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Westford library construction marks milestones as trustees review payments and contingency
Summary
Project managers told trustees the steel erection is complete, windows are on site and a Board of Library Commissioners disbursement is pending; the boards approved monthly warrants and staff reported about 12% contingency use to date.
Westford trustees and the town building committee heard a construction and financial update on June 1 as the new library moves from shell to fit-out and staff sought routine approvals for monthly payments.
Jennifer Shore, a project presenter, told the joint meeting the steel erection for the addition is complete and that crews have finished most interior concrete work, installed roof trusses and are progressing with electrical conduit, under-slab work and ductwork. She said windows and storefront materials are on site and that the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners conducted a site visit tied to scheduled grant payments.
“The steel erection is actually complete,” Shore said, adding that teams are wrapping up detailing work and coordinating multiple trades that can work in parallel now that structural work is finished.
Ellen, the board’s financial presenter, said the project submitted for disbursement number four from the Board of Library Commissioners and that $1,570,399 will be wired to the town; staff planned an advance request for $1 million for the next disbursement, leaving a partial $570,399 payment to fall into FY27. Ellen also said an escalation grant of $829,000 is scheduled to take effect in July 2027.
The joint committee discussed procurement and operational preparations for opening — including AV procurement, security signage, updated job descriptions and an emergency manual — and staff said they will publish a month-by-month timeline for operational readiness.
On project controls, Ellen and Shore reported change orders of roughly $400,000 processed to date and that contingency usage stood near 12 percent. Shore and the design/OPM teams said they are reviewing other change orders, including several above the $15,000 threshold that were removed from the current agenda so staff could complete additional due diligence.
“The design product has not been diminished,” a CHA representative said, noting that while change orders have been required, they reflect work-arounds and field revisions rather than cuts to the program or scope.
The boards approved routine financial items on the agenda, and staff said they will return to present additional change orders after further review. The committee also agreed to post a brief special meeting for June 8 to approve six purchase orders and a small contingency transfer for commissioning work.
The Town Building Committee adjourned; the trustees remained on the call for further business.
