Bethel Unhappy with Progress of New Police HQ Build

BETHEL, CT — Members of the Public Site and Building Committee expressed frustration Tuesday night with the state of construction of the town's new police headquarters, the News Times is reporting.

Still incomplete is a railing for a retaining wall required by code for a permanent certificate of occupancy. Other concerns expressed by the committee include a water leak in the firing range, trim boards in some parts of the building cracking, training room lighting in need of repair, and a camera yet to be installed in the impound lot.

The police moved into their new HQ with a temporary certificate of occupancy in October. Residents approved the nearly $889,000 extra necessary to complete the project in May, after he project had gone over its $13.5 million budget due, in part, to HVAC and plumbing work which was more costly than anticipated and the high quality of materials used. The town has yet to pay for or install specialized HVAC unit and other equipment necessary to allow the firing range to be usable.

Downes Construction Company, of New Britain, was awarded the contract for the police HQ, and committee officials cited them as the bottleneck on the progress.

For more, see the News Times.