RSD 13 building committee awards Memorial roofing contract to Gold Seal Roofing amid $181,010 shortfall and injunction over permit fees

The Regional School District 13 Building Committee voted July 1 to award the Memorial renovation roofing contract to Gold Seal Roofing LLC with a base bid of $2,213,900, even as staff reported a current project shortfall of $181,009.72 and said the district had filed an emergency injunction over disputed town permit fees.

Lucy Petrella, a member of the Regional School District 13 Board of Education, presented the rebid results and said staff received four submissions but could not open the attachments from one bidder. "We received 4 emails. However, 1 of the emails, with a bid attachment, which is not something I've experienced before, neither myself nor Kim could open up the actual bid attachments that came from Silptown Roofing," Petrella said, and recommended Gold Seal as the lowest responsible, qualified bidder. Petrella told the committee Gold Seal proposed the Garland roofing system and is an authorized Garland installer familiar with the site.

Marnie Liska of STV provided a budget update: "The project budget, with the Gold Seal roofing number plugged in, is currently at a shortfall of $181,009.72," she said. Committee members discussed several alternates included in the rebid packages — including a $45,000 deduct tied to removing a front entrance canopy and two other alternates costing approximately $238,000 and $187,000 — and noted those alternates would not fully close the shortfall.

Sydney Leggett, the district superintendent, told the committee the district filed an emergency injunction in court earlier that day seeking a refund of permit fees charged by the Town of Middlefield. "We had to file in court today for the emergency injunction," Leggett said, describing the district’s position that the payment is a refund of improperly collected fees rather than a special appropriation the town would have to authorize by meeting vote.

Leggett warned the committee that if Middlefield treats the fees as pure revenue, the district might not receive reimbursement at the state's 68% rate, increasing Durham’s share of the cost. Staff said they requested an answer by July 9 to preserve guaranteed contractor pricing and avoid losing pricing that could expire while the parties litigate the fee issue.

The committee approved the award by voice vote after a motion from Tim Neubag, director of finance, to "approve the award of the Regional School District 13 state project number 213-0051 roofing to Gold Seal Roofing LLC with the base bid of $2,213,900." The motion was amended to include a recommendation from O&G Industries dated July 1, 2026, and the amended motion passed by voice vote; individual roll-call votes were not recorded.

Members agreed not to resolve canopy alternates at the meeting because staff need to negotiate firm values with other trade contractors. Staff and consultants said they will return with negotiated pricing and a recommendation at the committee’s next meeting, currently scheduled for July 15.

The committee adjourned shortly after the vote.