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Facilities update: roofing/HVAC bids delayed, generator design and vernal-pool constraints stall field work
Summary
Facilities staff told the school committee that roofing and HVAC bids are expected in late July/early August, generator design will proceed, and proposed athletic field work is constrained by newly identified vernal pools that will require conservation and MassDEP review before relocation or redesign.
Facilities staff updated the school committee on multiple capital projects, saying bids for HVAC and roofing work are expected in late July or early August and that work is planned for next summer. An electrical sub-bid returned at about $700,000 over the engineers’ cost estimate while another subcontract came in under budget; the team said they will analyze discrepancies after receiving all bids.
The district plans to put the generator bid out to design in two weeks and expects installation to happen in 2027; engineers have identified placement areas near the front of the building and the project will include a transformer and aesthetic screening.
On the athletic field project, consultants and the Upton conservation commission have identified vernal pools in or near proposed field sites. Staff warned that relocating vernal pools carries regulatory hurdles — including conservation-commission review and MassDEP permitting — and that some alternate field placements previously proposed will not fit due to wetlands and ledge. Beals & Thomas is developing options and the building committee will review updated schematics.
The facilities presenter said that while cost estimates initially ran higher than anticipated, filed sub-bid results and a reassessment of scope are expected to narrow the range. Committee members asked how many bids were solicited and the timeline for written responses; staff said all procurement activity and updates will be posted publicly on the district’s capital update webpage and that detailed bid analyses will be shared once received.
What was decided: Staff will return to the building committee with revised field-site proposals and cost estimates. The committee was also reminded that capital funds are legally designated for capital use and cannot be reprogrammed to operating without a town meeting and vote.
