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Board approves $98,979 in library design changes despite contingency gap
Summary
The board unanimously approved two change orders totaling $98,978.84 for the new library—covering lighting, flooring, ceiling clouds and a sound‑proof door—creating a $36,718.84 shortfall in the $75,000 contingency; staff outlined donations and grants to cover costs.
The Aberdeen Town Board approved two change orders for the new library project totaling $98,978.84, a package that would exhaust the project contingency and exceed it by $36,718.84, Assistant Manager Phillip Richardson said during the April 14 work session.
Richardson said prior change orders were limited, and the new requests—which include higher‑capacity HVAC tonnage, lighting upgrades, flooring changes, acoustic ceiling clouds and a sound‑proof door—were produced in response to the library group’s design requests. He said the contingency previously budgeted at $75,000 now leaves approximately $62,260 before the new changes; the two new change orders would push the project beyond that cushion.
Town Manager Paul Sabiston told commissioners the project has received a $500,000 donation, the town has $150,000 available in the current budget, and a $100,000 Cannon Grant is expected, and that the town has already invested roughly $300,000 in the project to date. Commissioners pressed for justification: Commissioner Tim Helms asked whether the flooring changes would deliver $48,000 of value, and Commissioner Teressa Beavers said more explanation was needed on the upgrades.
After discussion about timing and contractor costs, the board voted 5–0 to approve the change orders.
What happens next: staff will implement the approved changes and reconcile project accounting with the donation and grant funding; commissioners asked staff to continue providing cost justification for additional design requests.
