Selectmen Hire Contractor For Simsbury Meadows Addition

SIMSBURY, CT — A major expansion of the Simsbury Performing Arts Center reached a significant milestone earlier this month with the town hiring a contractor for the project.

The Simsbury Board of Selectmen July 14 unanimously approved authorizing Simsbury Town Manager Marc Nelson to sign a contract with Bloomfield-based Millennium Builders Inc. to build the expansion for $2.635 million, less than what was anticipated.

This is the second major town action on the project this year.

The Simsbury Zoning Commission May 5 unanimously approved a special exemption/site plan allowing for the 3,061-square-foot addition at the outdoor band shell, which is located at 22 Iron Horse Blvd., Simsbury.

According to the project narrative, the addition will be to the existing band shell, and it will provide the facility with dressing rooms, office space, and public bathrooms.

Work on this project is expected to take place from October 2025 through May 2026, opening the next concert season.

The Town of Simsbury is listed as an applicant due to a longstanding operating agreement with the center, which is a separate, nonprofit entity from the town.

It is also why Simsbury selectmen had to act in hiring the contractor to do the work.

Last November, the town and Simsbury Meadows signed a 15-year operation pact, essentially making the town and Simsbury Meadows partners.

The expansion project is being funded through state grant dollars, donations, and town funding.

The addition and the funding plan were approved by voters at the polls in May 2024 during that year's budget referendum. It was a separate question that passed 1,377-624.

Simsbury Town Manager Marc Nelson told selectmen bidding for the project came in less than what the project was anticipated to cost, which was about $2.7 million.

"We went out to bid," Nelson said. "We got a pretty good response, and the range of bids was as expected."

Ultimately, the Bloomfield company was the contractor chosen.

Nelson said the town/center also needs to come up with a 4- to 6-percent contingency fund should the project run into any cost overruns.

For now, Nelson said the town should move forward with the contract, but he said it may have to come up with an extra $128,000 (or part of it) in contingency if it is needed.

"I propose we cross that bridge when we come to it," Nelson said, adding that type of money could be found within the town's budget.

Nelson said that, regardless of whether additional funding is needed for the project, the town would not conduct another referendum.

Simsbury First Selectman Wendy Mackstutis said the center may have to be prepared to raise more funds, if necessary, or partner with the town on any overruns.

She said the upcoming November elections could change the makeup of the board of selectmen, putting any future decisions on this issue with them.

And those decisions are contingent on whether the project needs the added contingency funding.

"We don't know if that's going to happen. We don't know if we're going to need it. It's the elephant in the room, what happens then?" Mackstutis said.

"I'm willing to move this forward and just hope that doesn't happen, but we may have to make a decision if that happens, and we may not be here."

After the discussion, selectmen passed the contract authorization and moved the project forward.

For the minutes of the July 14 Simsbury Board of Selectmen meeting, click on this link.

From May 7: 'Major Expansion Approved For Simsbury Concert Venue'