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Council approves up to $15,550 change order for Rock Avenue demolition asbestos removal
Summary
Burrillville council approved an authorization to pay up to $15,550 in additional change-order costs for asbestos removal and hauling on the Rock Avenue demolition project after contractors found collapsed roof conditions that made the original asbestos remediation plan unsafe and altered disposal requirements.
The Burrillville Town Council on July 9 authorized a change order of up to $15,550 to cover additional asbestos remediation and hazardous-material disposal costs at the Rock Avenue demolition site after contractors reported a partial roof collapse that prevented the planned in-place asbestos removal.
Town staff said the original contract price for demolition included a $10,000 asbestos-remediation allowance. On June 20 contractors submitted a report confirming asbestos in multiple building materials (flooring, furnace components, chimney flues, wall coverings and some bathroom and kitchen areas). When crews mobilized they found the roof had collapsed through the second floor, making safe, targeted abatement impossible. Staff said that required treating the entire structure and loads as hazardous material and sealing and hauling the material under hazardous-waste protocols, which added to disposal costs.
Contractors provided a change-order estimate that staff described in the meeting as raising asbestos-related disposal costs to roughly $25,000; after applying the original $10,000 asbestos allowance the net additional cost to the town was presented as $15,550. The building official said work was otherwise stopped for safety reasons; the site is unsecured and staff expressed concern about public access and first-responders. The town has a lien on the property; staff said the owner has not responded and condemnation options had previously been pursued.
Councilor Bedell moved to approve the change order up to $15,550 to be charged to major capital account fund number 3820 with the condition that the building official verify whether any further credit from the contractor is available for disposal costs. The motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.
The council authorized staff to proceed with demolition work under the revised hazardous-material handling protocol and to pursue lien and tax-sale remedies as appropriate; the building official was asked to clarify with the contractor whether any credit applies to disposal fees.
Why it matters: The change-order approval allows the town to remove an unsafe structure and address an immediate public-safety concern, but it increases the town's outlay for the demolition project pending any contractor credit or owner reimbursement.
