit contract with CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA) at contracted totals of $98,500 (year 1), $100,500 (year 2) and $102,500 (year 3). Board members discussed rotating audit engagement partners and noted that extraordinary changes in scope historically led to supplemental billing; the council accepted the recommendation and will schedule CLA’s in‑person presentation after year‑end close.
The council adopted multiple resolutions to apply to the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) CIF/ACIF 2030 programs: a $250,000 planning grant for a public safety complex, a $2,500,000 ACIF request to support the Safari apartment capital improvements (245 East Elm), and up to $1,000,000 to support the Market Street Creatives commercial expansion. Staff clarified that the energy‑related tax incentives mentioned in the Safari proposal are third‑party programs (Eversource or historic tax credits via SHPO) and not city tax abatements.
Acting as the WPCA, the council authorized the use of the CT DAS bid list and awarded the installation of a replacement RTU heat pump for the secondary building at the water resource recovery facility to Air Temp Mechanical of Berlin, Conn., for $279,913 to be paid from the WPCA capital account. Staff said the old system dated from about 1992, had failed, and the new pump would be roughly 3.5 times more efficient; Eversource incentives were expected to offset part of the cost.
Council also authorized design‑initiated change orders and additional closeout expenditures for the Church Street bridge rehabilitation (CTDOT project 03976), totaling $226,178.60 for the base change orders plus $180,000 for additional project expenditures funded from the pavement bond fund. The council approved a Small Cities Committee recommendation to replace a nonfunctional boiler and perform lead abatement at 109 College Avenue for $34,110.97. Routine tax and sewer refunds were approved as listed on Nov. 17.
All items were approved by voice vote; where staff signaled potential extra billing (audit scope changes) or statutory constraints (grant application competition), council members asked for follow‑up presentations and oversight.
