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Trustees approve $30,400 engineering addendum for Humphrey House ADA access amid cost concerns
Summary
After questioning rising engineering costs, trustees approved Addendum G and Change Order No. 6 for John Humphrey House ADA improvements, increasing the contract cap to $234,850; some trustees said they would push staff for better cost estimating going forward.
The Village Board approved Addendum G and Change Order No. 6 with Studio A LLC (DBA Nurture) for additional architectural and engineering services related to ADA access at the John Humphrey House, adding $30,400 and bringing the revised contract total to a not‑to‑exceed $234,850.
Trustee Lawler voiced concern about escalating costs and asked why earlier design work did not capture the need for a permanent accessible ramp. "I'm inclined to vote no on this, but I know we have to get it finished... how did we get to $234,850?" he asked, urging staff to push consultants when design errors or omissions arise.
Project staff explained the scope change: the original design called for a deployable ramp but staff opted for a permanent ramp so people with disabilities would not require assistance to enter. A staff speaker said the permanent approach "removes a 4 inch gap from the porch to into the house" and "brings everything into code," describing the change as a more inclusive, although costlier, solution.
Trustees repeatedly expressed frustration with cost estimating and asked for improved ahead‑of‑time soil borings and spec writing to avoid similar overruns. Despite concerns, the board voted to approve the addendum to finish the ADA work and preserve the usability of the historic property.
Next steps: staff will continue work on the ADA elements and the village plans to follow up on internal estimating and procurement practices.
