A view of Bridgeport Hall cast in shadow Wednesday morning offers a glimpse of Greenwich House to the left. At work that morning around the back of Bridgeport Hall were heavy machinery operators. --Bee Photo, Bobowick
"Can you drill holes? Yes, but you have to follow a certain procedure, that's what it comes down to," said Highway Department head Fred Hurley this week, oversimplifying the collapsing roadblocks to progress at Fairfield Hills.
Work started Wednesday on the long-postponed renovations and demolition preparations for two of the Fairfield Hills buildings; a "huge deal," which Mr Hurley explained early this week.
He was referring to emails that essentially cleared the way for work at Greenwich House and Bridgeport Hall to resume after weeks of back-and-forth between the town and the state Department of Public Health and Department of Environmental Protection. "It has taken a long time, but the logjam is broken," he said.
Also Monday, DEP Sanitary Engineer Ross Bunnell confirmed, "I indicated they could go ahead," with certain items of work had been specified for Bridgeport Hall. Regarding asbestos levels, which could either require special handling and disposal, Mr Bunnell said, "They must follow precise removal methods."
Stretching in three directions across the frozen Fairfield Hills campus are the brick wings of Greenwich House. Behind the sprawling former state hospital building, sunrise brightens the landscape where the new Newtown Youth Academy now stands. Once Greenwich is razed, a greenway and central parking will serve the youth academy, a new baseball diamond that is behind the building’s left side, and the renovated building that will serve as a new town hall. --Bee Photo, Bobowick
Speaking for the health department, spokesman William Gerrish read copies of the same emails Mr Hurley had received from supervising environmental analyst Ronald Skomro and said, "Yes, it means we have reviewed the proposed plan of action and agreed with the process [Newtown] provided. It's okay as far as I know. The process can commence."
Environmental consultant R.W. Bartley and Associates Inc is part of the equation. "[State departments] are saying that if [Bartley's] proposed work practices are followed, both departments said, 'Go ahead,' and we can go forward," Mr Hurley said.
The public works director saw nothing in the email correspondences between his office, Bartley Associates, and the state to indicate that the town could not begin its work Wednesday, as Mr Bartley's emails had specified.
Mr Gerrish agreed with Mr Hurley's understanding of Mr Skomro's email that confirms and agrees with the town's detailed plans in two areas. He wrote: "Correspondence [from Newtown] addresses two basic scenarios involving the disturbance of plaster. The first scenario involves Bridgeport House and other buildings in which plaster will be impacted by making penetrations for piping and ductwork. The second scenario involves Greenwich House and other buildings that are scheduled for demolition." The body of his email details the proposed course of work for substances encountered in both projects.
His mail concludes: "The [Department of Public Health] appreciates the Town of Newtown's interest in the expeditious recommencement of construction activities at this site and will work cooperatively with its representatives to that end."
What's the bottom line? Essentially, everyone at last agrees on what to do, and how to do it, depending on the test results for asbestos in the plaster, for example, and the means of abatement. Town personnel have spent past months clarifying documentation of work past, present, and future for Fairfield Hills projects after questions arose in late 2008.
Methods of work, which may include hazardous material removal, are "agreed upon," Mr Hurley said. Simplifying the volley of letters and documentation sent to the state and the questions that came back — all stemming from September 2008, he explained, "First we had to sort out what materials we were dealing with; second, how would we deal with it, and the third step was to get to work." Anticipating Monday the work that began two days later, he was eager: "We can start actual work," he said.
All scenarios are covered, Mr Hurley tried to convey to the selectmen Monday. Fielding questions about what will happen when testing reveals asbestos, for example, Mr Hurley had told the Board of Selectmen, "It almost doesn't matter if tests are negative or positive … we now have a protocol in place for each type of result, we don't have to wait to attack a problem," he had explained in a later interview.
The Fairfield Hills project also cuts a path for other similar projects to follow. "This is unique and will probably be a prototype. Rarely does the state have to deal with the quantity and size of a [Fairfield Hills] project, with the number of buildings involved." Naming other large state facilities such as Norwich Hospital, or Southbury Training School should plans ever arise to renovate it, Mr Hurley said, "It's good we got to this point; any big state projects will have to go through this for change in the future. This experience will stand the state in good stead when going forward with other projects."
Crews put work practices in place, kicking off at Bridgeport Hall on Wednesday. Work was set to commence at Greenwich House by Friday, Mr Hurley said. "It means they meet with contractors to explain what's expected per all state and federal regulations. We don't want a contractor to enter a room with asbestos, drill a hole and splatter dust in the room. They need to follow the right protocol," he said.
Wiring, plumbing, roof work, basement and exterior excavation are part of the schedule for Bridgeport Hall, which will house education and municipal offices waiting to relocate from the Edmond Town Hall and the Kendro Building on Peck's Lane. Plans for Greenwich House include razing the structure to make way for central parking, accessible to the Newtown Youth Academy, Bridgeport Hall, and future projects including a community center. Parking is also in proximity to a recently established 90-foot baseball diamond.
Timeline? Project Managers O&G Industries Inc is talking about a September move in, Mr Hurley said. "It's ambitious, but I can't really say. It could be sooner," he said.
Architect Phil Clark with Claris Construction, which is handling work at Greenwich House, could not be reached for comment by deadline.