Board approves Summerville High School renovation contract after debate over bidder's labor record
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Summary
The Somerville board voted to award the Summerville High School renovation contract to the lowest responsible bidder despite a public commenter's allegations of Department of Labor violations against that firm; the board attorney had found the bid responsive and a construction manager will oversee the work.
The Somerville Board of Education voted to award the Summerville High School renovation contract to the lowest responsible bidder after discussion about procurement law and public concerns about the contractor's labor record.
Matt Eisler, a Somerville resident who identified himself as a union carpenter, urged the board to reject the apparent low bidder, which he identified as "Billy Contracting," and said the company had multiple Department of Labor complaints for unpaid wages, failure to pay prevailing wage and misclassification. Eisler asked the board to consider a project labor agreement and favor local apprenticeship labor for referendum projects.
In response, the business administrator and the board attorney described the district's procurement process. The board attorney told members he had reviewed the bids and determined the contractor's submission was legally responsive and within available funds. Board staff noted that technical specifications had been developed by district professionals, a construction manager had been engaged to provide on‑site oversight, and state prevailing‑wage requirements apply and are subject to state review.
Board members discussed remedies should problems arise, including following state prevailing‑wage reviews, pursuing contractor bonds and, in extreme cases, removing a contractor from a project and using the bond to replace them. They also noted that some enforcement actions are handled at the state level and that the district would receive notifications of state findings.
After discussion, the board called for a roll‑call vote and approved the contract award. The board president thanked the public commenters and urged follow up with staff for additional details.
The vote followed board counsel's determination that the bid met legal requirements for a lowest responsible bidder; a construction manager will be on site during the project to monitor compliance and progress.
