Dolphin Construction Bids to Do Police Station Project Within Budget

Dolphin Construction, an Elmsford, NY, firm has built an impressive track record with smaller projects over its 10-year history. Now the firm is hungry to make the Monroe Police Department's $4.1 million renovation and addition its "statement" project as the company continues to grow.

That was the assessment Brian Humes, the architect hired for the project, gave to the building committee at its meeting Thursday night.

"They want to do it and do it well," Humes said.

Dolphin made the lowest bid of $2,777,000, which is below the $2,888,000 budget for construction. It was among 38 companies who had shown interest in the project and 27 who made a bid to do the work.

The building committee voted unanimously to choose Dolphin, pending Finance Dir. Carl Tomchik's review of financial statements and a certificate of insurance.

Committee Chairman J.P. Sredzinski said the contract will be reviewed by First Selectman Steve Vavrek and Town Attorney John Fracassini. Approval by the Town Council is also needed. The council's next meeting is March 26.

"I think we have a good plan moving forward," Sredzinski said.

Aside from alternate work on the campus required by the Planning & Zoning Commission, he said the project is under budget. The P&Z's approval included a condition that site work be done, including drainage, repaving of the west and north parking lot, curbing and sidewalk work and a reconfiguration of the driveway to Church Street. It is estimated to cost $230,000.

Without it, the building cannot have a certificate of occupancy.

"Alternate number one brings us over budget," Sredzinski said. "Do we have to go back to the town?"

Public Works Dir. Douglas Arndt said he will try to get an attractive price from Dolphin. Otherwise, it could be bid out.

"Alternate number one can be done last because Dolphin would have heavy equipment coming in," Arndt said.

There are two other alternates that could be added to the project if the funding is there at the end. Alternate number two is for boilers and mechanicals and alternate number three involves temperature control.

Competitive Bidding

Bids to do the work ranged from $2,777,000 to $3,715,000 and included firms from Connecticut and New York — and another from New Hampshire.

"There was a tremendous outpouring of bids for this size project," Humes said.

Among the top three were Dolphin, A. Secondino & Son of Branford ($2,859,000) and Nosal Builders of Durham ($2,949,000).

A. Secondino & Son, the contractor for the Edith Wheeler Memorial Library project a few years ago, made a strong bid to do the work, according to Humes.

"I was on the phone every other day with Dolphin and Secondino," he said. "Both were aggressive, interested in doing the work and complimentary of the process."

The project superintendent for Dolphin lives in Southbury, Humes said.

Dolphin estimated that it could complete the project within 365 days, he said, adding the time frame is not binding.

If the contract is ultimately approved, Humes said there will be a preconstruction meeting and that Dolphin will put together a detailed schedule of the work it will do over the next 300 days.

Arndt is advertising for a clerk of the works to oversee the project on behalf of the town and has received five resumes so far. He said he will try to get a weekend advertisement into the Connecticut Post to attract more candidates.

The town also needs to hire an independent lab to test the concrete. Arndt has worked with Fairfield Testing and Humes added four other labs to consider.

"The last piece is the clerk of the works," Humes said. "Then that's your team you will work with for the next 300 days."