Colin, the project owner’s representative, told the Middletown School Building Committee on Jan. 14 that construction of the new middle–high school is progressing on schedule and on budget while the team continues to manage potential change orders and safety concerns.

Colin said the monthly Gilbane report shows 0 recordable injuries for the reporting period and that project teams emphasize safety at weekly meetings. He added that after the reporting period there was one near miss in which a crane tipped slightly while being moved; the crane contractor Imperator, working through Shepherd Steel, and Gilbane responded immediately, replaced the equipment and removed the damaged crane for service. “No injuries,” Colin said; an investigation is ongoing.

Why it matters: safety incidents and near misses can affect schedule and costs; the committee was informed of both the incident and the contractor response, and staff are pursuing root‑cause analysis before returning to full operations.

Colin also summarized project controls: 185 submittals and 17 design RFIs were under review at the time of the report, and potential change orders (PCOs) identified in the snapshot totaled about $598,788, which would be funded from the owner’s contingency. He explained the PCO approval flow—design team to Colliers to Sean Brown (or Billy Niemeyer where authorizations apply)—and said amounts above preset signing thresholds must be presented to the town council.

On schedule and quality, Colin said the team completed the first concrete slab placement the day before the meeting and would pour approximately 200 cubic yards for a stormwater detention slab across two days. Prime Consulting is providing third‑party inspection, and early checks show good floor flatness and levelness.

Colin highlighted procurement and inclusion goals, reporting the project has exceeded the initial 7.5% MBE/WBE participation target and is at 15.3% combined participation to date. He also noted that detailed PCO descriptions are tracked in RFIs and email correspondence and therefore are not fully enumerated in the summarized dashboard.

What comes next: Gilbane will request a noise variance for future concrete placements at the town council meeting, and staff will report follow‑up once the crane investigation and any related corrective actions are complete.