The Public Building and Site Commission (PBSC) talked deadlines, lighting, and stone for the Sandy Hook Permanent Memorial at its August 24 meeting.

A preconstruction agenda document from Downes Construction Company of New Britain, the contractor managing the memorial construction, noted a planned alternate #1 to use stone paving in lieu of rock trails was priced at $335,855, which project manager Michael Dell’Accio characterized as “a large number, and you [the PBSC] probably don’t want to accept that.”

“I’d prefer it you didn’t [accept the dollar amount],” chimed in First Selectman Dan Rosenthal.

Voters have approved $3.7 million for the project.

Dell’Accio promised to get an alternate #1A to the commission by its next meeting. The issue of what stone to use is also raising questions about the lighting, as saving money on the stone could increase the number of bollard light fixtures that could be placed around the outside ring of the memorial.

Currently, according to Downes preconstruction manager Jeff Anderson, the plans call for 36 lights, but an alternate #1V is being considered to reduce the light fixtures to 19, saving $22,350. Dell’Accio said that Downes is currently seeking lighting quotes from alternate vendors, which might increase the number of lights that can be placed. However, distribution is currently a factor, and many types of stone that have been considered are out of stock or no longer available.

Downes is working with the SWA Group on a number of alternates not mentioned in the document, with a goal of resolving the stone issue by next Friday, said Dan Affleck of SWA.

“That material is really important,” said Affleck. “We need to make sure of what material we’re selecting, we’re basing everything off that.”

Anderson stated that Downes may have found a stone that offers the “look and feel” the design calls for and that is currently available.

“In short order, we need to order the stone,” said Anderson. “If we save money here, we have money for other things.”

Anderson said it was important once the stone was identified and available at a reasonable price, to get it immediately.

“A stone available now may not be available in two months,” Anderson said.

Dell’Accio reported that site surveys of the property at 28 Riverside Road began on Monday, August 23. Tree clearing crews were expected to be mobilized on Wednesday, August 25, and would start work on Friday.

“They’re getting everything going they can get going,” said PBSC member Sally Feuerberg.

Work is also expected to begin soon on erosion and sediment controls, and building a tracking pad and safety fencing around the property.

Other current activities, according to Dell’Accio, include the creation of shop drawings as well as subcommittee discussions of the water feature that will be the center of the memorial.

The vault that will house the pumping equipment for the water feature was also discussed, and Dell’Accio said work began in earnest on shop drawings for design on August 25. Downes is establishing how the equipment will fit and how the vault would be penetrated for piping that would convey water from the pump to the water feature. The vault is expected to take 20 weeks to deliver, and after a design phase, delivery is tentatively expected in February 2022.

“The vault is a critical path,” said Anderson.

Anderson said that Downes is also looking at the possibility of putting in a water line from the street instead of a well. According to Rosenthal, putting in a water line was previously “prohibitively expensive,” but now that Aquarion is in the process of installing a water line along Riverside Road, it has become a possibility.

“A well was the only answer when [a water line] was super expensive,” said Rosenthal. “Now it is just somewhat more expensive. From a longevity standpoint, it’s a better move.”

Downes is taking security seriously. According to Dell’Accio, in addition to fencing that will block sight of the construction, all workers’ phones will be bagged before they begin their shifts and all workers must sign nondisclosure agreements. Workers may not take pictures and may not post about the project online or on social media. If a photo must be taken, a supervisor will take it.

“We told the families [of the Sandy Hook victims] that they would not see site photos go up online unless we [the town] were the ones putting them up,” Rosenthal said.

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Reporter Jim Taylor can be reached at jim@thebee.com.