Council hears detailed update on AVFD fire‑station plan; cost, square footage and prevailing wage drive debate

The Avon Volunteer Fire Department Building Committee reported to the council on conceptual designs and options for replacing multiple fire stations, emphasizing that square footage and labor costs were the principal drivers of a much larger estimated project price than earlier studies. Committee member Jim Speich told the council that earlier CGR estimates used lower labor pricing and smaller square footage, while the current design work with Tecton reflects prevailing public‑construction wages and larger building footprints. "It's $1,000 per square foot for a building today," Speich said during the discussion about total project cost and long‑term durability.

Council members and staff debated the approach to next steps: the committee will work with Tecton to identify priorities and reduced square‑footage alternatives; the town will conduct debt‑service modeling and consider phased construction to keep tax impact reasonable; public outreach and station tours were proposed as part of referendum preparation. The council directed staff to return with contract‑extension and debt‑modeling recommendations at the next meeting before any formal action on design or construction procurement.