For First Selectman Pat Llodra, it must be like a twisted version of Groundhog Day, the black comedy where Bill Murray keeps waking up to the same day over and over again.

Except for the first selectman, the plot involves the repetitive and disturbingly escalating expense of hazardous material remediation in buildings at Fairfield Hills. It just keeps happening.

This time the issue of asbestos remediation is threatening a future headquarters for Newtown Parent Connection, Inc., a grassroots nonprofit whose mission is saving lives by connecting Newtown families to the help they need when facing heroin and other serious substance addictions.

According to Parent Connection Co-Founder Dorrie Carolan, remediation projections and estimates to complete it are “all over the map.”

“This is really where we want to be,” Ms Carolan said of the section of former state hospital staff residences slated to house the nonprofit. She said the agency is currently leasing office space at Edmond Town Hall, and borrowing space for grief, recovery, and support counseling “anywhere we can find it.”

She, along with Co-Founder Donna DeLuca, planned to be occupying the facility by now, after the town helped get a $500,000 state grant transferred to the Parent Connection more than a year ago when original grantee, Kevin’s Community Center, abandoned plans for the duplex in favor of developing a location with more space.

The Parent Connection is firm that it must work within the budget they have been given via the grant, and any planned expenses that escalate because of new remediation costs cannot be borne by the organization.

First Selectman Pat Llodra said within a week or two, she is “going to pull all parties involved together for a meeting” to determine what is known, and unknown, about possible added expenses. She and Ms Carolan both believe, if those expenses are modest, the town can find a way to help.

“It doesn’t sound like an extensive project, so we’re pushing forward,” Mrs Llodra told The Bee December 23. “It’s been very frustrating ... because abatement expenses for virtually every project at Fairfield Hills have been much greater than what was costed out [in development projections].”

That said, Mrs Llodra believes the town will do right by the agency that continues to help hundreds of Newtown families with groups supporting those with past or active substance abuse, even grandparents who in many cases have taken over parenting duties when their own children grapple with addiction issues. And for those like Ms Carolan who lost a child to drug overdose.

“We’re committed to doing everything we can to make this location happen,” Ms Carolan said of the duplex.

“If there isn’t enough money in the grant, we’ll have to go back through the layers of government to see what we can do,” Mrs Llodra said. “I feel good about it.”

Mrs Llodra also attempted to clear up information about whether or not the duplex would require a new roof. She said while the architect is apparently advising the Parent Connection to replace leaders and downspouts, the integrated drainage system should not require an entire roof replacement.

“The building is dry, and we’ve had good luck keeping original roofing on some of the buildings, including our municipal center,” the first selectman said. “There’s no evidence the roof needs to be replaced. But we’ll wait to meet with the architect on that.”

Mrs Llodra said both Newtown Parent Connection and the community deserve a nice, permanent location for the nonprofit.

“The location is great,” she said of the duplex. “It’s tucked away in a private little area and hopefully will be among several service groups or agencies that serve the public from that complex.”