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Select Board reviews $1.02M renovation estimate for 1856 building, approves $18,674 shared‑savings payment to contractor
Summary
Board members questioned line‑item allowances in a contractor estimate that lists a total of $1,021,540, requested a clearer breakdown of insulation, plumbing and electrical work for phase‑one versus phase‑two, and voted to approve requisition 29 — a shared‑savings payment of $18,674.19 to Nickerson.
Select Board members spent substantial time reviewing a contractor estimate for renovation work on the town’s historic 1856 building and asked the contractor for better line‑item detail before using the figures for grants or committing to further spending.
A contractor estimate circulated at the meeting listed a total of $1,021,540 for completion of the work. Board members noted the transcript records a quoted “subtotal” figure as “$846,67,” which appears truncated in the circulated notes, and requested a corrected, granular breakdown of electrical, insulation (wall versus assembly‑space ceiling) and plumbing allowances.
Architect Andrew (identified in the meeting as the project architect) highlighted a likely reason the insulation figure appeared large: insulating the assembly‑space ceiling requires special access and scaffolding to reach the rafters. “It wasn’t so much they weren’t going to do it right off… it is going to be a relatively expensive area to replace all of that blown‑in insulation,” Andrew said, explaining cost drivers.
Members questioned certain allowances in the quote: a Division 22 plumbing line and an allowance described in the materials as covering multiple fixtures drew scrutiny as higher than expected for the number of sinks and toilets planned. The group asked the contractor to break out the plumbing estimate and explain why the allowance was set at the stated level.
On procurement business, the board considered requisition 29, described in the meeting as shared‑savings to contractor Nickerson in the amount of $18,674.19 for work and related site clearing. A motion to approve that payment was made, seconded and approved by voice vote. The meeting record does not list a roll‑call breakdown for the vote.
Next steps: the board asked staff and the architect to request a revised, line‑item quote that separates insulation above the assembly space from other insulation, clarifies which electrical work is included in phase‑one rough‑in versus later phases, and provides plumbing detail. Members also agreed to have Paul provide a written note describing the period‑style window decisions to support possible National Register documentation for the Harry Cochran portion of the structure.
The board closed the item agreeing to send a short, precise set of questions to the contractor and to compare the new quote to the original phase‑one scope previously prepared so members can identify which items remain to finish a usable phase‑one.
