Greenwich BET Approves $42M For Central Middle School Project

GREENWICH, CT — The Greenwich Board of Estimate and Taxation this week voted to approve a little over $42 million in construction funding for a new Central Middle School.

Members voted eight in favor, one oppposed, with three abstensions during a special meeting Tuesday night in the Greenwich Town Hall Meeting Room, which was packed with members of the community.

BET Chair Dan Ozizmir and Bill Drake, both Republicans, broke from their party to vote "yes." Ozizmir and Drake are not seeking re-election this November.

Republican Karen Fassuliotis voted no, while her Republican colleagues Nisha Arora, Leslie Tarkington and Harry Fisher abstained. All BET Democrats voted to approve: Laura Erickson, Miriam Kreuzer, Leslie Moriarty, Jeff Ramer, Stephen Selbst and David Weisbrod.

CMS Building Committee Chair Tony Turner thanked the finance board for their approval.

"There's going to be 38,000 kids to walk through the new Central Middle School doors over the next 75 years. They thank you as well," Turner said. "I think this investment that this board has made in the town tonight is absolutely phenomenal."

With the approval, $112 million has been committed to the project, which is the total construction cost estimate provided by Turner Construction. In May, the Representative Meeting approved the town budget which included $67.5 million for a new CMS.

The Representative Town Meeting has called a special meeting for Oct. 30 to consider the latest appropriation. The town's legislative body's next regularly scheduled meeting is in December.

According to a timeline and next steps from project officials, bidding and awards could happen in July 2024, which would allow construction to start in October 2024 and conclude in June 2026.

A grant application is expected to be submitted to the state for partial reimbursement of the project cost.

The process to secure funding has not been smooth.

BET Republicans have balked at the size, scope and price for a new CMS, and they've called for a more thorough process, while Democrats have argued that a new school was needed without delay, citing careful consideration by project officials and the building committee, and strong support from the community.

Some of those talking points continued during this week's special meeting.

"I am not prepared to make this decision with only schematic drawings completed. I will vote to abstain because this request is premature and it continues to break with town process for construction projects," Tarkington said.

Fassuliotis said the cost of the project was a "reckless use of taxpayer money."

She said the cost for the building "all in" is almost $1,000 per square foot, and she warned the figure will only go up.

During a brief presentation Tuesday night, project officials said the building alone would come in at $627 per square foot.

"Despite what you all may think, not everyone can afford tax increases. With apologies to those who have come out tonight, I represent the entire town. Build something that makes sense as quickly as possible but within reason. Tonight, if this is approved, reason has quite frankly gone out the window," Fassuliotis added.

CMS was condemned in February 2022 after inspectors voiced concerns over structural safety. The building was fortified and repaired, but a new facility is needed in the next few years.

The proposal calls for a new 125,000-square-foot building to the north of the existing building in the area of the ball fields and a wooded slope in the northern section of the property.

A new extended driveway to the building would be built, along with a separate bus loop and new parking areas.

The existing school would be demolished and replaced with new athletic fields. The rock outcropping on the property at the entrance to the school would be removed to make space for the new fields.

Motions from Arora and Tarkington for conditions on the release of funds were ultimately withdrawn during the special meeting Tuesday.

Arora wanted assurance that the current school would be safe while construction on the new building is taking place, and she wanted to place a condition on the release of funds.

The condition would have allowed the project to remain on track and help officials plan for the possibility of having to relocate students, Arora said.

"I don't know if a professional engineer would be willing to say that the building is not going to be compromised during construction. That's a very long bridge to ask a professional engineer to commit to," Turner said.

Project officials said structural engineers would be heavily involved in construction, especially during rock blasting if that's necessary. Erickson noted, "There are proven measures to deal with these construction conditions."

Tarkington put forward a motion for a condition to automatically release funds after the completion of design development drawings, another cost estimate, and the development of construction documents.

Democrats said conditions would delay the process and hinder the state grant approval process.

Moriarty said that she wasn't hearing as many concerns from BET members about the project compared to previous meetings.

"But I'm still hearing roadblocks being placed at every step of what we're trying to accomplish tonight, which is to get this project funded and move it forward," she said.

"While I respect the opinions of my colleagues who wish to seek further conditions… What's important now is that we find a way to focus on moving this project forward as promptly as possible," added Selbst.

Monday's special RTM meeting to consider the $42,017,000 appropriation and bonding will begin at 8 p.m., and will be held in the CMS auditorium and streamed on Zoom.