Regional School District 13 told abatement estimate is trending over budget; P&Z limits parking‑lot lighting

Regional School District 13 officials and their building committee on the Memorial renovation expansion heard on Thursday that preliminary contractor estimates for the phase‑2 demolition and abatement package are "trending over budget," and that Middlefield planning and zoning approved the site plan but attached conditions that could affect operations.

Carson, a project presenter, told the committee the team has submitted phase‑two abatement and demolition drawings to local authorities and is completing phase‑three documents for the state PCR review. He said the phase‑three PCR review is scheduled for Jan. 22, 2026, and earlier state and third‑party reviews are expected in the weeks ahead. Mark Silinski of OMG Industries said his firm’s initial estimate for the demo/abatement and long‑lead mechanical items is not yet fully vetted with the design team and "we're showing we're showing trending over budget on that." Silinski said the team will review the numbers with the owner's representative before asking the boards to sign off.

The consultants said the phase‑2 package includes several long‑lead items — principally electrical switchgear, generators and transfer switches — and recommended early bidding for those components because lead times can range from roughly 20 to 65 weeks depending on the equipment. The abatement bid package will include unit pricing for likely hidden items (for example, an additional run of asbestos pipe) and the team said unit prices that appear out of line will be negotiated rather than accepted without adjustment.

In a planning and zoning update, the presenters said Middlefield granted site approval but excluded an alternate north parking lot from that approval and added a condition that "all the parking lot lights would be turned off by 9:30 p.m.," subject to further discussion if security or operational needs require an exception. Committee members and staff warned that building and safety codes require adequate walkway and egress lighting, and that operational needs such as snow plowing and camera surveillance argue for retaining some lighting or dimming controls. Consultants said the lighting design includes timers, occupancy sensors and dimming that could be used to meet both security and neighbor concerns.

The committee discussed logistics for securing required signatures for state review. Presenters said certain documents and signature sheets — including forms that must be signed by the board of education chair, the building committee chair and the superintendent — will be prepared for a short remote joint meeting to authorize the SCG042 package and send the materials to the state. Members discussed scheduling for a short remote meeting next week to approve the drawings, specifications and the SCG042 authorization once the estimate has been vetted; availability varied, but the group agreed to try to secure a quorum on a weeknight so the paperwork can be submitted in time for the state review.

Consultants said demolition work is expected to start around mid‑February and they now estimate the demo/abatement window at about three months. They described standard hazmat controls — temporary containment tarps, workers using Tyvek and respirators, monitored removal and sealed disposal — and said the building permit process will include a public notice before abatement begins.

The presenters recommended the district plan a public outreach push after the February PCR review, including posting renderings and progress information on a project web page and in the Town of Middlefield quarterly newsletter so neighbors understand why the work is occurring and what to expect during demolition. The meeting concluded after members voted to adjourn and offered to stay for any who wished to review the drawings.

Next procedural steps: project staff will complete the contractor estimate review with the design team, the parties plan a short remote joint meeting to approve signature forms and the SCG042 submission, the state PCR review(s) will proceed as scheduled, and public outreach is expected to ramp up after the February PCR.