Select Board disputes railing shop drawings; seeks original design at no extra cost

The Select Board reviewed newly delivered railings for the town hall front stairs after photos and shop drawings showed a different configuration than the plan the board had previously approved. Highway Agent Tom Rowan told the board the railings the contractor delivered did not match the approved shop drawing and that correcting the discrepancy could trigger a change order of about $5,000 if the board requested a redesigned finish.

“If we agree with that rendition that they sent to the manufacturer, it's not gonna cost us a dime,” Rowan said, referring to the version the contractor produced. He added that the railings that matched the board’s approved drawing should be supplied at no additional cost because they were the items the board approved: “If they change it to the original design, we can fight that back.”

Board members said they had three documents: the board-approved drawing, a conceptual example, and the manufacturer’s shop drawing, and that the manufacturer’s produced railings did not match the document the board had approved. Select Board Chair Glenn Koppelman and members agreed they expected the railings to match the board-approved shop drawing and not to incur additional costs for that correction.

Board members also discussed ADA clearance and installation details; Rowan noted that the top rail already met ADA specifications but expressed concern about the bottom rail placement and the “lamb’s ear” design extending beyond the step. Koppelman asked staff to provide the original approved drawing and to require the contractor to bring the railings into alignment with that drawing before final painting or permanent installation.

The board did not record a formal roll-call vote on change orders in this discussion but expressed consensus to pursue the original approved design without additional town expense and directed staff to negotiate with the contractor accordingly.