Region 4 building committee approves payments, OKs two change orders for John Winthrop Middle School security project

The Region 4 Building Committee for the John Winthrop Middle School security project met remotely on Oct. 16, 2025, and voted to approve consultant invoices, a contractor payment application and two contractor change orders while discussing an as-built survey price that the committee asked the architect to negotiate down.

The committee’s action came after a construction progress report from QA+M Architecture. Erin Benken, QA+M, and architect Rusty Malik told the committee that exterior site work — including seeding, planting, planter boxes and mulching — is complete; concrete and asphalt site work, ADA sidewalks, ramps and grading are finished; canopy framing has passed inspection; lighting and railings are installed; and interior drywall work is underway. Mr. Malik reported the elevator installation is scheduled for Nov. 10 if the vendor’s crews are available; local inspections by the Building Official and Fire Marshal are expected in mid-December, and the state elevator inspection will be scheduled after installation.

Finance consultant Robert Grissom gave a brief budget update, saying the only payments since last month were $9,201.80 to CT Comp for camera hardware and use of contingency for previously approved change orders. He reported a construction contingency balance of $38,969.93.

On motions made and seconded (names of mover and seconder are not specified in the meeting record), the committee unanimously approved QA+M invoice #17403 for $6,920.40 and QA+M invoice #17476 for $3,066.60 for construction administration services for August and September, respectively. The committee also unanimously approved Orlando Annulli & Sons Payment Application #5 in the amount of $179,146.00 for work completed through September, with the architect confirming that a fully signed version of the application will be obtained from the contractor.

The committee reviewed Orlando Annulli & Sons Change Order Proposal #13Rev2 (Survey As-Built) for $3,675.00. Mr. Malik reported that the contractor’s price appeared to be roughly $1,000 higher than a competing vendor’s quote of $2,500. The committee requested that the architect attempt to secure a counter-proposal from the contractor that would match the lower amount; the change order was not approved pending the contractor’s response.

Two proposed change orders were approved. The committee unanimously approved Change Order Proposal #16 (additional grading and paving of 336 square feet at the traffic circle) dated Oct. 10, 2025, for $6,114.02, noting the work was required by the Building Official. The committee also unanimously approved Change Order Proposal #17 (relocate a fire alarm horn and strobe in the upper elevator lobby per the Fire Marshal’s direction) dated Oct. 10, 2025, for $1,042.17.

Committee members also flagged two potential future costs for awareness: rewiring lighting in the canopy and stairwells within secured vestibule areas to balance code/security needs and energy/cost concerns, and finalizing the cost to run elevator electrical conduit into the elevator shaft (the committee previously authorized a Not-To-Exceed amount of $3,000 for that work; final costs remain pending).

There was no public comment. Chairman Rick Daniels adjourned the meeting at 9:05 a.m.

What’s next: The architect will follow up with the contractor on the as-built survey pricing and provide an updated proposal; the elevator installation and subsequent inspections remain scheduled as noted, and further change-order discussions will return to the committee when additional pricing or contractor responses are available.