Middletown School Committee approves construction bid recommendations and alternates to hold or reject

The Middletown School Committee voted unanimously at a special meeting to approve a suite of recommended contracts and related alternates for ongoing school construction work, the committee announced during a session that began at 2:00 p.m.

The approvals covered bid awards recommended by project managers Bentley, Gilbane and Colliers for work including rough carpentry, flooring, mechanical systems, masonry, overhead coiling doors, food service equipment and electrical systems. Committee members present — Vice Chair Wendy Heaney, Amy Holden and Theresa Vango — moved and seconded each recommendation and voiced assent on each recorded vote.

The most immediately budget-sensitive approvals included an electrical contract award to Aladdin Electrical for $19,462,522, about $4.37 million above the project’s 60% construction document (CD) budget of $15,087,978; and a flooring award to Debnor Flooring that raised the RTA approval total to $654,000, about $189,000 over its 60% CD budget of $465,000. By contrast, the mechanical award to ESI HVAC was reported at $479,400, roughly $111,612 below the 60% CD budget of $591,012.

Colliers and the construction managers recommended holding several alternates for later consideration — frequently items described as “phase 1 alternate number 3, renovate toilet room,” and “phase 2 alternate number 4, elevator” — and in some cases rejecting alternates that were not applicable to the specific bid package.

Votes at a glance: - Rough carpentry (building committee recommendation): award to Custom Drywall for $546,800 plus an owners allowance of $50,000; total RTA approval $596,800 (reported $6,800 above the 60% CD budgeted amount of $590,000). Committee held phase 1 alternate 1 (all framing and drywall scope for roof work and rain leader enclosures) for $157,300; held phase 1 alternate 3 (renovate toilet room) for $29,800; held phase 2 alternate 4 (elevator) for $34,900. Motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved (unanimous). - Flooring: award to Debnor Flooring for $383,000 plus owners allowances totaling $271,000 (allowance 1 moisture mitigation $155,050; allowance 2 major floor prep up to 1/4-inch $115,950); total RTA approval $654,000 (reported $189,000 above 60% CD budget of $465,000). Committee held phase 1 alternate 3 (renovate toilet room) for $60,000 and phase 2 alternate 4 (elevator) for $5,000. Motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved (unanimous). - Mechanical: award to ESI HVAC for $479,400 (reported $111,612 under 60% CD budget of $591,012). Colliers recommended holding phase 1 alternate 3 (renovate toilet room; amount in transcript not specified), phase 2 alternate 1 (remove old RTUs) for $22,700, and phase 2 alternate 4 (elevator) for $16,350. Motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved (unanimous). - Masonry: award to Keenan Masonry for $265,362 plus an owners allowance of $15,000 for glazed block; total RTA approval $280,362. Colliers recommended holding phase 1 alternate 3 (renovate toilet room) for $32,000 and phase 2 alternate 4 (elevator) for $50,000. Motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved (unanimous). - Overhead coiling doors (middle/high school package): award to Wilco Sales and Services for $80,600 (reported $32,917 above the 60% CD budget of $47,483). Gilbane and Colliers recommended rejecting alternates 1 through 10 as not applicable. Motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved (unanimous). - Food service equipment: award to Johnson Lancaster and Associates, Inc. for $1,195,800 (reported $151,387 under the 60% CD budget of $1,347,187). Colliers recommended holding alternate 11 (provide alternate equipment per submission; credit $50,628). Alternates 1–10 were reported as not applicable. Motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved (unanimous). - Electrical: award to Aladdin Electrical for $19,462,522 (reported $4,374,544 above the 60% CD budget of $15,087,978). Colliers recommended holding alternates 1, 2, 3 and 7; rejecting alternates 4, 5, 6, 8 and 10; and accepting alternate 9 (provide hoistway and elevator at middle school in lieu of storage rooms) for $15,000. Motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved (unanimous).

Context and next steps: The approvals implement recommendations from the building committee and the project managers (Bentley, Gilbane and Colliers). The committee recorded motions and seconds for each recommendation and announced each motion as passed. Several alternates were specifically held for later authorization or rejected where not applicable; the committee did not adopt any new scope changes in the meeting itself. Financial comparisons in the meeting were presented against each package’s 60% CD budget as reported by the construction managers. The transcript did not specify which committee member moved or seconded each individual motion, and the transcript did not show a roll-call vote; the meeting record shows collective vocal approval on each motion.

The meeting adjourned at 2:08 p.m.