North Branford’s Town Council received updates at is Tuesday, Dec. 6 meeting regarding progress on the town’s building projects for North Branford High School (NBHS) and the new police facility, as well as some news about the removal of an illuminated insignia sign at North Branford Intermediate School (NBIS).

Additionally, the council was updated on the progress of the Dan Cosgrove Animal Shelter expansion and renovation project underway in Branford. The shelter also serves as North Branford’s municipal animal shelter providing animal control officer services for North Branford and Northford.

In other news, the Town Council was also notified by Town Manager Michael Downes that his staff hiring offer was accepted for a new Town Planner, with the expectation that the council will have information concerning confirmation of the appointment at its Tuesday, Dec. 20 meeting.

Downes also provided the council with a brief update on the North Branford Police Department project, which will bring in a new facility at 305 Forest Road. He noted the contractor is working with the architect to review submittals, and a clerk of the works in now on board. An early January, 2023 start is anticipated for construction work to begin at the site.

Regarding phase one construction underway for the new NBHS academic building, Downes noted that building rooftop units (HVAC) have been further delayed; with those delays leading to what is now anticipated to be a mid-February 2023 move-in to the building.

Permanent Projects Building Committee (PPBC) member David Palumbo provided more details on the status of the current NBHS building construction work. He noted the building’s third floor is approximately 90 percent completed, the second floor is about 50 percent completed, while there is “a lot to do” to complete the first floor.

Installation of glass continues as materials are delivered, and any exterior portions of the building awaiting glass is properly sealed to protect the building from rain and weather elements.

Targeted move-in days are now anticipated to fall between February 20 and February 23, 2023, providing roof top units and mechanicals arrive as anticipated.

“There [are] some concerns,” said Palumbo, noting that, once the rooftop systems are installed, “...it’s going to be a challenge to flush and balance the systems.”

Palumbo said contractor Gilbane Building Company (Glastonbury) is working with the PPBC with assistance from project architect Rusty Malik of Quisenberry Arcari Malik (QA+M) Architecture (Farmington).

“It’s going well, overall,” said Palumbo, adding that another walk-through will take place ahead of the next Town Council meeting.

“For your next meeting we’ll have a really good update as to where we stand and where we’re at [with] units coming in for the rooftops,” said Palumbo.

NB Insignia Signage Coming Down

Another school building item of mention during the Dec. 6 council meeting involved future plans for North Branford Intermediate School (NBIS) building signage. NBIS and NBHS are located on a shared school campus site. According to minutes of its Dec. 5 meeting, the PPBC raised the question of whether the large NBIS building sign should be replaced to match the new, neighboring NBHS signage that will be installed. The PPBC’s consensus is that it would like to have matching signage. The final decision regarding school building signage rests with the Town Council.

At its Dec. 5 meeting, the PPBC also discussed the need to remove the illuminated “NB” insignia on the side of the NBIS building. Speaking to the council on Dec. 6, Palumbo briefly elaborated that illuminated sign “NB” sign will be taken down, and that the insignia letters are backwards. Councilwoman Rose Marie Angeloni noted Board of Education (BOE) should be taking the sign down; and that it was put up without Town Council approval.

The PPBC is also seeking direction from the council as to whether the illuminated NB insignia sign should be replaced.

Cosgrove Animal Shelter Update

Cosgrove Animal Shelter Commission’s North Branford commission member Stephanie Malkin provided a quarterly report to the council on Dec. 6. Her discussion also updated the council the regarding the ongoing project to expand and renovate the shelter.

Malkin said the new shelter building at 749 East Main Street is aiming to be open to the public with a start date occurring in January, 2023. The project officially broke ground in September, 2021. Currently, the shelter is operating at a reduced capacity, and open to public, at the former Canoe Brook School building in Branford, 11 Cherry Hill Road.

Of the 1350 people and organizations that donated to campaign to help fund the new shelter, 60 percent came from Branford and North Branford, Malkin noted.

“We have a lot support in the community, and we're grateful for that,” she said.

Council members asked Malkin to help them publicize to the North Branford community more on the shelter’s Pet Pantry and Wish List programs. Donations can be made by checking posts at the Dan Cosgrove Animal Shelter on Facebook, visiting the shelter’s website, or via the shelter’s Amazon wish list, which delivers items donated directly to the shelter.

North Branford Town Council meetings are broadcast and live streamed by Totoket TV.