Board approves Somerville High School renovation contract after bidder concerns; attorney and staff cite state procurement rules
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Summary
After public comments flagged Department of Labor complaints against the low bidder, the Somerville Board of Education voted to approve the high-school renovation contract, with staff and the board attorney saying the low bidder met legal requirements and the district’s construction manager will provide on-site oversight.
A resident urged the Somerville Board of Education to reject a low bid for renovations at Somerville High School, saying the contractor has several recent Department of Labor complaints. After discussion and legal review, the board voted to approve the renovation contract.
"This is the contractor who's gonna avoid the bid...they have over 20 pages of actual cited violations with the Department of Labor since just 2018," said Matt Eisler, who described recent enforcement actions and unpaid wages he said were associated with the bidder. Eisler urged the board to throw out the bid, require a project labor agreement and prioritize local workers.
Board staff and legal counsel responded that public procurement law requires the district to accept the lowest responsible bidder unless a statutory ground for rejection exists. The business administrator said the board attorney reviewed the bid and determined there were no fatal legal defects and that the bidder was a "responsible" and responsive low bidder. Board members also said the district’s construction manager — recently approved by the board — will be on-site and provide an additional layer of oversight.
Board members discussed prevailing-wage enforcement; staff said the state reviews prevailing-wage documentation and the district will be notified if the state identifies issues. The board's options if a contractor fails to perform could include pursuing the contractor’s bond and, if necessary, replacing the contractor after coordination with the surety, though speakers warned that insurance and bonding processes can be lengthy and may complicate replacement.
The board called the roll and approved the renovation contract by recorded vote; the meeting transcript records eight yes votes and one abstention. The Chair thanked the public commenters for raising concerns and said the board will monitor the project closely.
The contract award moves forward; the construction manager and district staff will oversee compliance and prevailing-wage documentation as the project proceeds.
