Once again, the town is pushing back against contractor A. Secondino & Son, Inc. regarding its progress on the Wilton Police Department’s headquarters building project.

Department of Public Works Director Frank Smeriglio told the Board of Selectmen last Tuesday, Dec. 16, that concerns had been expressed by Tecton Architects on behalf of the town that the construction company wasn’t fulfilling its obligation in completing the work.

“The building is not substantially completed,” Smeriglio said.

The hope remains that the police department will be able to occupy the building by Feb. 1, 2026, with the key transferal of the emergency dispatch center taking place in early January.

“Right now the contractor has X amount of days to get the project substantially completed,” Smeriglio said. “Substantially completed means as soon as Tecton believes the [Wilton] Building Department will be satisfied with everything related to the building, so as of right now they are not substantially completed, so right now the clock is still ticking with Secondino.”

“The Contractor … stated during an Owner-Architect-Contractor meeting on Dec. 2 that they feel the building is Substantially Complete. The design team disagrees with this statement.” rebecca hopkins, tecton architects

Tecton Project Manager Rebecca Hopkins sent a letter to the Secondino project manager Gary Broderick on Dec. 5 outlining the incomplete items, including missing fire extinguisher cabinets, incomplete installation of the entry canopy and ramp guardrail, commissioning and startup of major systems including the emergency generator, and missing light fixtures.

Smeriglio also referenced poor lighting around the elevator, which must be up to code in order for the elevator to pass a state inspection.

“At this time, the Contractor has not provided the majority of the aforementioned items and has not formally requested Substantial Completion in writing,” Hopkins wrote. “In addition, it is evident through photos and descriptions supplied by the Owner that the building is not Substantially Complete.”

“The Contractor has not indicated when these items will be completed but stated during an OAC (Owner-Architect-Contractor) meeting on 12/2/25 that they feel the building is Substantially Complete,” she wrote. “The design team disagrees with this statement.”

As a consequence, Tecton has not supplied the contractor with punch lists for both interior and exterior work, in part, Smeriglio said, because it’s not Tecton’s responsibility to direct Secondino and its completion items.

“The whole issue here is we don’t want to go there and do an inspection and create their ‘things to do’ list, Smeriglio said. “It should just be a punch list.”

“The last two weeks there’s been a bit of back and forth between us and Secondino … We’re close to agreement,” Smeriglio said. 

Hopkins’ letter said its intent is to clarify the requirements of the contract with the Town and related timelines associated with the completion process.

“Although the building is not Substantially Completed and the Contractor has not fulfilled their obligation to the items listed above, the design team is committed to maintaining a collaborative relationship with all parties to expedite where possible,” Hopkins wrote.

Smeriglio said that 90% of the items have to be completed to achieve Substantial Completion. He and Hopkins said previously that, once Secondino declares its work is done, the architect’s examination will determine if there are items that still need to be completed and will deduct the cost of outside contractors doing that work from Secondino’s final invoice.

The BOS was scheduled to go into executive session on Tuesday evening to discuss how the situation will affect the contract with Secondino. 

An inquiry was sent to First Selectman Toni Boucher about the matter on Friday, Dec. 19, but she did not respond before GOOD Morning Wilton went to press with this story.

Meanwhile, at the BOS meeting Boucher expressed a positive take on the new headquarters.

“I can tell and see by the pictures that we’ve received recently — and we’ll put it in our newsletter from the entire Board of Selectmen on Friday — that it’s going very well,” she said. “The inside looks pretty darn good, I would say — the outside too.”

Boucher also praised Assistant Director of DPW Jeff Pardo, who has been serving as the town’s project manager for the headquarters.

“Apparently, Jeff Pardo is there constantly being a task master,” Boucher said. “I’m sure they’re often relieved when he leaves the building everyday because he’s on it continuously for sure.”