Litchfield Board of Selectmen
5/19/26, 6:38 PM
Present: !st Selectman-Denise Raap, Selectmen Jodiann Tenney, Dan Morosani, Jeff Zullo,. Selectman John Bongiorno was absent.
The special meeting started with a public inspection of the Bantam Annex. TLB Architecture led the tour. Michael Fortuna with TLB reported that they conducted a conditions assessment primarily focused on Town Hall and the Bantam Annex buildings.
As part of the scope, they evaluated programming and identified what would and would not work within the buildings. He noted that space allocation in Town Hall was generally adequate, with some areas needing improved efficiency but no major space deficiencies. The primary needs identified were additional meeting and storage space.
“We looked at the conditions of both the Town Hall and this building and ancillary a few other buildings along the way,” Fortuna said. “But primarily focused on this building and the Town Hall building to understand first their condition and what it would take to upgrade them and then also the programming to see what spaces work, what don't.”
Fortuna explained that the focus of the assessment remained on the Bantam Annex and emphasized that sustainability is a high priority for Litchfield.
He stated the condition assessment found that the Bantam Annex is showing signs of age but remains structurally sound and repairable.
TLB presented several options for the Selectmen to review.
Fortuna recommended Option 5 which keeps Town Hall offices in their current location while making better use of the Bantam Annex for existing offices and adding four apartments to the 1950s addition.
Fortuna noted that preservation of the Bantam Annex is less costly than constructing a new similar building, though he acknowledged that is not always the case.
He reported that the projected cost for work at Town Hall is $5.8 million, which could be completed in phases.
The full renovation of the Bantam Annex is estimated at $32.8 million, with $6 million allocated for the east wing residential portion.
Phase 1 includes replacement of the roof at $2.4 million; Phase 2 covers the west wing and food pantry at $7.2 million; Phase 3 includes the east wing and apartments at $13.5 million; Phase 4 addresses the east wing offices and courtyard at $3.4 million.
Phases 5 and 5a include the connector, vestibule, and entry court at $10 million; and Phase 6, the Post Office, is estimated at $1 million, which may not be undertaken.
Fortuna noted that the full build out of Option 2a, which includes demolition of the 1960s wing, is estimated at $23 million, or $26 million if phased in one-year intervals. A full build-out of Option 5, including four apartments, is projected at $32.8 million, or $37 million if phased.
He stated that if the full build-out option were approved, the timeline would include 18 months for design, six months for permitting, bidding, and approvals, with groundbreaking in two years, followed by 18 to 24 months of construction.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:21 p.m.
