Norwich building committee approves change orders and contract awards; Teachers Middle School remains over grant estimate

The Norwich Building Committee met and approved a series of construction change orders and contract awards for Stanton, Greenville, Morardi and Unus Elementary School projects while continuing efforts to bring the Teachers Middle School Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) into alignment with the state grant.

The committee voted unanimously to approve multiple PCOs tied to phase one work, including site and accessibility items at Stanton and Greenville. "We do have a quorum present," the chair said at the start of the meeting, and motions to approve the Stanton package (moved by Sheila Hayes, seconded by Mark Pulos) and the Greenville package passed by voice vote (10–0). The records show the PCOs include accessible playground matting, tree removal and signage changes; tree removal was recorded at $20,475 and signage at $7,955. The transcript contains an unclear figure for the playground matting PCO (transcript text: “$49,75”); committee documents should be consulted for the definitive contract amount.

Contract awards for multiple trade packages were read into the record and authorized for OMG Industries to issue for the Unus/Ankus and Morardi projects. The awards list covered masonry, metals, millwork, roofing, windows and other major trade packages. The chair read the list aloud and members approved the motions by roll call; votes were recorded as ten in favor and none opposed.

The committee also disposed of several bid alternates. Members voted to reject alternates for digital signage and cast-in-place curbing and to accept alternates adding roof screening at select schools. "We will issue a proposal request post-bid to secure better pricing for the same scope," the project manager said regarding the digital sign and curb alternates.

On funding and schedule, staff reported that state payment requests for Greenville (#13) and Stanton (#14) have been submitted and are awaiting state approval. A legislative update reported that draft special legislation for a central office project did not make the final legislative package; Representative Wilson will pursue resubmission in a future session. Staff said, however, that the state has approved an improved reimbursement for Teachers Middle School, with a reported "80% funding" figure noted in the meeting.

The most substantive budget discussion centered on Teachers Middle School. Two independent estimate reconciliations (OMG and Tarbell) were within a few percentage points of each other on construction cost but agreed the project, as currently programmed, is approximately $11 million over the original grant application amount (the grant baseline cited in the meeting: $69,367,713). Project leaders outlined a staged value-management program: re‑benchmarking square footage, reviewing exterior materials and curtainwall quantities, and analyzing MEP and site-access strategies to lower cost without sacrificing essential program elements. Staff said they expect to present a revised GMP and any recommended grant re-submission at an upcoming meeting after further design development.

Logistics items included scheduling a topping-off (beam-signing) ceremony for Greenville and confirming moving and temporary storage plans for the end of the school year; a touch‑a‑truck community event was scheduled for June 8.

Next procedural steps recorded in the meeting: (1) the GMP for the remaining projects will be returned to the committee at its June meeting; (2) staff will continue value‑engineering for Teachers Middle School and coordinate with the district and the state on any revised grant applications; and (3) staff will finalize contract documents and circulate proofs for dedication plaques and signage, with committee sign-off required before production.

Votes at a glance: Stanton PCO approvals — passed (motion: Sheila Hayes; second: Mark Pulos; vote: 10–0). Greenville PCO approvals — passed (motion: Sheila Hayes; second: Mark Pulos; vote: 10–0). Multiple contract awards for Unus/Ankus and Morardi projects — authorized (voice/roll-call approvals, 10–0). Rejection of digital-signage and certain curbing alternates — approved (10–0). Acceptance of roof-screening alternates at select sites — approved (10–0). Electrical breaker PCOs for phase two (Morardi $8,276; Unus $9,677) — approved (10–0).

The committee adjourned after approving the consent agenda and setting a timeline for additional materials to be brought back at the next meeting.