Middletown Building Committee Meeting - September 11, 2026

The Building Committee met on September 11, 2026, at 5:05 PM in a hybrid format at the Police Community Center and via WebX. The meeting was chaired by the Chair, who participated remotely from his vehicle and asked committee member Seb to facilitate in person. The committee approved minutes from previous meetings, heard a director's report on project progress, and received a detailed presentation of the 100% construction documents for the new public safety dispatch facility. Two payments to Tekton totaling $178,365 were approved. The meeting adjourned at 6:03 PM.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes: The minutes of the June 25, 2026, July 23, 2026 regular meeting, and July 23, 2026 special community meeting were approved unanimously without discussion.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public spoke during the public comment period.

Discussion Items

• Director's Report (Robbie): The project continues through final design, permitting, and bidding stages. Key updates included:
  • Final technology coordination meeting completed; city technology department will prepare quotes for equipment.
  • Planning and zoning application approved on August 13; Connecticut DEP permit for soil disturbance submitted.
  • Eversource work order submitted; electrical hoard requirements approved.
  • Construction RFP finalized with purchasing; bid posting anticipated for 30 days with 20-day prevailing wage threshold.
  • Specialized vendor pricing: Zybex (approved in July) saw an $800 increase due to selected finishes; will return in October. Motorola radio system proposal received but will wait for general contractor selection to preserve warranties. Fire alarm monitoring system: radio propagation study determined the original antenna location would not work; a backup solution using antennas on the existing tower at the top of the hill is being developed. Fiber connectivity between the new building and the existing tower and building will be used.
  • Discussion about a potential fire department burn structure near the site: the director confirmed that after meeting with the fire department and vendor, they were reassured the burn structure would not affect the building's HVAC system. One committee member suggested that if modifications are needed, the fire department should pay.
• Presentation of Construction Documents (Matt and team): The architect presented the 100% construction documents, consisting of 108 sheets of drawings and three volumes of specifications. Key points:
  • The drawings cover site civil, structural, architectural, MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing), and technology systems.
  • The building is designed as a Risk Category IV structure (public safety facility), requiring more robust construction.
  • The thermal envelope is fully continuous with exterior insulation and a masonry-supported thermal block system.
  • HVAC: Two rooftop units with heat pumps and gas backup; a dedicated unit for dispatch with supplemental ductless units. A committee member from the Clean Energy Task Force expressed satisfaction with the heat pump and solar-ready design.
  • Electrical: Site utility coordination with Eversource; future EV charging conduits are roughed in (two-inch conduit to handhole) and solar ready. A committee member raised security concerns about public EV chargers; it was noted chargers could be staff-only with access codes.
  • Two deduct alternates identified: the roof-mounted mechanical screen and the south-facing trellis. These can be removed if bids come in high.
  • Paving limits: The committee confirmed the project will only pave the exclusive use area of the driveway, not the shared common driveway. Coordination with emergency management/public works regarding water main replacement is ongoing.
  • Committee members had questions about burn structure impact, EV charging feasibility, and product specifications. The director explained that most furnishings and equipment will be provided by the city or contractor per a schedule.

Key Outcomes

• Votes and Approvals:
  • Minutes of June 25, July 23 regular, and July 23 special meetings approved unanimously.
  • Payment to Tekton for work through July 31, 2026: $97,325 approved unanimously.
  • Payment to Tekton for work through August 31, 2026: $81,040 approved unanimously.
• Next Steps: A special meeting is scheduled for the following week to review the final construction documents and RFP, and to vote on moving forward with purchasing. Committee members were encouraged to review the documents and submit questions before then. The project team will issue a finalized set of documents by next Friday after incorporating purchasing coordination and QAQC.

Note: The transcript indicated the meeting date as September 10, but per the directive, the meeting date is recorded as September 11, 2026.