Walpole middle-school project team mobilizes site; committee approves $738,045.13 in vendor invoices

WALPOLE, Mass. — Construction crews for the Walpole middle-school project mobilized on site this week and began perimeter fencing, erosion controls and early site work, committee members said, and the School Building Committee voted to approve the February vendor invoice package totaling $738,045.13.

The project contractor Fontaine began work “yesterday, getting some of the temp fencing established … really gonna be the next couple weeks, it'll be some site demo, erosion controls around the perimeter, some site drainage,” Griffin, a Fontaine representative, said. He said crews would soon begin underground conduit work and that bullpen installation at the varsity field is scheduled about a month from now as a separate contract item.

The committee emphasized coordination with spring athletics. A project staff member said varsity baseball will continue to practice on the site and that home games on that field will start after May 1; junior varsity baseball and some JV softball will remain off-site. Committee members also said community soccer programs will be scheduled on the field on weekends.

“I will not vote in favor of the vendor invoice package if it includes any field work,” committee member Jack Fisher said during discussion, asking that field-related costs be separated from the regular vendor package. The invoice package presented for approval included standard vendor invoices and Fontaine’s recommendation of $441,653; the committee approved the full February package by recorded vote.

The committee heard a status update on state reimbursements from the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA). Kate, a staff member responsible for vendor invoices and MSBA communications, summarized the MSBA practice: “once we hit … 95% of the estimated grant for reimbursable costs, the MSBA holds the final 5%,” and the project is currently just under 93% of reimbursable costs paid. She said the final reimbursement typically occurs after a closeout process and audit. Project staff estimated the closeout and final MSBA payment process can take about two to three years after the final vendor invoices are paid and the closeout begins.

The committee also agreed to amend prior meeting minutes to add a clarification that field use for physical education was discussed and to return to vote on the revised minutes at the next meeting. The committee set the next meeting for April 15, with the middle-school meeting at 6:30 p.m. and the high-school meeting to follow at 7 p.m., scheduled on a Tuesday when the select board is not meeting.

The vendor invoice vote and the project mobilization update were the principal substantive items on a relatively short agenda; there were no other formal motions or new contracts presented at the March 18 meeting.