Fire headquarters' completion delayed

By STEVEN SCARPA
Connecticut Post
Friday, January 23, 2004-

STRATFORD - Completion of the town's new Fire Department headquarters on Main Street will be delayed for at least 20 days, possibly longer, officials said.

Completion of the 27,000-square-foot, $5.8 million headquarters, slated for September, has now been pushed back to early October.

The contractor, A. Secondino and Sons of Branford, had initially requested an 80-day extension that was denied by the town.

Dave Secondino, vice president of A. Secondino and Sons, said this winter's cold and snowy weather has made it difficult for his company to keep on schedule.

For example, because the ground is damp and the weather frigid, his crews can't pour concrete for the foundation, Secondino said. "During the winter this is kind of typical of any project," he said.

Other work continues at the site, he said.

Members of the town's Building Needs Committee said it is not likely the delay will cost the town money, but they are not certain.

Councilman Louis DeCilio, R-6, said there is a clause in the contract that if the project takes more than a year to complete, the architects, Antinozzi Associates of Stratford, would stand to make extra money.

"I don't want to pay the architect more when it is not the town's fault," he said.

Fire Chief Ron Nattrass expressed a degree of frustration over the delay. He has previously stated that the 63-year-old firehouse is woefully outdated.

The new headquarters will have three times as much space to store equipment and supplies. A fourth bay will be added for storing additional fire vehicles. Living arrangements for the firefighters will also be upgraded.

"I would like to be in [the new firehouse] now. But every time I see someone working I am happy about it," Nattrass said.

Despite the possibility of delay, town officials are still confident the work will get done in a timely manner.

"I don't think it is a major problem," DeCilio said.

"We don't set the schedule so tight that a little hiccup would throw everything off," said Councilman Michael Henrick, R-10, chairman of the Building Needs Committee.

Steven Scarpa, who covers Stratford, can be reached at 330-6287.