Demolition Bids For Watertown Hall Come In Low

By Tanjua Damon

Newtown Board of Education members received good news Tuesday night when the bids for the asbestos abatement and demolition of Watertown Hall, where the 5/6 school is proposed to be located, turned out to be under the estimated budget price.

Superintendent of Schools John R. Reed provided the board with the bids that were due April 25. The board is expected to award the bids late next week after the bids for a general contractor are also received by May 7.

“This certainly was the way we wanted to start off,” Dr Reed said. “It’s good news on the initial opening.”

Eleven companies submitted bids for the abatement project of Watertown Hall, two of which did not meet all the bid requirements. The bids range from $187,000 to $485,985 to complete the project. Niram, Inc., of New Jersey submitted the lowest bid meeting all the requirements for the abatement of the building.

The latest estimate the district was working with for the cost of the abatement was $325,000, but $200,000 was in the original budget, according to Dr Reed. The district should save approximately $13,000, if the lowest abatement bidder is approved.

Ten companies supplied bids for the demolition of Watertown Hall, one of which did not meet all of the bid requirements. Bids ranged from $74,000 to $221,300, with Industrial Wrecking of Bridgeport having the lowest bid meeting all of the bid requirements.

The budget also called for another $200,000 for the demolition of the building, but the district was working with estimates of $250,000, according to Dr Reed. A savings of over $120,000 can be anticipated for the demolition part of the project.

“We’re certainly pleased there are a number of bids below the estimate,” Dr Reed said. “From looking at the number of low bids, it’s quite clear the opening of the bids has been very good news.”

Dr Reed pointed out that this could be good news for the town also in their consideration of purchasing Fairfield Hills and the possibility that some of the buildings may need some work.

The bids for the general contractor will be opened on Monday, May 7, for the proposed 5/6 school. The school board is planning a special meeting for the end of next week, but not date has been set.

Even with the passage of the town budget, Dr Reed reminded the board that the 5/6 school is not a “done deal.” The school board still has to go before the legislative council on May 16. The council will then have to take a vote on the project.

After the Legislative Council votes on the project, if they approve it, a town meeting will be held in early June. If residents petition for a referendum, a vote would take place before the end of the school year, which is June 22.