Board approves $53,100 Vargas move-management contract after member objects to furniture consulting costs

The Brighton Town Board voted June 10 to authorize a change order with Vargas Associates for move management and consulting services not to exceed $53,100 as part of the town-hall move. The motion passed on a 4–1 roll call after a council member registered a dissent.

Supervisor Mey described the services as necessary to facilitate an orderly move back into renovated town-hall spaces. Board members noted Vargas had begun meetings with departments to document needs and verify field conditions. The $53,100 figure covers multiple line items including on-site field verification, coordination meetings, storage-study work and furniture consulting.

Council member Sanganetti objected to the total and singled out a line item for furniture consulting as excessive, saying much of the assignment work could be done at lower cost and that artificial-intelligence tools could reduce fees. He said he could not support the motion for that reason. Other members defended the scope as comprehensive and noted the change order includes services beyond simple furniture selection.

The board approved the change order by roll call: Council members Warner, Curado, Salsman and Supervisor Mey voted yes; Council member Sanganetti voted no. Staff said the change order is intended to reduce storage and resale costs and to smooth the move between temporary and permanent spaces.