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Middletown committee raises change-order authority and adds alternates as construction progresses
Summary
Committee approved increasing change-order signatory authority and heard that the school construction project is trending under budget and that several alternates (elevator, glazing, generator) were restored.
The Middletown School Committee on June 26 approved a town request to raise the change-order approval threshold for the new school construction project from $25,000 to $100,000, allowing the superintendent and the town administrator to sign off on change orders up to that amount. Committee members said the intent is to avoid paperwork delays that can bog down a large construction program while retaining oversight through the school building committee and town council.
At the meeting the committee’s school building representatives reported that early estimates show the project is roughly $9 million under budget on current estimates. Because of that favorable position, the school building committee voted in related meetings to add back several previously deferred alternates including a second elevator for the Bridal (middle–high) project, window glazing upgrades and a standby generator. Committee members emphasized that some of the funding for those upgrades is expected from new state legislation and non-bond sources so the bond amount will not be the only funding source.
Committee members described the $100,000 threshold as a standard project-management number for large capital projects and said it is intended to keep the project moving without repeatedly bringing small administrative changes back for formal committee votes. Chair Greg Hewitt said the school building committee, town council and school committee oversight remain in place.
Members also discussed the project’s FEMA-shelter implications: the added alternates (notably glazing and generator work) are part of enhancements that will support the facility’s designation as a community shelter.
Staff and committee members asked that contract and change-order documents be included as links in the public agenda or otherwise made available to committee members before votes, and staff committed to providing missing links after the meeting.
