Committee approves limited asbestos remediation at library site, authorizes $18,000 not-to-exceed PCO

The joint Permanent Town Building Committee and Library Trustees voted to approve a not-to-exceed $18,000 change order (PCO 82) to address asbestos-containing insulation adhesive discovered during excavation at the library project, the boards said at their June 22 meeting.

Jennifer, a town staff member leading the project presentation, told the committee that testing found asbestos in the adhesive between masonry and a 1980s rigid insulation board exposed during excavation. She presented three options: full remediation for more than $200,000 with a six- to eight-week delay; remediation of all exposed areas on the west side for $32,971 and roughly 15 days of schedule impact; or a limited approach to remove only disturbed, friable material and encapsulate the remainder, not to exceed $18,000 and adding about five days to the schedule.

The design team and contractor Hutter recommended the limited remediation option, which the town's environmental consultant, Universal Environmental Consultants (UEC), described as EPA-compliant so long as undisturbed asbestos-containing material remained sealed and not further disturbed. "Our consultant's opinion was that leaving undisturbed material in place is acceptable until building demolition, which is not part of this scope," Jennifer said.

Committee members pressed for clarity on health and safety controls, methods and downstream cost risk. Jim Ziggowitz asked for a plain-language description of remediation steps and was told specialized personnel and containment would be used where material needs removal. Jean urged tenting and containment where removal is required. Tom and others raised concerns that later trades (masonry, roofing, conduit) could be impeded by ongoing encroachment or by future additional remediation.

Several members cautioned that the approved $18,000 figure covers only the initial limited scope and that additional change orders are possible if the field conditions require different work or if coordination with other subcontractors requires it. "We need clear non-negotiable methods in the detail so subcontractors understand they cannot fasten through the existing mastic," one committee member said.

The motion to approve PCO 82 for the limited-remediation option passed on a roll call vote: 12 in favor, 1 opposed (Zawitz). The committee directed staff and the design team to immediately investigate the impact on other trades, to return with a more detailed cost assessment if necessary, and to bring any additional amounts above the $18,000 cap back for committee approval.

The committee noted the trade-offs: limited remediation minimizes schedule delay and cost now but may lead to follow-on PCOs if field conditions or required details (for metal paneling, insulation thickness, or fastening approaches) force further work. Staff said they would provide those follow-on analyses at the next meeting or sooner if needed.