School committee gets Boyle project update, approves $84,117.09 landscaping payment

The Smithfield School Committee received an update on the Boyle field project and voted to approve Green Acres Landscaping payment application No. 10, RGB 6683-5, not to exceed $84,117.09.

The update was delivered by John Racine, identified in the meeting as DOPM for the Boyle project. Racine said contractors are preparing closeout documents, warranties and final-building deliverables, and that remaining work consists primarily of temperature-sensitive punch-list items and exterior touch-ups that staff expect to complete in early spring. "Everything is functioning as opposed to, is my understanding," Racine said.

Committee members pressed for more detail on a landscaping change order linked to landscaping, sidewalks, drainage and other site work added after the original bid. A committee member noted the concession building and associated site work were not part of the original bid and were later added when town funding was identified; Racine said the concession building itself is a roughly $1 million installation and that surrounding sidewalks, drainage and landscaping were added as part of that scope. Racine explained the original bid covered field and track work only, and that items such as underground drainage and plaza work were alternates added later in the project.

On the Green Acres payment application, staff confirmed receipt of a $991 donation from Apple Valley Oil that is available in the project fund and that the district will account for it. Committee members asked for a clearer breakdown of the concession-building costs and of change order 14; staff said the change orders were reallocations of existing budget allowances and that a detailed worksheet was in the packet but had been omitted from a condensed summary. One member requested the full breakdown be provided to the committee.

After discussion, the committee approved the Green Acres Landscaping payment application No. 10, RGB 6683-5, not to exceed $84,117.09. The motion was made, seconded and approved during the meeting record.

The committee also discussed timing for completing remaining punch-list items; Racine estimated much of that work will be completed when weather allows, roughly between March and April 15. Committee members asked staff to provide the full punch list to the committee for tracking.

The committee moved on after the vote; no further formal action on the Boyle project timeline was recorded at the meeting.

Ending: Committee members said they will follow up with requests for the concession-building breakdown and the full landscaping change-order detail at a future meeting or via supplemental packet materials.