Date: Fri 20-Sep-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: DOTTIE

Quick Words:

Hawley-school-project-delay

Full Text:

Hawley Project Lags Behind Schedule

B Y D OROTHY E VANS

While Newtown school and public building commission officials are still

concerned about lagging construction schedules at Hawley Elementary School,

they are also preparing to address certain safety issues at the site, once

excavation is finally underway.

By Thursday morning this week, there was still no apparent progress in site

work for the foundation of the 22,000 square foot addition. Excavation was

supposed to have begun several weeks ago.

"The foundations were to have been laid by the end of the month," said

Superintendent of Schools John Reed, adding he hoped the contractor would

commence digging as soon as possible, so the project could move forward

"lickity split."

The clerk of the works, O&G Industries of Torrington, hired by the town two

weeks ago to oversee the Hawley construction project, should help expedite

that process, Dr Reed added.

Frank Krasnickas, chairman of the Newtown Public Building and Site Commission,

said Wednesday noon that this week's rainy weather hadn't helped either.

The rain caused delays in completing the connection for the temporary sewage

holding tank that was recently installed in front of the school, Mr Krasnickas

said. And the excavation for the addition can't begin until the holding tank

hook-up is completed because construction activity will be taking place over

part of the old septic field.

One manhole had been installed, Mr Krasnickas reported, but the pipe

connection between the school and the tank hadn't been completed.

"We're waiting on the plumber to do that when the weather clears," he said.

When the temporary holding tank is operational, the school's waste can be

handled independently while construction is underway. During that time, the

tank would be pumped once a week.

When the new addition is completed, with luck by the end of summer 1997,

connections between the new facility and the sewer line at the street would be

completed, bypassing the holding tank. The tank would then be filled with sand

and sealed off permanently.

Foreman Resigns

Another glitch in the project schedule occurred a week ago, according to Mr

Krasnickas, with the resignation of the contractor ACMAT's foreman on the job,

Eric Lessne, for reasons that were unspecified.

"They have an interim guy on the site," Mr Krasnickas said, adding he didn't

think that the change in personnel would necessarily have a negative impact on

the project.

Dr Reed expressed concern, however.

"You don't regard that as a plus. We did get to know the fellow. We certainly

aren't pleased," he said Thursday morning.

Safety A Concern

Safety issues surrounding the movement of staff and children near the

construction site, once excavation begins, were voiced September 10 by Dr Reed

at the Board of Education's regular meeting.

"They're going to have to haul out some 5,000 cubic feet of soil. That's a lot

of trucks," Dr Reed said.

He posed the unsettling scenario of heavy machinery and trucks moving in and

out of the chain link gate behind the school at the same time teachers and

children were trying to walk to and from the playground.

The possible intersection of children and trucks presented a logistical

problem not to be taken lightly, he added, nor should the board forget about

the possibility that the gate might be left ajar and a child might

inadvertently enter the construction area.

"We may need an interior crossing guard during the school day," Dr Reed said.

He hoped the school board would be able to pick up that cost and was confident

they wouldn't hesitate to do so, for obvious safety reasons.

Dr Reed added that Hawley School Principal Linda Siciliano had agreed with his

assessment of the potentially dangerous situation, saying, "We'll do what we

have to do."