Fairbank Community Center nears close-out as committee holds retainage over acoustic fixes

Christopher Eberly, project executive at Vertex Inc., told the Permanent Building Committee on July 24 that the Fairbank Community Center project is in the close‑out stage and that most on‑site work is complete but several punch‑list items remain. Eberly identified outstanding tasks including barn door installation, warranty tree repairs, bulb planting and Phase 2 lawn work, and said removal of Phase 2 erosion‑control measures and a silt sack at the Fairbank Road catch basin require permission from the Department of Public Works and the Planning Department.

Eberly presented a budget update showing a projected remaining balance of $168,517. He said the figure accounts for additional known and projected costs such as drainage monitoring and acoustic remediation and includes $5,332.17 previously approved for senior‑center furniture needs.

The committee reviewed several potential change orders that could add cost, including additional striping for electric‑vehicle stations, expansion‑joint masonry repairs to address cracking, and possible reseeding of the north lawn (which may be folded into a larger drainage project). The group also discussed three previously rejected change proposals with contractor Colantonio—CP210 for additional barn‑door hardware, CP217 to replace a downspout at the aquatics filter room corner, and CP208 to correct a ceiling gap at motorized partitions—that remain under negotiation.

Thomas Scarlata, BH+A architect for the project, presented the scope and sequencing for planned acoustic corrections on the upper floor. The work Scarlata described would include removal of existing ceiling tiles, new framing and insulation, drywall installation, painting and incidental electrical work; his firm’s cost estimate includes general conditions and a 7% design contingency. Scarlata said staging of materials and user disruption are considerations. Committee member Jennifer Pincus and Combined Facilities Director Sandra Duran will review BH+A’s recommendations. The committee discussed options of doing all remediation at once—more cost‑effective but disruptive—or starting with high‑priority areas such as restrooms.

Committee discussion also focused on retainage. Eberly said Vertex has conferred with Colantonio and separately with Town Counsel about Colantonio’s responsibility for corrective work; the Town is holding retainage and awaiting Colantonio’s response. The minutes note the held retainage is considerably less than BH+A’s estimate, but do not specify an amount.

Scarlata reported that wording for the Certificate of Substantial Completion has been agreed between BH+A and the Town and has been provided to Colantonio for signature. He said documents for a drainage repair between the gymnasium and the two‑story portion of the building are ready for advertisement and could be available to bidders in approximately two weeks; the proposed work window is Sept. 15–Oct. 15, with lawn seeding expected in the fall. Scarlata added that AV installation work is progressing and that invoices have been forwarded to the Town and will be forwarded to Eberly for the budget update.

The committee did not record a formal vote on contracting direction or on the acoustic scope at this meeting; members agreed to review proposals and continue discussions. The Permanent Building Committee is scheduled to meet next on Sept. 3 at 7 p.m.