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Board seeks Fuss & O'Neal contract, holds school design invoices pending review
Summary
After questions about the scope and deliverables for the school bathroom renovation, the Andover Board of Finance voted to request the Fuss & O'Neal contract and design documents and directed that outstanding invoices be held until the town and boards have a chance to review final deliverables.
The Andover Board of Finance voted Dec. 17 to request the contract and design deliverables from Fuss & O'Neal and to delay payment of several outstanding invoices for the school bathroom renovation until the documents are reviewed.
First Selectman and board chair Robert said the town has been asked to cut checks from a school capital fund but that some board members have not seen final stamped drawings or clear evidence the contracted scope was completed. "I asked for those checks to be held up," said Jeff McGuire, a selectmen member supporting the hold, explaining that several invoices had been presented to the treasurer and he wanted clarity before authorizing payment. "If I don't have stamped drawings, what good is it?"
Board of Education representatives and members of the project committee maintain the design documents exist and contend several deliverables already provided justify payment. Committee member Bill said he has seen drawings and specifications but added he would not, as a non-contractor, independently certify the plans without review by the subcommittee's technical members.
The board approved a motion to request the complete contract and the design documents from Fuss & O'Neal and asked the town administration to circulate those files to both boards. The board chair also said he would seek to schedule an open meeting with Fuss & O'Neal so members of the public and all three local boards can see what work has been done and what remains.
The vote came after a lengthy discussion about whether the project was handled as a design–build procurement or through an RFP process, a point of contention between some selectmen and school officials. "The school says they received what they needed; I need to see it for the community," McGuire said.
The board emphasized vendors will be paid once the required confirmations are in place and requested the town treasurer provide a clear accounting of past payments from the capital fund. The board chair said he will ask Superintendent Valerie to resend the documents to his town email and that the administration will share them with finance members once provided.
Next steps: the board will publish the requested contract and drawings when received and attempt to convene a joint, public review with Fuss & O'Neal in early January.
