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[0:26] I'm going to call this meeting to order.

[0:27] Selectmen meeting, July 1st, 2026, at

[0:31] 4:30 PM, at the Community Center on 46 Church Street.

[0:36] Item number one, to consider, and if appropriate, approve the

[0:40] Board of Selectmen minutes

[0:42] from June 17th, 2026.

[0:45] I'll move it.

[0:46] Second. All those in favor?

[0:48] Aye.

[0:48] Aye. Item number two is executive session for tax

[0:52] appeals, and item number three is to consider if appropriate,

[0:56] approve proposed settlements of pending tax appeals.

[0:59] We have none, so we're going to

[1:01] just move past those

[1:05] items.

[1:06] Item number four, to consider and act upon the

[1:10] recommendation of the tax collector and tax assessor

[1:14] to approve a refund of motor vehicle late fees paid pursuant to

[1:17] Connecticut General Statute

[1:20] 12-129, based on an administrative

[1:24] address record error affecting

[1:27] issuance of a tax bill.

[1:29] Motion to approve.

[1:30] I second.

[1:32] All those in favor?

[1:33] Aye.

[1:33] Aye. Motion carries. To consider, and if appropriate,

[1:37] approve a request from Jennifer Aquino, assistant town

[1:41] engineer, to waive the bid for permanent pavement patches

[1:45] on call service pavement

[1:49] parches,

[1:50] the name of the company, I assume, Pavement Parches, on-call services,

[1:54] and award the contract to William M.

[1:57] Leyden Construction at the following prices:

[2:00] asphalt patch per square foot at $7.46,

[2:05] asphalt curb at

[2:07] $13.47, asphalt

[2:10] sidewalks

[2:12] at $6.44,

[2:15] and asphalt aprons at $6.44.

[2:19] All of those are square foot prices.

[2:25] Good afternoon.

[2:27] Hello, Jen.

[2:27] Jennifer Aquino, assistant town engineer, before you today for a

[2:31] request for a bid waiver.

[2:35] I'm sure you're aware William Leyden Construction has been our on-call paving

[2:38] contractor since I've been in this role.

[2:42] The last bid we did was a fiscal year '20 bid.

[2:45] They were the low bidder for that.

[2:47] For four years following that, as allowed by contract, they extended their

[2:51] bid with no cost increase.

[2:54] In fiscal '25 and fiscal '26,

[2:58] they extended their bid with a requested 3%

[3:01] escalation, which was awarded by the Board of Selectmen during those two fiscal

[3:05] years. The company has once again requested to extend their

[3:09] contract, and have asked for a 3% escalation,

[3:13] which results in the pricing that First Selectman Brooks just went over.

[3:18] When reviewing their request, we take a look at a lot of factors, and

[3:22] one of those is

[3:24] DOT's weekly asphalt monitor, which I gave you a

[3:28] copy of with the package. That lists the

[3:31] average cost of asphalt for

[3:35] every year

[3:37] for these contract years. I broke it down with just per year.

[3:39] So the average cost, there's the high and the low is there, but the average is what

[3:43] I was looking at when determining whether or not this was advantageous for

[3:47] the town to continue this contract.

[3:50] As you can see,

[3:52] from the time that our bid was put out and they won their original

[3:56] award, there's been

[3:58] over a 34% increase in asphalt prices.

[4:01] So I thought it was prudent of us to entertain the

[4:05] request with this minimal increase of 3%

[4:10] in order to keep this contract going.

[4:12] I called around a couple of different towns.

[4:14] They're seeing significant price increases with their recent bids.

[4:19] And we're like, "Wow, you're getting a really good price for what you're

[4:23] getting."

[4:25] So I'm here before you today for this request.

[4:27] And I think one of the key points with this particular

[4:32] type of work that we do, this is asphalt patches that we do,

[4:35] curbing, driveways, sidewalks, different items that we use

[4:39] from the town's perspective for our work, but this also

[4:43] includes work when a homeowner has work done and has a

[4:47] water connection done or sewer connection done.

[4:49] This pricing is what the homeowner is directly charged for the repairs

[4:53] that the town does.

[4:55] From our contractor, they put a bond up when they get the excavation permits.

[4:59] Our contractor does the repair work to ensure that that's done to our standards,

[5:03] and then we pass that cost directly on to the homeowner.

[5:05] So this isn't just the town's project. This is also direct cost to homeowners.

[5:09] So it's kind of prudent for us to try and keep those costs as low as we

[5:13] can. And I definitely feel that if we were to go out to bid this year, the cost

[5:17] would significantly increase.

[5:19] We were seeing costs in the $10 per square foot at the

[5:23] time this bid was done in fiscal '20 by the other contractors that

[5:27] didn't win. So I can only assume that that would be

[5:30] significantly more than the pricing that they've offered us for this

[5:34] contract again.

[5:38] Any questions? Any other questions?

[5:39] Jen, thanks for your due diligence on this.

[5:41] I think it's

[5:43] excellent, and I would agree to move forward.

[5:46] I'm good.

[5:48] They do good work. Can I get a motion?

[5:49] I'll make a motion to approve.

[5:50] Second. All those in favor?

[5:52] Aye.

[5:52] Thank you. Motion carries. Thank you.

[5:54] Thanks, Jen.

[5:59] Okay, item number six, to consider, and if appropriate, approve

[6:04] A request from Blaise Levitan, Board of Ed Chief Operating

[6:08] Officer, and Brendan Letty, Board of Ed Facilities Director, to waive the

[6:12] bid for fiscal year '26, '27 electrical

[6:16] projects at Branford High School, and authorize the work to be

[6:19] performed by McMillan Electric using the pricing and terms

[6:23] as identified in contract 7214 between

[6:27] McMillan J. Orris LLC and the town of

[6:31] Greenwich, dated February 8th, 2028.

[6:37] Hey, everybody. How's it going?

[6:38] 2020, sorry.

[6:38] Yeah.

[6:39] 2020.

[6:40] '22.

[6:41] '22.

[6:41] '22. Yep. I know there was an addendum in there.

[6:44] Yeah, so good afternoon, everybody. Good to see you.

[6:47] Never great following Jen,

[6:51] but

[6:52] we will try our best.

[6:54] So we're back before you with a fairly similar request.

[6:57] And just for the public's background that's watching, we came

[7:01] here in February for a bid waiver under the same

[7:05] contract for a very specific project at the high school to do the

[7:09] switchgear.

[7:10] At the same time, we were working with the

[7:14] town administration on the solar project at the

[7:18] high school, and we ended up shifting gears from in

[7:22] front of the meter to a behind-the-meter approach that's now well

[7:26] underway, and that drives a lot of other decisions.

[7:30] So that project that we came before you to upgrade all of the switchgear

[7:34] this summer was put on hold and will now be part of a

[7:38] larger

[7:39] project that will be looped in with the cogen,

[7:43] and HVAC system replacement, as well as the

[7:46] solar.

[7:48] And so that way we can do some more engineering, building committee project.

[7:52] What we're doing instead,

[7:54] hopefully this summer, would be all of the ancillary

[7:58] electrical components in the building instead, so that we can still stay on

[8:02] schedule for electrical upgrades overall.

[8:04] They'll still be done in tandem. And so

[8:08] we're looking to really basically similarly issue an

[8:11] award under the town of Greenwich contract pricing,

[8:15] for the high school for the year, with the bulk of those

[8:19] projects being specifically completed

[8:22] this summer. Brendan is going to mention a

[8:26] few of those high-level projects. I also put them in the memo.

[8:30] For checking on pricing, so McMillan is based

[8:34] out of Stratford, Connecticut, and they have

[8:37] had a very competitive contract we attached.

[8:41] We have the approval from both

[8:43] the town of Greenwich,

[8:45] and McMillan to use this

[8:48] town contract. They still comply with all of our own

[8:52] insurance and our terms as well, but they've honored the pricing.

[8:56] We included in here the alternative, too,

[9:01] with the state contract that they have.

[9:03] That's the piggyback for electrical pricing for all

[9:07] towns to piggyback on, and we are obviously

[9:10] substantially lower per hour than the

[9:14] state contract.

[9:16] The Greenwich project, it's not like it didn't go through a competitive bid process

[9:19] as well. So it went through a competitive bid

[9:22] in Greenwich and this price is very

[9:27] strong. Brendan's looked around with other

[9:31] opportunities, similar to what Jen was just mentioning about

[9:35] people who are honoring prices from basically that are built on a

[9:39] base of 2022,

[9:41] instead of this escalation that you've really seen in the last few years.

[9:44] So we're able to take advantage of that.

[9:47] And so that's the logic behind the request in a

[9:51] summary. For additional context, that

[9:56] switchgear project

[9:58] that we were going to do this summer, the nice thing is, is by pivoting it and

[10:02] tying it to the HVAC and

[10:06] the

[10:08] power system of the building, we're able-- Typically, just

[10:12] replacing switchgear on its own because it's

[10:16] old and no longer at its useful life is not an

[10:19] eligible reimbursable expense in the school construction grant project,

[10:23] but HVAC and core mechanical systems are.

[10:26] And what we've been doing is working with our professional team to really

[10:30] line up

[10:32] including it so that it can be justified as part of that bigger renovation on

[10:36] the HVAC. So that portion of the project we

[10:39] anticipate to be now, since we're going to do it connected

[10:43] to and make the case that it's part of the power system, specifically of the

[10:47] building, and it powers the core HVAC components that we'll be

[10:50] replacing. We'll be able to get the state reimbursement on the

[10:53] non-priority grant back on top of doing it.

[10:57] So there's actually a two-step benefit, so it really connects

[11:00] the behind-the-meter approach that First Selectman Brooks

[11:04] has led, which is working out.

[11:07] Overall, the timing and everything hopefully will sync up well, and

[11:10] then we're able to lump that into that bigger project for the

[11:14] 37% reimbursement rate back on that, too.

[11:17] So

[11:18] I don't know if you want to give any additional context about this specific project

[11:22] and what they're doing at the high school.

[11:23] No, as Billy said, we're working on a lot of projects this summer.

[11:26] A lot of these projects that the electrical team is focusing on are

[11:30] improving safety, security,

[11:34] and then core

[11:37] teaching elements, in our kitchen, in our CNA program.

[11:40] We're addressing some of these much-needed electrical upgrades in those areas.

[11:46] We've looked around. It's hard to beat a $68 an hour

[11:51] electrician these days.

[11:53] So he just partially answered the question.

[11:57] You did look around already, so everyone knows four different pricing.

[12:01] This was still the best pricing.

[12:03] Well, state contracts just says it's $80 an hour according to the presentation.

[12:07] Right. I often found, unfortunately, using state contracts in the past,

[12:11] that they're higher than-

[12:12] Right

[12:12] ... we can get otherwise. So it

[12:15] seems to be convenience

[12:17] For us to look at state bids sometimes, but they are not-

[12:20] Right

[12:20] ... the best prices.

[12:20] I agree. That's a good comparison. Is that $80 based on a prevailing wage?

[12:24] Do you know, Brandon?

[12:25] It is.

[12:26] Yeah.

[12:27] Yeah.

[12:27] But we have had

[12:30] other electricians in the building.

[12:31] We've had other costs even on smaller projects where we may

[12:35] have a general contractor working.

[12:38] They're going to hire their own electrician. They're not being $68 an hour.

[12:41] Right.

[12:41] So oftentimes we're bringing in even McMellen.

[12:43] We may have a general contractor to frame out an area, build something, and then

[12:47] we're bringing in our own electrician just to save that money as well.

[12:50] Yeah.

[12:50] Now, right now,

[12:53] because obviously

[12:55] you're trying to get this done this summer,

[12:57] are they already in the building doing other work where they can just transfer

[13:00] over?

[13:02] We only got a two-month window here, and this is kind of late for

[13:06] us

[13:07] to be approving a bid waiver. But I'm assuming you had to wait for funding

[13:11] anyway.

[13:12] But this is going to be able to get done in this time period, the project you

[13:16] want-

[13:16] Yes

[13:16] ... by us doing this tonight?

[13:18] Yes.

[13:18] Okay.

[13:19] It's not necessarily late. It was a little bit of back and forth between the state

[13:23] contract and how we were finding the funding.

[13:27] So we've gone through, both with myself, our technology

[13:31] director, our director of security, which is where a lot of these projects are

[13:34] coming from. We walked the building with McMellen. They took a list.

[13:37] They provided several quotes for us.

[13:40] And now their main foreman is on vacation this

[13:44] week for the 4th of July holiday, and then they are dedicating, essentially

[13:47] starting next week through the end of the summer, they will have electricians on

[13:51] site nearly every day.

[13:52] That's what I was looking for. They're ready to go.

[13:53] Ready to go. On site, they have material all ready to go.

[13:56] They have a material list. They've run through everything. Yep.

[13:58] Thanks.

[13:59] Yeah.

[13:59] I like the way you piggybacked on Brandon's spot. I would like to move this.

[14:02] Second.

[14:04] All right. All those in favor?

[14:06] Aye.

[14:07] Thanks, guys.

[14:08] Aye.

[14:08] Thanks. Appreciate it.

[14:08] Thank you very much. Appreciate it.

[14:09] Much obliged.

[14:12] Good to see everybody.

[14:13] Take care, boys. Have a good holiday.

[14:14] See you. You too, man.

[14:17] Peace. Not much space for my computer.

[14:21] Okay, item number seven, to consider, and if appropriate, approve a request

[14:25] from Gino Carano, acting superintendent

[14:28] WPCF, to waive the bid for the purchase of two

[14:32] replacement 45-horsepower flight

[14:35] submersible dry pit pumps for the Damascus Road pump

[14:39] station and award the contract to Fleet Pump and Service Group,

[14:43] Inc., in the amount of $128,390.

[14:48] Just to give you guys background, this is similar to last month or

[14:52] two weeks ago, we did the same thing.

[14:54] This is the rest of those pumps in that pump station.

[14:59] It's replacing

[15:01] pump to pump. So getting multiple pricing makes no

[15:05] sense because you want the same pump doing the same job.

[15:09] I'm good with it. You did-

[15:10] I am, too

[15:10] ... due diligence last month.

[15:12] Yep. I'll move it.

[15:13] I think we should just move it.

[15:14] Okay. All those in favor?

[15:15] Aye.

[15:16] Aye.

[15:16] All right. Motion carries.

[15:18] Thank you very much.

[15:18] Thanks.

[15:19] Item number eight, green use, to consider, and if appropriate, approve a

[15:23] request from the Society of Nepalese in America for

[15:27] the use of the town green on July 18th,

[15:30] 2026, to hold the Nepal Festival,

[15:33] Nepal Day Parade from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

[15:38] This-

[15:40] I'll move it.

[15:40] I'll second.

[15:41] Any discussion?

[15:43] All those in favor?

[15:44] Aye.

[15:45] Aye.

[15:45] Motion carries.

[15:47] Item number nine, correspondence. We have none.

[15:50] Item number 10, other. Is there anything else

[15:54] to come before us?

[15:56] Okay. Item number 11, adjournment.

[15:58] I'll move it.

[15:58] Can I get a motion?

[15:59] Second.

[16:01] All those in favor?

[16:02] Aye.

[16:03] Aye.

[16:03] We're adjourned.

[16:05] This program was brought to you in part through the support of the town of

[16:09] Branford.

[16:11] Watch town meetings and other videos on demand at

[16:14] branfordtd.org.

Board of Selectmen 07/01/2026

Agenda

Transcript