Council reconvenes advisory committee to review value-engineering for Windham Middle School community center plan

The Windham Town Council on June 3 approved reconvening the Windham Middle School repurposed advisory committee to review value-engineering cost estimates for a proposed conversion of the middle school into a community center (agenda item 26126).

Councilor Morrison introduced the item and cited council rules requiring council action to change certain meeting dates and reconvene the committee. The council noted that Councilors Reiner, Terry, and Cook are members of the advisory committee and will be asked to meet with staff.

The Town Manager told the council that the project architect and project manager returned guaranteed maximum prices from multiple construction disciplines and that those numbers “warrant a look from the committee to look at the potential for value engineering those numbers, to try to come in with a cost that may be agreeable.” He said the goal is to have public-hearing-ready materials for the July council meeting and that scheduling will be tight but feasible.

Councilors moved and seconded consideration of the item; the council voted unanimously to direct staff to reconvene the three-member advisory committee, schedule and advertise a committee meeting, and bring recommendations back to the council in time for the July public hearing.

The manager said he will coordinate scheduling with Councilors Reiner, Terry, and Cook and that the committee will meet to review options for cost reduction and project scope. No formal cost reductions or final decisions were made at the special meeting; the action was to reconvene the advisory committee for further review.