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Board authorizes Beaverbrook Street basketball court award, members stress need to expedite ARPA-funded work
Summary
Danbury board members approved the $244,236.85 award for the Beaverbrook Street basketball court but emphasized that coatings and finishing are temperature-sensitive and contracts must be expedited to avoid winter delays, and approval was made contingent on contract review.
The Danbury City Board of Awards approved an award for construction of the Beaverbrook Street basketball court on July 24 but highlighted schedule risk tied to ARPA administrative steps and the seasonality of coating operations.
Tom Hughes, superintendent of construction services, told the board the department received two proposals (BMP Construction at $244,236.85 and RS Site and Sports at $254,000) and recommended awarding to the lowest qualified bidder. Hughes warned that coatings required for the court are temperature-sensitive and that work carried into September could be delayed until spring: "This project is temperature sensitive... if it carries on into September, we're probably not gonna make it. It'll sit all winter to the spring." (Tom Hughes)
A board member (speaker 2) urged staff to speed contract execution, noting that ARPA-funded projects require additional steps and delays could imperil seasonal work: "We we gotta get these contracts out early or else you're into a nature, delay." Purchasing Agent Chip Volpe and counsel indicated the award would be contingent on contract review by PKF O'Connor Davies and that staff would pursue purchasing vehicles or purchase orders where appropriate to accelerate execution. The motion named the low qualified bidder (P & P Construction) at $244,236.85 and specified ARPA funding (FR21.3005-7000.038101); the board approved the motion unanimously, with the award to proceed subject to standard contract reviews.
Why this matters: The court construction is ARPA-funded and time-sensitive; delayed coatings could leave the project unfinished through winter, raising costs and delaying community access. The board's direction to expedite contracting aims to preserve the construction window while maintaining required financial oversight.
Next steps: Staff was directed to coordinate with PKF O'Connor Davies for contract approval, explore efficiency measures (purchase order or cooperative contracts) and proceed with execution as soon as administrative requirements are met.
