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Committee hears acoustics report and approves multiple change orders, invoices and payments for Latimer Lane project
Summary
The Public Building Committee reviewed acoustic and commissioning findings for the Latimer Lane school project, approved purchase orders, numerous change orders and invoices including an application for payment of $254,492.16 to the general contractor, and discussed a 2024 state statute change affecting school building committee membership.
The Public Building Committee received construction and acoustical test updates on the Latimer Lane project, approved a series of change orders and invoices, and discussed recent state statutory changes that may affect committee membership for school projects.
Arcadis staff reported construction is continuing in small portions and that project drawings and submittals are largely complete. "As far as the budget goes, we've expended 95.2% of the overall budget and 98.8% of the owner's contingency," an Arcadis representative said, while noting construction progress was "basically almost filled out at 99.1%."
Justin Hopkins, with Tekton Architects, presented acoustic testing results delivered by Kavanagh Tachi. Hopkins said target classroom reverberation times (RT) for smaller classrooms were 0.6 seconds and 0.7 seconds for larger rooms, and "for most of the tests, we are at our target number, 0.6 to 0.7." He identified a single unfurnished room with an RT of 0.8 and said that "once we outfit rooms" the values were meeting targets. Hopkins also reported ambient background noise from airflow was higher than target: "We want to be at 35 decibels. We're at between 40 and 45 in some of our classrooms." Committee members asked for a review of balancing reports and for a mechanical engineer (CES) to attend the next meeting to diagnose airflow and commissioning issues.
The committee approved a purchase order and multiple invoices. A purchase order for 3‑Way Communications (technology integration for access control) dated 02/2025 for $2,062.50 (invoice number 32079) was approved. The committee also approved application for payment number 27 for OMG Industries in the amount of $254,492.16.
The committee considered and approved multiple project change orders (PCOs) and reconciliations. Committee votes on individual PCOs included a contingency draw for electrical demolition in the basement (PCL255R3; contingency draw amount mentioned as $10,278 in the meeting), PCO293R1 for additional sound panels (amount discussed as $6,106), PCO336R2 for column covers in the amount of $15,211, and a series of reconciliation credits returned to owner contingency (including PCO3403 credit $2,002; PCO344 credit $6,688; PCO345 credit $16,423.75; PCO346 credit $3,000; PCO347R1 credit $2,634; PCO348 credit $5,000; PCO349 credit $8,377; and PCO350 credit $556). The committee bundled several reconciliations into a single motion and approved them together.
Other approved items included a PCO to move bookshelves during installation (amount $2,451) and invoices from Arcadis ($5,960), Tekton ($10,289.36), SES ($2,050), and others listed in the meeting packet. Committee members approved the invoices and motions by voice vote.
After the procurement and construction votes, Arcadis advised the committee of a statutory change made during the 2024 legislative session that added membership requirements for school building committees: at least one member with construction experience and the local school board chair or the chair's designee. Committee members noted the town's committee is organized as a public building committee rather than a school building committee and asked the town attorney to confirm whether the committee must change membership or procedures when state grant-funded school projects are involved. The committee agreed to seek legal guidance and, if necessary, adjust committee appointments to conform with grant rules.
The meeting ended after routine business.
Votes at a glance (selected items recorded in the meeting): - Purchase order: 3‑Way Communications, $2,062.50 — approved - Application for Payment #27: OMG Industries, $254,492.16 — approved - PCO PCL255R3 (contingency draw for electrical demolition) — approved (amount discussed in meeting: $10,278) - PCO293R1 (additional sound panels) — approved (amount discussed: $6,106) - PCO336R2 (column covers) — approved ($15,211) - Bundle of reconciliation credits (PCO3403, PCO344, PCO345, PCO346, PCO347R1, PCO348, PCO349, PCO350) — approved
