Marblehead facilities subcommittee members said they found evidence this month that the recently replaced roof on a section of Veterans Middle School is failing, and they ordered an on‑site inspection as they weigh whether to require a full replacement.

Committee members described how rainwater that drained from an upper roof traveled through weep holes to a lower roof and soaked insulation inside the building. The contractor awarded the job (named in the transcript as 'Pacqon' or variants) had subcontracted the actual roofing. An envelope expert who inspected the work raised concerns about the gauge of metal coping and the use of silicone caulking where roofing‑grade materials would typically be specified.

The committee said the district has not paid the contractor for the work and emphasized its leverage: representatives said they expect the contractor to "make it right" before any payment is released. Members also said the initial subcontractor was dismissed, a second crew peeled back roofing to investigate the leakage path, and insurance adjusters and the town building commissioner have visited the site.

The contractor has proposed bringing a third‑party independent engineer to assess whether the entire roof must be removed or if localized repairs would suffice. Several committee members expressed concern that a contractor‑sponsored third party could lack independence and urged caution about allowing the contractor’s choice of expert to determine remedy if town officials disagree. "We haven't paid you a dime yet, and we have no intention of paying you until this is right," one member said.

Members argued the most reliable long‑term fix may be to strip and replace the lower roof — and possibly the upper section — rather than patching around wet insulation. They noted risks that cutting into a new roof and patching it could complicate or void a manufacturer's warranty, and they asked the manufacturer to inspect.

The committee scheduled an on‑site inspection with a community expert (Mark Cleveland) and district staff for 2:30 p.m. the same day to gather further information and report back. Members said operational decisions about remediation may be handled by the superintendent or by staff after the inspection and that they will brief the full school committee about next steps.

No formal replacement decision was made at the meeting; the committee framed the immediate objective as fact‑gathering and negotiation to secure an acceptable remedy.

The committee adjourned at 09:46 a.m.