Greenwich budget panel approves $6.3 million for Old Greenwich School fix

Other Committee · Meeting of January 13, 2026

Greenwich budget committee closes $6.3 million gap for Old Greenwich School renovation. The Board of Estimate and Taxation's Budget Committee voted 4-0 to approve a $6,277,940 interim appropriation, clearing the way for a $45,127,908 guaranteed maximum price with Downs Construction Company and an April start. Building Committee Chair James Waters said pre-construction costs came in just under $250,000 below budget despite rebidding twice.

The building committee voted 6-1 that morning to recommend a 10 percent owner contingency, up from 7 percent, over a $450,000 roof job and $164,500 in cornice repairs. Member Joe Kelly said a bigger contingency "seems like you're showing the contractors your bank account." The panel also approved $1,061,000 more for the North Street Bridge, part of a $4.76 million project, with $4.26 million covered by a state grant.

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Source: the Other Committee meeting of January 13, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

The Full Article

GREENWICH — January 13, 2026 — The Budget Committee of the Greenwich Board of Estimate and Taxation voted 4-0 Tuesday to approve a $6,277,940 interim appropriation for the Old Greenwich School renovation, closing the funding gap that had kept the town from signing a construction contract.

James Waters, chair of the Old Greenwich School Building Committee, told the panel the town was about $6.3 million short of what is needed to sign a $45,127,908 guaranteed maximum price with Downs Construction Company and start work. Waters said construction is planned to begin in April, during the school's spring break, and continue in phases over 32 months while the rest of the building stays occupied.

The Full Story

The renovation has been in the works since 2018, when it was identified in the town's facility master plan. The Board of Education approved educational specifications for the project in 2021, and the first selectman convened the Old Greenwich School Building Committee in October 2022. The project went out to bid last spring, drew limited contractor interest, and was rebid in October with stronger participation, according to Waters and Jeff Anderson of Downs Construction.

Anderson told committee members that rising costs, tariffs on mechanical and electrical materials, and a year of construction escalation running 4 to 4.5 percent, above general inflation, accounted for the increase over the town's November 2024 cost estimate. He said the town has approved $47,051,000 for the project to date and that pre-construction work came in just under $250,000 below the budget presented to the BET roughly three years ago, despite the delay from rebidding.

The building committee voted 6-1 Tuesday morning to recommend raising the owner's contingency from 7 percent to 10 percent of the guaranteed maximum price, prioritizing it over two optional add-ons: a $450,000 roof replacement and $164,500 in cornice repairs, which together would add roughly $650,000 to the project. Dan Watson, the school district's director of facilities, told the committee the roof section, installed around 2007, is at the end of its useful life. Committee members and Waters said the extra contingency reflects the added risk of a phased renovation inside a 120-year-old, occupied building, compared with the 6 percent contingency set for the new Central Middle School building.

Budget Committee member Joe Kelly questioned whether a bigger contingency invites contractors to pad change orders. Lawrence Rosati of Morganti, the project's owner's representative, said his firm and the architect vet every change request before it reaches the building committee. Stephen, a BET member who also sits on the building committee, said the added cushion is meant to protect the schedule, not pad costs. Waters said the building committee has 90 days to accept or reject the roof and cornice alternates and cannot simply wait to see how contingency funds hold up. The Board of Education discussed the two alternates last week without acting, and both are expected back before that board Thursday.

Ryan Patrick, a Downs Construction estimator joining by Zoom, said the state has already approved $9.6 million in reimbursement for the project, roughly 20 percent of costs, and that the town is pursuing an additional 15 percent tied to new state legislation covering pre-kindergarten programs housed in the school. Budget Committee Chair Laura said the panel would hold off on adding the extra 3 percent contingency until the Board of Education weighs in, with a possible amendment at the full BET's meeting the following Tuesday.

"We are approximately $6.3 million short of the funds that would be required to sign the guaranteed maximum price and to start construction," Waters said.

"A larger owner contingency to me seems like you're showing the contractors your bank account and saying, please come in my bank account," — Joe Kelly, Budget Committee member.

"The roof is in need of replacement. It's right at its useful life." — Dan Watson, director of facilities.

The committee also voted 4-0 to release a condition attached to a prior $1,965,000 interim appropriation, which had been contingent on the project maintaining at least a 7 percent contingency, and voted 4-0 to approve a bonding resolution authorizing the new funding.

Separately, commissioner of public works Jim Michael and deputy commissioner Gabriella presented a request for an additional $1,061,000 for the North Street Bridge rehabilitation, bringing the total project to $4.76 million, of which $4.26 million is covered by a state grant through the Local Transportation Capital Improvement Program. The town shifted the project from a phased closure with alternating traffic signals to a full closure of North Street, delaying the start by a year to prepare. The contract includes a bonus of up to $200,000 if the contractor reopens the road up to 10 days early and a $40,000-per-day penalty for finishing late. The construction contingency was raised from 10 to 15 percent. The committee approved the appropriation and a companion bonding resolution, both 4-0.

Why It Matters

The Old Greenwich School project totals more than $48 million once soft costs are included, and Tuesday's vote clears the last major funding obstacle before construction starts in April. The Board of Education's decision Thursday on the roof and cornice work, and the full BET's potential vote the following Tuesday on raising the contingency to 10 percent, will determine the final scope and cost residents ultimately bear.

The North Street Bridge closure will affect a busy corridor near schools and the Merritt Parkway approach to downtown, with a state-funded incentive structure designed to limit how long the road stays shut this summer.

Key Motions & Votes

- Vote: Old Greenwich School renovation interim appropriation of $6,277,940 Tally: For: 4, Against: 0, Abstain: 0, Total: 4

- Vote: Release condition on prior $1,965,000 interim appropriation tied to a 7 percent contingency threshold Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Bonding resolution for the Old Greenwich School expansion and renovation project Tally: For: 4, Against: 0, Abstain: 0, Total: 4

- Vote: North Street Bridge Rehabilitation additional appropriation of $1,061,000 Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Finance Department bonding resolution for the North Street Bridge Rehabilitation Tally: For: 4, Against: 0, Abstain: 0, Total: 4

• Action: Old Greenwich School Building Committee voted 6-1 that morning to recommend a 10 percent owner contingency, prioritized over the roof and cornice alternates — Referred to Board of Education for direction, expected Thursday.

Source

Greenwich Community Television: Budget Committee (Board of Estimate and Taxation) meeting, January 13, 2026