DPW Building Committee Still Meeting Offline and Unrecorded. Designer Selection Process Continues

Report of the Meeting of the DPW Building Committee, May 27, 2026

The Department of Public Works Building Committee (DPWBC) met on May 27, 2026, in the Town Room at Town Hall. Although this room has the infrastructure to conduct hybrid meetings — it is where the Town Council meets — the meeting was neither broadcast nor recorded. Members in attendance were Chair Christine Gray-Mullen, Joe Cook, Town Councilor Pam Rooney (District 4), Town Manager Paul Bockelman, and Finance Director Sean Mangano, who joined late. Also present was Bob Peirent, town special projects manager and owner’s project manager for this project. Absent were David Ahlfeld and Superintendent of Public Works Guilford Mooring. Assistant Superintendent of Public Works Amy Rusiecki was in the room but did not participate as a member, despite the committee charge listing the superintendent or his designee as a member.

Peirent reported that, based on the committee’s discussion at its last meeting of the evaluation criteria for the selection of a designer were amended and posted as an addendum to the DPW design documents. The original deadline for proposals was May 27, but one potential applicant requested an extension in light of the amendments, and a second addendum was issued moving the deadline to June 2. Two other applicants had already submitted materials, but, given the date change, will be permitted to have their unopened proposals discarded and to resubmit by the new deadline.

A review of responses to questions received indicates that at least two potential applicants were unclear about the project’s siting. The town responded that while the current DPW site on South Pleasant St. is the “primary potential location,” two additional sites will be considered:

“The intent of the study is to evaluate the feasibility of a select number of alternative sites. The selected consultant will be expected to conduct an objective site evaluation process consistent with the scope of services outlined in the RFQ. The Town will not make a final determination regarding site selection until this evaluation is completed.”

The committee discussed the process of winnowing proposals to a short list of candidates who will be offered interviews. Members will bring suggested interview questions to the next meeting, on June 3. They will review proposals received on June 2 and submit individual rankings by the end of the day on June 8. Town staff will compile the rankings for review at the committee’s June 10 meeting, when the question list and interview candidates will be decided. Interviews are scheduled for June 23, after which a recommended ranking for selection will be determined. The town manager will have final say over which firm is chosen.

There was some disagreement about whether the committee or staff would create the short list. Gray-Mullen argued for the latter, suggesting that “in-house, experienced people” like Bockelman and Peirent should offer their recommendation to the committee, while Rooney favored the former, stating, “This is what we [committee members] signed up for.” Mangano expressed concern that a review of references by town staff is not scheduled until after the short list has been selected.

During public comment, this reporter requested that the meetings be broadcast and recorded. Rooney called for a vote to add the topic as a discussion item on the next meeting’s agenda; it passed unanimously.