Board approves elevator projects for Driggs and Wilson; members press for liquidated‑damages clauses
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Summary
The board approved project manuals and cost estimates to install elevators at Driggs and Wilson schools and discussed timelines, procurement steps and adding liquidated‑damages or progress‑payment terms to contracts to discourage delays.
The Waterbury Board of Education approved project manuals and professional cost estimates for elevator projects at Driggs and Woodrow Wilson schools on Jan. 15 and discussed procurement timelines and contract safeguards.
Vice President Latoya Ireland presented the project manuals and said the elevator work has been in planning for more than a year under new Department of Administrative Services (DAS) requirements. Staff said they hope to begin groundbreaking in June, with final approvals and an RFP process in late February or March.
Commissioners pressed staff to include enforceable schedule protections. "When we sign this contract with whoever we do, I'm assuming both elevators are external to the building," one commissioner said, later adding: "If they sign up to a timeline and they do not beat it, I want this contract to have some financial penalties." Another commissioner urged progress payments tied to milestones as a way to ensure timely completion.
Staff noted that elevator components and permitting steps can create long lead times and that the projects will go to the Board of Aldermen for contract approval when contracts are ready to sign. Commissioners also noted the projects are largely education‑budget funded and that the district expects 79% reimbursement on the elevator work from state sources.
The board approved the project manuals for the referenced DAS projects by voice vote and moved on to other business.
