Committee approves $13,709 to remove contaminated soil at Norton; allowance exhausted

The School Building Committee unanimously approved a $13,709 change order to remove additional contaminated soil stockpiled near the Norton school site, the committee heard. The committee was told the work was beyond quantities approved earlier and therefore required an addition to the contract.

Ryan, a project staff member, explained the additional quantity had been discovered through testing of stockpiled soils and could not remain on site. "This taps out our site allowance from ONG," said Dennis Ryu, summarizing the review; the project team confirmed the allowance set aside for contaminated soils and related items is being consumed.

Committee staff said the original construction allowance carried $150,000 for contaminated soils and $10,000 for removal of an underground storage tank; other allowances included $77,400 for a temporary parking lot and funds for asbestos-containing material removal and water-service disposal. After paying for earlier removals, the team said $34,009.18 remained in the allowance; the $13,709 PCO plus ONG markup exhausted that balance.

Staff warned additional costs could arise during demolition if contaminated soils are uncovered beneath the building. "It would only be when we do the demolition and excavations out in front of the building for the new parking lot," a staff member said, "I can't speak to that until we get into that." The committee approved the change order unanimously and asked staff to schedule removal work once the change order was processed.

Project staff said the contaminated stockpiles would be removed promptly once the PCO was approved and trucks scheduled.