Oswegatchie Fire Station Building Committee - Minutes - 05/06/2025

FIFTEEN ROPE FERRY ROAD. WATERFORD, CT 06385-2886
Oswegatchie Fire Station Building Committee Meeting
May 6, 2025
Meeting called to order at 6:31pm
Pledge of Allegiance
Members Present: Robert Tuneski, Rocco Bracciale, Wayne Gilpin, Ted Olynciw, Richard
Muckle, Paul Rafuse, Matthew Blankenship
Members Absent: Guy Russo, Jennifer Bracciale
Guests: Steve Smith, Shea Davy, Abbas Danesh
1, Public Comment: None
2. Opening Remarks: B. Tuneski stated the traffic light is under re-consideration by the Chief
of Police. If the line of sight can be established by eliminating some trees, he may change his
position on requiring a traffic signal
P. Rafuse reminded the committee that they had voted to keep the light at a previous meeting,
Action on this vote will be held until a determination from the Chief of Police is obtained.
P. Rafuuse asked if the Station Alerting System had been discussed during the 4/15/25 meeting
when Steve Sinagra was present. It was not
T. Olynciw read a statement to the committee. (Attachment 1)
3. Approval of meeting minutes:
MOTION by T. Olynciw, second by R. Muckle to accept the 4/15/25 meeting minutes.
FOR: B. Tuneski, T. Olynciw, R. Bracciale, R. Muckle, W. Gilpin
ABSTAIN: M. Blankenship, P. Rafuse
4. Approval of Invoices:

MOTION by P. Rafuse, second by R. Bracciale to pay the Downes invoice, $6,320.00
and the SPA invoice, $148,517.20
R. Muckle requested an explanation of the percentages on the Downes invoice. The
Percent Complete is where the Preconstruction stands, The 22.25% refers to where
billing stands.
T. Olynciw asked S. Smith if the contract was based on a cost plus, not to exceed a
specific amount. S, Smith will have to refer to the contract, which was not available to
him at that time. The Downes contract will be made available at the next scheduled
meeting.
FOR: B. Tuneski, R. Bracciale, R. Muckle, W. Gilpin, M. Blankenship, P. Rafuse
AGAINST: T. Olynciw
5. Old Business:
S. Smith provided a “DRAFT” Control Budget to the committee. (Attachment 2) Funds
already spent are hard numbers. All other numbers are projected based on calculations and
experience.
B, Tuneski spoke with the Finance Director — the intent is to present the bonding resolution at
the June meeting of the RTM. B. Tuneski informed her the committee had decided on having
hard bid numbers for the bonding process. He was told this was not how it was going to be
done. Rather the director will present a projected amount.
T. Olynciw voiced his concern regarding the project being on schedule. S. Smith and B.
Tuneski reassured him that everything is on schedule at this time. R. Muckle stressed the
need for an updated schedule be available at every meeting. S. Smith will provide this.
7. Current Business:
Residential vs. Commercial Kitchen
P. Rafuse expressed the need for a commercial kitchen as it is better quality.
MOTION by W. Gilpin, second by M. Blankenship to install a commercial kitchen.
FOR: Unanimous
T. Olynciw left the meeting at approximately 7:25pm
8. New Business:
B. Tuneski suggested changing the committee meeting dates to from the 1*' and 3" Tuesday
to the 1" and 3" Thursday of the month.

MOTION by W. Gilpin, second by M. Blankenship to change the meetings from the 1*
and 3” Tuesday of the month to the 1* and 3" Thursday of the month beginning in June
2025.
FOR: Unanimous
Meeting adjourned 7:42pm
Respectfully submitted by:
Linda Finnegan, Recording Secretary

Attached 1
May, 5, 2025
Mr, Robert Tuneski, Chairman
‘Oswegatchie Fire House Building Committee
Dear Bob,
The Committee started meoting 2 years ago, then hired SP&A as our architectural &
engineering design firm about a year ago and a few months after that retained the
services of Downs Construction as our Project Manager.
You will recall, along with all the other members of this building committee, how I gave
avery strong recommendation to select SP& A and Downs Construction to serve as a
team to design the new Fire House.
However, believe that our consultants have neglected to previously address a very
important issue, the cost of a new traffic light. During the past 12 months the traffic
Ught Issue has been discussed many, many times. Last month, only a month before we
will be going out to bid, we were informed by our consultants that the cost of the new
traffic light will cost about % million dollars. Had we known the cost before now we
may have developed a floor plan that would allow us the use of the existing traffic
Ught, but we were not given that opportunity.
This tack of obtaining this Information, which is a major cost item, this late Inthe
design process, Is inexcusable. Both consulting firms have years of experience in
designing and constructing fire stations and should have provided this Information at
the beginning of the design process.
The fact is we are not too late to consider options if the committee agrees.
Ta Se
Ted Olynciw, RTM Rep to this Committee

Conwegatena
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‘Ouwegatchie
Fire
Station Draft
Control
Budget
Draft
Control
Budget
May
1,
2025
Tan
Tokar
Budget
|
Budget
Committed
|
Remaining
|
Uncommitted|
Projected
Prior
Budget
|
_Softcost
|
HardCost_|
Adjustments
|
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Expended|
Encumbered|
Balance
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Balance
Cost
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[Design
Services
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$759,040
759,044
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il
Site
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EXT
36.541
[$36,541
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Bldg
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4.950.
4350
4.950
[$4950
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‘$30,000.
30,000
723,044)[
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[Grand
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10,907,780|
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965
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263,872
1592406|
$
10,268
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$
12,049,965
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