The Fire House Building Committee received a shock this month when its plumbing contractor, Performance Plumbing, abruptly closed up shop.
According to First Selectman Henry Tirrell, the issue was referred to the payment and performance bonding company. “It’s up to that company to follow through,” he said. “They are reviewing it and coming up with a solution. They are on the hook for any additional expense.”
He said the bonding agency had 30 days to resolve the issue, giving them another two weeks to identify a new plumber. The bonding company makes the selection, not the town. “It’s in their best interest to resolve it quickly. If it starts to slow down the project, there will be additional expenses for them,” Tirrell said.
To date Newfield Construction, the general contractor, has managed to avoid significant delays. The subcontractor hired to do the HVAC work also does plumbing and was able to provide critical early plumbing needs as concrete was being poured.
At the same time, the sequence of the project was shifted somewhat to accommodate the disruption in plumbing. The original plan called for completion of the underground utility components prior to erecting the structural steel framing. That sequence was adjusted and the steel work moved ahead to keep the project progressing. As of last week, most of the structural steel had been erected over the apparatus bay area.