New pavilion reservations on hold
Venue looks to address contaminated fill, FEMA violations
FAIRFIELD — Officials announced a halt to new reservations at the Penfield Pavilion starting next year, as the town looks to address contaminated fill on the property and federal violations.
Officials estimate the cost of bringing the building back in line with Federal Emergency Management Agency standards, as well as testing for and remediating spots where contaminated fill was used, will cost millions of dollars.
First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick said the town will not take reservations for the venue after Oct. 31, 2022 as they gather information and approvals to address both issues.
“That would be a better time, because we would want to do this stuff during the fall and winter,” she said. “Hopefully, we’d be done by the summer season so that, regardless of what happens to the building, we don’t have backhoes and everything like that in the middle of the beach.”
The reasoning behind the decision, she said, is ongoing environmental testing and remediation related to the fill pile scandal, as well as the building being constructed in 2017 in violation of the regulations of the National Flood Insurance Program outlined by FEMA . She said officials hope FEMA will sign off on solutions by that point.
“In April of 2016, the prior administration was advised that the pavilion was rebuilt in violation of a number of FEMA regulations,” she said. “Why they just went ahead and didn’t correct them, I don’t know.”
Kupchick said the town had applied three times for reimbursement from FEMA for damage the building sustained during Hurricane Sandy — twice during former First Selectman Mike Tetreau’s administration and once during hers. She said after the federal agency denied the $4 million reimbursement for a third
time, officials notified the town again that the pavilion wasn’t built to code.
“My administration did not necessarily know,” she said. “We thought we just weren’t getting it because they didn’t fill our paperwork right or maybe the height of the thing was not correct. This letter was more detailed.”
FEMA notified her administration that the placement of the horizontal grade beams in the foundation of the building are against FEMA regulations and will have to be addressed, Kupchick said, adding the prior administration was notified of this but continued with construction.
In 2012, Hurricane Sandy compromised a $5.5 million project to replace the century old pavilion. In 2017, a second project to renovate the historic building was completed.
Kupchick said she thinks the town should have hired a construction manager to handle the project, instead of commissioning a building committee like the town did. That way, she said, that company’s insurance would pay if something is not built to proper specifications.
“Then, they’re on the hook for it, because they are supposed to be a professional company making sure things are done appropriately,” she said. “In this case, we don’t have that because we had a building committee of appointed members of our community.”
Kupchick said the town is in the early talks with FEMA, as officials try and figure out what the agency will sign off on to address the violations. She said any options FEMA allows the town to go forward with would cost millions.
“We know, just based on these conversations, that
it’s going to be a lot,” she said.
Whatever the cost associated with that is, Kupchick said, is entirely separate from the testing for and remediation of contaminated soil under the building and parts of the parking lot — which is also projected to cost millions of dollars.
“The cost to remove and dispose of the contaminated fill is looking to be in the range of $2.5 million,” Kupchick said at a Board of Selectman meeting last week. “There is Julian Fill underneath the Penfield parking lot, additional testing still required there. Current estimates to remediate that are between $3 and $5 million.”
Also last week, the Board of Selectman voted to set aside $6.3 million for fill pile associated costs from a surplus of approximately $9.3 million in the 20202021 budget. Then, on Monday,
the board voted to also add $585,000 in Tropical Storm Isaias FEMA reimbursement funds to the fill pile fund.
Kupchick said her goal is to get two or three options for fixing the situation from FEMA so she can present them to residents.
Kupchick also said she thinks it’s important for residents to know that there is no risk in using the Penfield Pavilion or parking at the lot there.
“We had the (licensed environmental professional) do air testing in the soil all around the building, and there was no contamination,” she said. “It’s not being moved and you can’t get under the building. The parking lot, obviously, is paved — so it’s capped. There’s no danger to the community in any way.”
Creating an accessible bathroom is an easier process than you think.
Though an accessible shower installation might sound like a complicated project that will force you to be without your bathroom for many days, these types of upgrades can often be completed in as little as one day! What’s more, you won’t have to compromise in terms of style - safety doesn’t have to mean clinical or institutional! NEWPRO offers baths and showers that are available in a variety of patterns, colors and features that will allow you to express your style and personality, as well as your safety needs. It’s safety and serenity combined!
“IF YOU’RE GOING TO TRANSFORM YOUR BATHROOM, WHY NOT CHOOSE A PARTNER THAT OFFERS THE BEST PRODUCTS WITH SO MANY OPTIONS FOR THE MOST COMFORTABLE AND STYLISH ACCESSIBLE BATH!”
GRAB BARS:
Enjoy your independence without sacrificing comfort, safety or style. Grab bars can be placed exactly where you would like them in your bath space to give you comfort and peace of mind.
ERGONOMICALLY PLACED SHELVING
Your bath or shower can be designed with your choice of shelving options that can be placed exactly where you want them for easy access to your bathing accessories.
SEAT OPTIONS:
From built-in to removeable seats, choose from stylish seating options offering stability and comfort in your bath space.
LOW THRESHOLD SHOWER BASE:
Low threshold shower base combines safety, style, and comfort together in perfect harmony.
BARRIER FREE SHOWER BASE:
Enter your shower with a barrier-free shower base. This base is designed for wheelchair or walker accessibility with a ramp to make getting into the shower effortless and safe.
HANDHELD WITH SLIDEBARS:
Ergonomic design and placement of the handheld lets you focus on relaxation.
FINISHING TOUCH FIXTURES & SHOWER DOORS:
Choose from a unique selection of fixtures and shower doors in a variety of popular finishes and styles for that “finishing” touch!