Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Facilities topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Wakefield facilities report: new sod at Walton, Galvin solar near completion, high school glazing progressing
Summary
Facilities staff reported multiple summer capital projects — new electrical services, 15,000 sq. ft. of Black Beauty sod and irrigation at Walton, auditorium carpet replacement at Galvin, a near-complete solar hookup at Galvin pending one part, and steady progress on the new high school exterior.
Tim O’Brien, who provided the committee’s facilities update, outlined this summer’s capital work and the status of ongoing construction.
O’Brien said the district completed new 600-amp electrical services at Greenwood and Doyle schools and installed about 15,000 square feet of Black Beauty sod with a new irrigation system at the Walton School. “This is not a band aid fix. This is a complete replacement,” he said, describing the turf and irrigation work as long-term improvements intended to reduce dust brought into buildings and to give students a safer play surface.
The district also replaced worn auditorium carpet at Galvin Middle School with Tarkett product funded from the building rental revolving account, O’Brien said, and credited Amanda Marcotti for helping keep rentals revenue flowing that supports such reinvestments.
On building systems and project management, O’Brien said the Galvin solar array’s materials have been installed and the contractor is awaiting one piece of equipment to make the final electrical connection so the panels can begin generating electricity. “We are at the end of the road,” he said, noting the project is managed by the town Department of Public Works and that DPW staff have been keeping the schools informed.
Members asked technical and scheduling questions. Committee member Steven Ingalls asked whether the district’s new ticketing system, Incident IQ, can track outsourced work, vendors and labor costs; O’Brien said the system includes that functionality, and staff are receiving training to use it for labor, costs and ticket assignment. On the planned Farm Street/Hemlock roadway realignment tied to the new high school, O’Brien said that major work is expected toward the end of the overall construction project and would likely occur in summer months after students have moved into the new building.
O’Brien also described construction milestones at the new Wakefield Memorial High School: brick installation is underway, glazing is being installed, the concrete deck is complete and interior framing for central office has begun. He emphasized student safety while construction continues during drop-off and pickup.
The committee did not take any formal action on facilities projects during the meeting; members requested follow-up on the roadway schedule and thanked facilities and DPW staff for the summer work.
