Board approves small contract increase after unforeseen Easton Middle School roof issue

The Talbot County Board of Education on June 17 approved a change order for the Easton Middle School roofing project after contractors found detached lightweight concrete beneath the roofing membrane, a condition the project team said required a change in scope.

Mr. Schafer, who presented the facility update, said the lightweight concrete that had been intended to serve as a vapor barrier had detached and was not serving its expected function, requiring additional work. He told the board the project had state IAC funding of $2,340,000 and local funding of $1,358,000 for a total contract value around $3,698,000; the change order amount presented was $103,439.74.

Schafer explained that the original construction contract included a $100,000 contingency; because of that contingency the net contract increase would be much smaller than the full change-order amount. "So that's why the new contract amount is really only increasing by that very small margin," he said.

Board member (speaker 4) moved to approve Change Order No. 1 and a second was given by another board member. The board approved the change order by voice vote; the motion was recorded as passed on the record.

Board members asked about the roof's age and prior maintenance; Schafer said parts of the roof dated to the mid-1990s and that the state provided additional funding for building systems that exceeded their life expectancy. A board member noted winter snow and leaks had affected gym use earlier in the year.

The presenter said the requested change order would be funded primarily from the contract contingency and that additional owner contingency funds remain available should further unforeseen conditions arise. The board approved the motion to move forward with the change order.

The board did not provide a roll-call tally in the transcript; the decision was recorded as a voice vote and the clerk announced the motion passed.