Lakeville committee receives construction update, approves impound-lot work and tile change order cap

The Police Station Building Committee for the Town of Lakeville received a construction progress report and approved two project changes for an on-site impound lot during its Jan. 9 meeting.

Bob, construction representative for the project, told the committee that masonry work is complete, electricians were installing wiring and outlet boxes, and plumbing subcontractor Le Pan Mechanical was installing rough plumbing. He said Brunswick Building Systems and AP Whitaker had installed exterior windows and doors, interior metal stud insulation was about 90% complete, overhead doors were installed, and the roof was about 95% finished. "The trades are moving well," Bob said, adding that exterior trim and siding preparation was underway and much of that work is being preassembled off-site.

The committee voted to accept two project change orders (PCOs) to create an on-site impound area: PCO 18 R1 for furnish-and-install impound fencing, gates and hardware, and PCO 18 R2 for grading and gravel work. The motion to "accept PCO 18 r 1 and PCO 18 r 2 in the amounts of $22,262.56 and $16,645.47, respectively" carried unanimously. The committee did not give AP Whitaker direction to proceed on any other PCOs at the meeting.

Chief (Police Chief) reported the town had received a letter from the district attorney's office stating the town could no longer send impounded vehicles to the state police for storage and, as a result, the town must hold impounded vehicles locally in circumstances that arise. "We'd have to leave it right in the parking lot, probably," the chief said when asked what would happen without an impound lot. The committee said the impound-lot work responds to that operational change.

Brian, providing the monthly contract summary, reviewed pending change orders and owner-vendor work. He reported AP Whitaker submitted change proposals for the impound-lot fencing and for grading and gravel. He also reviewed a pending $13,003.85 conduit proposal to cut and patch the recently paved park entrance drive for a fiber run and noted an alternative "mole" (horizontal bore) option came in about $7,000 higher at roughly $20,000. Committee members agreed to ask the Park Commission for input on whether to trench-and-patch or directional-bore under the drive and to return with the Park Commission's preference before directing the contractor.

The committee discussed a suspended tile product for the male and female locker rooms: the originally specified blue tile was discontinued and a substitute blue tile would incur a manufacturer lead time of about 16 weeks and an upcharge. Brian said the contractor estimated a markup such that the change order would be roughly $6,000 (contractor markup included). Committee members discussed switching to a gray tile to avoid the extra cost and lead time but noted color and coordinated sizes (large-format floor tile plus small-format wet-area tile and base) complicate substitution. The committee voted to authorize AP Whitaker to proceed with the substitute blue tile "not to exceed $6,500." The motion carried unanimously.

The committee approved invoices as presented in the meeting packet. The chair moved to approve construction, architect/engineering, owner's project manager and material-testing invoices summarized at the meeting; the motion carried unanimously.

Members also discussed landscaping and irrigation ahead of loam-and-seed work this spring. Brian said the bids had assumed loam-and-seed but the committee might prefer targeted mulch beds, trees or shrubs and an irrigation plan. Town members discussed three water options for irrigation: connection to city water, a shallow well, or an arrangement with the adjacent park (including cooperating with the park on pump upgrades). Committee members asked staff to seek proposals from local landscapers and to raise the conduit/fiber question with the Park Commission to preserve the recently paved drive.

The committee raised operational-maintenance issues for the new building, including snow clearing, janitorial services and whether ongoing maintenance would be a town-employed function or remain contracted. Frank and others urged the committee to raise staffing and custodial issues with the Board of Selectmen to ensure the next fiscal-year budget accounts for additional maintenance needs. "The ongoing cost of maintaining the building is definitely something that we need to consider," a committee member said, noting the issue affects next year’s budget.

Other items: the committee discussed the building plaque and road sign design, owner-vendor selections (W. B. Mason for furniture and shelving was noted), and a site walk-through for the committee planned in about two to three weeks once trip hazards are addressed. The committee set its next meeting for Feb. 6 and adjourned.

Votes at a glance - Approve meeting minutes from Dec. 5, 2018 — motion carried (unanimous); mover/second not specified in the transcript. - Accept PCO 18 R1 (impound fencing, gates and hardware) and PCO 18 R2 (grading and gravel for impound lot) — motion to "accept PCO 18 r 1 and PCO 18 r 2 in the amounts of $22,262.56 and $16,645.47, respectively" carried (unanimous). - Authorize AP Whitaker to proceed with substitute blue locker-room tile, not to exceed $6,500 — motion carried (unanimous). - Approve invoices as presented (construction, architect/engineer, owner's project manager, material testing) — motion carried (unanimous).

The committee distinguished discussion items (fiber routing method, landscaping scope, maintenance staffing) from formal actions (PCOs, tile authorization, invoice approvals). Several items — including the fiber bore vs. cut-and-patch and final landscape design and irrigation approach — were left for follow-up with the Park Commission or for staff to return with cost estimates.