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Council approves $9 million bond authorization after foundation issues delay Pickering project
Summary
The Lynn City Council on Sept. 9 approved a $9 million bond authorization to cover additional foundation, design and contingency costs after unexpected soil conditions delayed the Pickering Middle School project and required a change in construction methods.
The Lynn City Council voted Sept. 9 to authorize an additional $9 million in bonding for the new Pickering Middle School to cover redesign, ground-improvement work and contingency costs tied to site conditions that delayed the project. The vote followed a public hearing at which city staff described changed construction methods and neighbors spoke in support.
City project manager Danye Smith said earlier foundation and ground-improvement methods produced cosmetic cracking at the existing Sisson building; peer review by the city and the contractor led the team to adopt a different approach to the ground improvements, including installation of rigid inclusions and drainage measures. Smith told the council most of the new ground work has already been installed and that the change caused additional cost and schedule impact.
Neighbors told the council they support completion of the school. Paul Guthro, who lives blocks from the site, said the design and layout are “optimized” for teaching and neighborhood fit and urged a unanimous vote. Calvin Anderson pressed city staff for details on how the extra borrowing would affect taxpayers and asked why the unexpected site conditions were not identified earlier.
The bond covers soft costs such as design, engineering and project management, construction contingency, and direct costs associated with the delay, Smith said. He said some of the additional expenses may be eligible for reimbursement through Massachusetts School Building Authority grants and other programs, but he also said the city is currently responsible for the additional authorization.
Council members asked about schedule impacts. Smith said the delay is likely to push occupancy to later in 2027 — staff described the delay as roughly six months and said the council and project team are evaluating options to accelerate work where possible.
Councilors moved and seconded the bond order after the public hearing; a roll-call vote recorded support from the council members present and the order passed.
The vote authorizes city borrowing; city staff said normal debt-service budgeting applies and that the city will pay debt service from municipal revenues (the authorization itself does not immediately change tax rates). The council record shows the authorization passed by recorded vote.
