Hamden Police Station / Town Hall Renovation Update Article

By Ann DeMatteo, Assistant Metro Editor

HAMDEN — The cost of the proposed renovation of Memorial Town Hall has increased by $555,000 because its walls, ceilings and concrete floor are mixed with asbestos.

The additional hazardous material abatement increases to $36.4 million the proposed cost to renovate the 1924 edifice and adjoining fire station plus add on a state-of-the art police station. Close to $4 million already has been spent in development and preparatory costs.

A joint meeting of the Legislative Council and the Town Building Committee, made up of council members and residents with experience in the building trades, was held Tuesday night. Construction Manager Tom Walsh of A.P. Construction Co. of Stamford, architect Jeff Bianco and Scott Jackson, the town’s chief administrative officer, explained the most recent revised cost estimate for abatement produced by Fuss & O’Neill of Trumbull.

Walsh explained that 77,000 square feet of plaster work in the old town hall needs to be abated; “virtually all the ceilings and walls,” because there is asbestos in them. “We also found that all the concrete floors in this building are hot,” he said.

Previously, Fuss & O’Neill reported that only 22,000 square feet needed to be remediated. An earlier estimate reserved $515,000 for hazardous materials abatement, but members of the Town Building Committee pressed for a more thorough examination.

Councilman Curt Leng, D-6, asked Jackson for a 20-year bonding analysis, taking into account a 2 percent annual increase in the town’s operating budget.

In the coming weeks, the Legislative Council will be faced with weighing the need for the new police station and other renovations with how much they think Hamden can afford. The town is hoping to bid the project later this month. A town financial adviser has already said that it would cost the average homeowner whose house is assessed at $180,000, $106 more a year in taxes over the life of a 20-year bond issue, if $35 million were to be bonded.

Councilman Matt Fitch, D-1, said he’s not sure the actual cost has gone up because there is a large amount reserved in contingencies. “Realistically, with the economy the way it is and contractors desperate for work, many people feel portions of the job can come in under what’s been budgeted. The one thing I do know is that delay is no longer an option. We have an impending disaster at the existing police station. The longer we wait, costs are only going to escalate.”

But Councilman Craig Cesare, R-At large, said Wednesday that while he believes police need a new building, “this is a horrible time to be spending $40 million.” Councilman James Leddy, D-9, said he would favor an amount “considerably lower” than $40 million.

Councilman Jack Kennelly, D-At large, a former police chief and member of the building committee, said he continues to absorb all the aspects of the project and is undecided. “The building committee has said it’s comfortable with $36.4 million as realistic to bond. The council has to decide if this is an expenditure it’s willing to commit to,” Kennelly said.