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Select Board approves weekend noise‑bylaw waiver for Brookline High School tunnel repairs
Summary
After a public hearing with no speakers, the Select Board granted a waiver for Saturday construction at Brookline High School so contractors can complete internal and exterior waterproofing and concrete repair work by an August deadline.
The Select Board voted unanimously July 1 to grant a noise‑bylaw waiver allowing contractors to perform Saturday work on a tunnel area at Brookline High School that the town says requires urgent concrete and waterproofing repairs.
Lafayette, the project presenter, told the board the work addresses longstanding water infiltration that has corroded rebar and caused concrete spalling in a basement corridor connecting older and newer sections of the school. “The water is seeping through… the rebar is being exposed,” he said, describing removal of degraded concrete, replacement of pipes and application of a waterproof vapor barrier.
Because the interior work requires partial removal of mechanical piping and will temporarily interrupt HVAC and potable water systems for the closed school, the contractor asked for Saturday hours to ensure crews can finish the outside pours and weather‑sensitive work before school reopens. Lafayette said the contractor is requesting early Saturday starts (7 a.m.) on specific July dates and asked the board to approve a contingency Saturday on July 26 if weather requires it. He noted the work must finish by Aug. 15 to allow testing and refilling of systems.
The Select Board opened a public hearing; no members of the public spoke. Board members asked whether the requested weekends overlapped with another noise‑waiver project at the same building; Lafayette said the roof project and the tunnel project are separate but that crews were coordinating to avoid conflicts. The materials distributed to abutters included a contractor flyer that noted the 7 a.m. start.
After the hearing, Chair Bernard Green moved approval of the waiver and board members voted aye. The motion authorized weekend work for the dates listed on the waiver request; the approved motion did not establish any additional mitigation measures in the public record beyond the standard notice to abutters and the contractor’s contact information.
Because the work is time‑sensitive and weather dependent, the contractor said it may use the contingency Saturday if needed; the board approved the blanket waiver for the listed weekend dates rather than requiring the contractor to return for each use of Saturday hours.
No members of the public registered comments during the hearing. The town packet included photos showing rusted rebar, spalled concrete and containment measures in place for asbestos abatement; project representatives said containment and proper disposal procedures are in effect for hazardous materials discovered on site.
