North Stonington — The Center for Emergency Services Building Committee reviewed the nearly complete construction documents Monday night and discussed a timeline moving forward that would see the bid package complete by Thanksgiving.

The town's selectmen also attended to listen to an update on the status of the project, including the calculation of the project's remaining budget and what reviews by additional agencies must be completed before the bid package can be sent.

At a selectmen's meeting two weeks ago, committee member Bob Shabunia came before the selectmen with concerns about the timeline of the project, noting that "coordination has been terrible" between the various organizations that must review the design development and construction documents.

In August, the building committee elected Ryan Burdick as chairman, due to the absence of Brian Ellias, who was elected at the beginning of the year but said he could not attend meetings because of time commitment issues.

The committee originally had hoped to complete the bid package this month. The building project, approved in July, has been reduced drastically from previous plans to around 13,600 square feet.

On Oct. 3, the committee received the bids back for the clerk of the works position. All of those bids came in over the committee's budget of $80,000; the lowest bidder, CREC, bid $109,710.

First Selectman Shawn Murphy said he subsquently had met with CREC, which has submitted a revised proposal for around $93,000, to negotiate.

At the meeting Tuesday, Project Manager Peter Springsteel said that bottleneck before the project can go to bid is a review for code issues by the Department of Agriculture, which likely will fund most of the project through its rural development program.

The committee has budgeted a month for this review, and the committee's concern is that it will take longer, Springsteel said.

The Department of Economic and Community Development also will need to check for contract issues.

Following these reviews, and following any additional comments from the committee, the architect then will make final changes before finalizing the bid package. The committee estimates an additional week for this.

Some members of the committee had wanted to sign on a clerk of the works for the project now, but Springsteel said the company would have little to do before the bid package goes out.

Shabunia and committee member Paul Kowack pointed to dialogue with the architect, Silver Petrucelli & Associates, as a difficulty that was lengthening the committee's timeline. Shabunia said the committee repeatedly has made corrections to the architectural plans, and it has taken a long time for the architect to send new plans.

"We've been pushing out and pushing out with time, and time is money," Shabunia said.

Murphy said the architect has been working as needed on the plans when it receives additional information from the committee.

After updating selectmen, the committee reviewed the lighting plan, kitchen and placement of a flagpole that would minimize the amount of concrete used.

The committee voted 4-1 to pay the architect, with Shabunia dissenting.

n.lynch@theday.com