Board withholds payment to consultant amid dispute over school renovation contract scope
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Summary
The board discussed holding payment to engineering firm Fuss & O'Neil while members seek clarity on whether billed construction-administration services were covered by the original design contract; Selectman Jeff said he will not sign the check until the boards agree on the scope and a tri-board meeting was requested.
Andover officials held discussion and declined to immediately release remaining consultant fees to Fuss & O'Neil for the AES school bathroom renovation, citing disagreement about whether the work billed was included in the original design contract.
Selectman Jeff (referenced in the public record during the meeting) told the Board of Finance he would not sign a check for the outstanding balance until the committee, the Board of Finance and the Board of Education agreed on the project approach and verified that the consultant’s invoice matched contracted services. Board members described the original engagement as a design contract (quoted approvals in the $48,600 range were mentioned in the meeting), but some participants said the consultant had moved into construction-administration-type work without an amended, fully executed contract.
The transcript records different contract totals cited by participants: one speaker referenced a $58,000 overall figure while others cited $48,600 or amounts paid to date in the low $40,000s. Fuss & O'Neil has been paid a majority of what was presented, leaving a remaining unpaid balance referenced in discussion (figures discussed ranged between about $3,000 and $8,000 depending on which total was used). The board chair asked staff to locate the signed authorization documents; the transcript includes a copy of an authorization that appears to have a "signed 01/02/2025" date which was forwarded to finance members during the meeting.
Board members urged a joint meeting among the Board of Finance, Board of Selectmen and Board of Education to reconcile scope, invoices and next steps before any final payment is released. Fuss & O'Neil representatives were reported to be in regular contact with the project lead; the superintendent said she believed the firm had performed comparable work to what they billed. The Selectman said he would not sign the check until the parties agreed on process and had an auditable paper trail.
Next steps: Board staff will circulate the signed authorization and the parties will attempt to schedule a tri-board meeting to review scope, invoices, and any required contract amendments.