New Town Office Work Will Begin Next Week

By Kendra Bobowick

The demolition crews are ready.

Earlier this month town officials awarded bids to Stamford Wrecking Company of Trumbull to begin work on Bridgeport Hall, where town and education offices will relocate in the future. Coming in at roughly $130,000 below project estimates, officials awarded the low bid of $418,000. Phase I work will begin next week, noted First Selectman Herb Rosenthal during a press conference Wednesday morning.

A sign of much-awaited progress for some and frustration for others, the project has created a rift slicing through financial and political circles in town. Spending the money on relocating town offices and renovating Bridgeport Hall has prompted political opposition this year, an election year, as arguments surface both for and against the current Fairfield Hills redevelopment.

Standing before the building’s weathered brick and fading white trim, he explained that crews will begin remediation and demolition work to portions of Bridgeport Hall prior to overall renovation. Officials have also approved work on construction documents for the estimated $10.5 million renovations. Later that evening the new town office building again entered the spotlight.

Years of planning turned to discussions of action Wednesday during a Fairfield Hills Authority meeting. Project Manager David Cravanzola with O&G Industries, Inc, confirmed, “You will see activity as soon as next week.”

Phase I, demolition and remediation of portions of Bridgeport Hall, are scheduled to continue through December. His management report also included information on Phase II, which involves the building’s renovation. The report states” “Renovation…will commence in early February 2008 and will be completed in October 2008.” The fixed limit of construction must fit within the $10.5 million budget.

Board of Education offices will relocate from 31 Peck’s Lane, along with offices including the town clerk, registrars, tax assessor, tax collector, land use, building inspector, fire marshal, and director of health, leaving vacancies at the Edmond Town Hall.

At last decisions made in 2001 to purchase and redevelop the former state hospital campus — which included renovating space for municipal use — will become visible next week.

Mr Rosenthal said Wednesday, “This is the beginning of a long-planned and awaited consolidation of town and school offices.” He told a story of the town offices’ growth spurts reaching back to 1975. “The town offices had outgrown the Edmond Town Hall and space was rented for some offices in the Congregation Church House, and recently that building has been replaced by the addition to Newtown Savings Bank.” A year later the Board of Selectmen had begun the long discussion that the town needed more office space. A series of rejections dogged expansion ideas spanning the next several years until 1978, when residents approved the purchase of the Ruwet-Sibley farm supply building, now Town Hall South at 3 South Main Street. Police Department and some town offices relocated there in 1980. Town offices remained there until 17 years later when, in 1997, ongoing leaks and groundwater problems prompted then first selectman to relocate offices to Canaan House at Fairfield Hills.

Board of Education offices also soon moved out of Newtown Middle School and into Canaan House.  By 2005 both education and some town offices relocated again to 31 Peck’s Lane. Underlining space needs, one report stated, “As the town has continued to grow…the facilities that house the administrative and support functions of the municipality are no longer adequate for their needs…”