Palmieri: Architects underestimated cost of middle school construction

SOUTHINGTON It wasnt good news from the Middle School Building Committee at the Town Council meeting Tuesday, with cost and construction timeline overruns projected for the renovation of Kennedy and DePaolo middle schools.

Chris Palmieri, Democratic councilor and member of the middle school building committee, said incorrect estimates by the architect firm Fletcher Thompson means the project will cost 10 percent more than the $85 million approved by voters in a referendum. Architects forgot to include the $1.9 million to build a fire wall and used the wrong square footage.

Councilors expressed concern about the project, asking Town Attorney Mark Sciota how the difference could be made up.

We have significant overruns now and we havent even started the project, said Republican Councilor Cheryl Lounsbury, adding that she expects more unexpected costs once construction begins.

Sciota said the town could add money to the project through grants, town budgeting or another referendum. He said the town has yet to have a referendum for cost overruns.

Republican council vice chairman Peter Romano asked what drove the incorrect estimates in addition to the firewall and square footages. Palmieri said the committee was still trying to get details from the architects, saying he was unhappy with their communication.

This is the firm that told us it could be done for $85 million, Palmieri said. Were working to try to make this project as affordable as possible. Weve given up things that we didnt necessarily want to give up.

The committee has proposed cuts to the project and is hoping to minimize costs from environmental remediation, according to Palmieri.

On Tuesday, the council also voted unanimously to reduce sewer installation costs to homeowners in the Mount Vernon Road area. Residents were given incorrect sewer assessments and $106,214 from the sewer fund was used to bring the costs down to what residents were originally quoted.

Last month about 40 residents from the area attended the hearing. Several complained that their assessment $94.91 per linear foot was higher than the estimate of between $85 and $90 per linear foot that was given when the project began in 2008.

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Palmieri: Architects underestimated cost of middle school construction