Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Change Order Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Facilities panel debates raising time-sensitive change-order thresholds for Ethan project
Summary
Administration proposed a four-step approval process allowing the director of buildings and grounds to approve change orders up to $10,000, the business manager up to $25,000, and a combined leadership group to approve $25,000.01–$75,000; items over $75,000 would go to the full board. Some committee members opposed raising the threshold from the prior $30,000 full-board requirement.
The administration proposed a four-step approval process for time-sensitive change orders on the Ethan construction project so the district can keep work moving while preserving later board ratification. Under the proposal presented May 12, the director of buildings and grounds would be authorized to approve time-sensitive change orders up to $10,000; the business manager could approve items from $10,000.01 to $25,000; and the facilities chair or vice chair together with the superintendent and board president could approve orders from $25,000.01 to $75,000. Any change orders above $75,000 would be required to appear before the full board before execution.
Administration emphasized that the process applies only to time-sensitive matters — examples cited included unforeseen site conditions, design clarifications necessary because of long lead times, and protective measures required to maintain the construction schedule — and that approvals executed under the expedited steps would be brought back to the board for ratification.
One committee member objected to widening the band of expedited approvals given the prior practice of routing change orders over $30,000 to the full board. "I do not see the need that we should change them from what we had before," the committee member said, arguing that even though Ethan is a larger project, the board should retain tighter pre-execution oversight. Administration replied that the threshold change is intended to be proportional to the larger contract and to apply only for time-sensitive items; administration also repeated that any expedited approvals will be reported to the board for ratification.
