Are you guys ready? >> We are. >> Stand by. >> That's all on the slide. >> 4 3 2 1. >> Good evening. Welcome to the Wednesday, July 8th, 2026 meeting of the middle school building committee. This is a
meeting both in person and hybrid. Uh room A15, 535 Bliss Road, Long Middle, Mass. I'll start by doing a roll call. The voting members of the committee. Kate >> here. >> Nicole >> here. >> Marty >> here. >> Armen here.
>> Dave >> here. >> And Josh. >> Josh. >> You're saying Josh? >> I'm saying Josh. >> I'm here. >> Okay. Thank you. Sorry. >> All right. Meeting's called to order. Public comments.
Seeing none, move to approval of meeting minutes of May 13, 2026. >> I move that we approve the May 13th, 2026 meeting minutes. >> Second. >> Motion and second. Any further discussion? >> Seeing none, I call for a vote. Kate, >> yes. >> Nicole,
>> yes. >> Marty, >> yes. >> Armen, yes. Josh, >> yes. >> And Dave, >> yes. >> All right, that passes. correspondence. >> Uh there was some correspondence log
that is in your meeting packet. Um I can review that if it would be helpful. >> Would you like me to review this? >> No, just uh who was it from? >> Uh we received some correspondence from Mr. and Mrs. Dulio. Uh and
off the top of my head, if you excuse me once, >> no problem. >> Yeah, I can pull that up for you. Tom, are do you have your do you have that handy, Tom? Bone. >> Oh yeah, Liz Bone. That is correct. >> Okay,
I can check that for you. >> All right, we will update if it goes beyond the the Julios and the Liz Bone which was written good regards to some good things about recycling on the project. Uh Collier's OPM update. Yep. You
>> can jump to the slideshow when you get a second, Marty. Okay. One second. >> We did have one more piece of correspondence from Nick Tongary. >> Thank you. So noted.
>> Sorry. No problem. Here we go. Folks at home, you can see the slide deck. Just making sure. >> Yep. >> All right. >> Yep.
>> All right. Schedule. >> Perfect. Thank you. All right. So, uh, just as we do every month, we're going to go over the the schedule here high level. Um, we are on schedule. We are in the early release enabling phase now. So early release package number one is
going on now. Um Fontaine is working on the early release package 1B and uh early release package number two and then coming up in uh and then we'll also put out the um RFQ which is request for
qualifications for the main package which is due tomorrow. Um, and so Chad will be receiving those. Once he receives those and kind of packages them all together, he'll send them out to the group um, so we can start doing that review process uh, for the main package for the main bid. Um,
and that is going to be uh, the bid set complete in uh, September of this year and then we'll move into um, the full construction. So right now uh, doing well uh, schedule-wise uh, pre-qualification uh, which is the slide you're seeing now. So this is for
uh the enabling phase for the plumbing. It's a small um piece of work that's happening. It's a temporary gas line uh in the existing school that needs to be moved and uh but it met threshold of doing a qualification process and putting this out the bid. So we did go through the qualif qualification
process. uh the we received a decent amount of um interest back and uh you can see on the on the board here that we qualified Herald Brothers, General Mechanical, Blanders, BG Mechanical, Harborview and TJ Conway who we did not qualify as KMD, Royal Steam, Cleberg and
Stallion. And the the companies that did not get qualified was based on um experience. Um some of them were missing some of the information in the qualification packets, those type of things. Um, so we feel that we have a a good selection of uh qualified biders
here uh for when this goes out. Um, so we're going to move forward with with this group as far as putting the RFP together. Um, we just need probably just to formalize it. Just do a quick vote and just um, you know, vote to proceed to the RFP process with the qualified biders.
>> You need that vote this evening >> if we could. Yeah. >> Okay. >> Is there a motion? move that the building committee approve the uh list of qualified biders so that the uh package can go out to bid. >> Yep.
>> There's a motion. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Motion and second and call for discussion. >> Seeing none, I call for a vote. Kate, >> yes. >> Nicole, >> yes. >> Marty, >> yes. >> Armen, >> yes. Josh, >> yes. >> And Dave,
>> yes. >> Thank you. All right. And so what I have this month that we haven't seen in the past, but now that we have Fontaine on board, we're having, you know, these contracts that are starting to come in. Um, this is a financial status update that I'm going to provide on a monthly basis. And
so this is generally the format that you're going to see. And just I'll run through it real quick. So column A was the original budget. That $1.6 million was the feasibility study that was approved. Uh column B is um the approved
amount at town meeting. So we've which was an increase of 149,994,774. That's the total at the bottom. And um from from there we did contract with um callers for the remaining phase with Fontaine with JWA um and their
consultants. And so those are all um the figures that you see there. Uh the anticipated budget is our total project budget and that's in column C at the bottom. That's 151,594774. That is the total project budget that the MSBA approved, the town approved. Uh
so that number there won't change that 151594. Uh commitments to date, we've had um 16,638 plus um the commitment changes which is 15,000 or 15,647,028.
And that is for um moving Fontaine from pre-construction which was the 225,000 that you see in column D and moving them into the construction phase which is Fontaine's contract plus the enabling package number one that's included there. Um and then we've had some
amendments to JWA's contract just bringing on different consultants and doing some additional uh design work. And so right now our contract our commitments are up to $32,285,875 and that's in column F. And column G is our paid to date and we've paid
$5,219,786 to date. Um so what I'll do from month to month is not go through individual lines, but I'll show what changed from the previous month and I'll highlight the lines that have changed from one month to the next just so it's easy to kind of go through and we don't have to go through the entire thing every time.
Um but if if there's any questions on this, you know, feel free to let me know. >> These are the numbers that get reported to MSBA, right? >> Oh, yeah. Y exactly. Okay. Just making sure. >> Yes. >> So along to build on that, um would we also track uh as it starts to become
available um expenses that have been deemed reimburseable versus those that are kicked out by the MSBA? Is that >> So we'll do that. So what happens is that when you have your sub you submit on a monthly basis to the MSBA and then
they're going to reimburse you. We can certainly do that. We can put you know we can have kind of a a submitted cost versus a reimburseable amount that came back from the MSBA. So we'll just have to work with with Chad on his end because you're doing all the propay submissions, right? >> Yeah. So Chad does the propay. The
propay is the MSBA um system where you submit all the invoices for the month. And so as Chad is doing those and then they're going to, you know, they'll cut a check back. We'll and then we'll identify what was reimbured and what was not, >> right? >> And then what we're also going to do in
the in here, you can see that there's um it's it's uh the second line down O08 construction contingency and then at the very bottom is owner's contingency. We'll track those um as pending items and then what actually becomes a change order. So, a lot of times what happens
is we're going through, we're having job meetings, we're walking through the site, things may come up that are potential change orders. And so, we'll log those just to make sure that we're accounting for any potential changes that come up. And then once a change order actually goes through, we'll log that as well. So, you'll always be able to see what's pending, what's been
approved to date. Um, and then, you know, as that goes, we'll identify those uh on this as well. >> Any other questions? >> All right. And we've been staying in the habit of just posting the slide decks from the meetings to our project
website. So anybody that wants to at home that wants to see the um the budget tracking, it's it'll be there for everybody. >> Absolutely. >> Perfect. All right, moving on. >> Great. We'll take the designer update. Uh first, let me introduce Bobby from
our office. So, um you will slowly get to know more and more folks at JW. You've seen a lot of me and Dory. Um August has attended a couple meetings. Um Bobb's been playing a pretty integral role on the construction documents and will play more of a role on construction administration. Um Emma in our office
has also been playing a big role. I'm sure she'll be down here at one of the meetings soon, but um we don't have a lot of pretty pictures to show you, so I kept the slides short. Um but we had a major milestone right before the July 4th um holiday. That's when we got the
90% construction cost estimates set out. So that's an anticipation of getting the cost estimates. Again, this is an update. Um, and then we'll submit to the MSBA next month, right? So we've got we did this again. We did it at design develop. We did it at schematic design.
That's what set the budget. We did it again in design development to like see how we're tracking. We did it at 60% CDs. And then this is at 90% CDs. So, this is kind of our last um check-in with our uh our cost estimators um to
make sure we're still tracking before that final bid package that Adam was talking about. Um >> and just to note too that just all these estimates that we've been doing, we've been doing very well as far as tracking rate on budget. >> Yeah. Um this one was a little bit more
complicated in that um we have had some early release packages go out, right? So, we had the enabling package go out last time. That's the work that's being done now that Fontaine will cover later this meeting. With this package, we're also looking at um concrete and site uh
civil work. Um so we've really focused on coordinating a lot with our structural engineer um and trying to get their documents as um up to speed as possible. Our mechanical engineer and architecture and landscape has a bit more time for our final documents, but
they're they're bidding off of the structural documents now. So, um you can see here's just a smattering of some of the construction document pages. On the left is our um foundation details. Um and I put that one in because that's one that we've been focusing a lot with our structural engineer. Um and it's helpful
for us to every once in a while look at the totals, but uh yeah, we are up to 507 sheets of drawings. Uh which blows my mind. Um you know, because it used to be a lot less than that. um and and 3,000 plus pages of specifications. Um
and so that's what uh folks are are um looking through right now for that cost estimate. >> It's interesting because Mary Beth asked me for like I gave her like just the basic package of like 10. She's like no I want like all 530. I'm like I can't print that at home. You got that?
>> Why are the why are the number of sheets in the drawings why is it expanded so much? issues or >> well you mean over like historically since I started which was not that long ago but I guess it was now um
>> it's a really good question Marty I mean it's the same thing the specifications booklets used to be this big especially in like the you know 60s you see that old and the drawings were this thick >> um the contractual how it all works out with the filed sub
bids and the plumbers only looking at the plumbing drawings and electrical was only looking. I think that adds a significant um complexity to the drawings that did not used to be there for sure. Um the electrical drawings in particular. So we you know we'll put out our floor plans and for this project we
really have five sheets that cover the floor plans in pretty good detail. But then the electrical set will copy that for just the fire alarm system on one, just lighting on a whole other set, just power on a whole other set, just technology on a whole other set. So
pretty soon your set starts stacking up. In terms of our process, whereas at design development, we had 300 sheets, now we have 500. A lot of it is these sheets of details that we had the floor plans. Those really haven't changed that much, but we're just getting much, you
know, more into the details of all the wall sections on the far right and the stair details on that middle sheet. >> It's impressive. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. So, we feel bad that we don't get to show you pretty pictures like we were able to during design. Meanwhile, we have many more people in the office
working on this project. We did in that phase. We just don't have as much to show for it. And Christian, if we could just say in the specification, just for the town side and their information too, we've also been working with the tax consultant to make sure that we have um you know that information in the specifications that we can make sure
that we're receiving the information from the contractor, from the subcontractors to make sure we're getting the rebates at the end of the project. >> Yeah. >> And we were at that 60% stage. As a reminder to anybody watching, all the town department heads were involved in providing feedback to JWA to make sure
that you know they understood what the uh expectations were both ways. >> Yep. Great. >> So, as Adam covered in that first slide on schedule, there's a little kind of a you know Z part where we're in
construction documents and we're also in construction. um which uh is difficult for us because we have to get some people to think about construction instead of uh detailing but is also helpful in that we kind of get a you know start into that construction
process a little bit more gently. Um so uh we deal with this uh program called Procore a lot. It's actually run by Fontaine. They um own the kind of back end of it. Um and that's how the whole
project processes information. Um and so through that um website we will get requests for information and we'll also get submitts. We'll ch we'll process change orders through that um website. Um it's very helpful as like a
depository of all the information and we're able to get it from Fontaine to us to our consultants back to us back to Fontaine. Um and so it's a it's a difficult process but you know as streamlined as it can get. Um and so
basically, you know, those 3,000 pages of specifications that's containing a lot of um items that are going to go into the project and then um Fontaine's sending us what are called submitts for each one of those products, making sure that what they're
um providing is approved by the design team. Um so we've had only 11 RFIs so far. I'm sure that number will grow to be quite a bit larger. Right now it's really focused on um site. So, a lot of this has been in Tai and Bonds court. Um, and then we've had 36 submitts so
far. So, both of those numbers will get into the triple digits and maybe even four digits. We hope not. But, um, so that whole process has started and and is is going pretty well. Just wanted to give that background on
the process. Um, and then uh this was the one vote requested for tonight. This is again about the plumbing scope that Adam mentioned earlier. Um so uh LN consultants are mechanical and plumbing engineer. Um this would be additional
scope for them. Um they're not anticipating it. We actually had originally not thought about moving this gas line, but it is going right through the middle of where the new school is going to go. Um and so um >> is this the one that they found or is this the one that
>> No, this is one we already knew about. Yeah. Um what has been great is Fontaine's done their due diligence and found that we can connect it on the other side to Woolworth um talking with Advers right um I always get the two confused um and
so but it it does seem silly because we're spending money to install new piping on top of the roof to get it from basically the southern side of the existing school to the northern side of the existing school. um but will really
uh simplify things in the field and you know it's never good to have a natural gas pipeline in the middle of your construction site. Um so this would be for the design effort um comes to $28,050. Um this again is going under that um uh
row that Adam had for reimburseable expenses. Um, we've budgeted $725,000 for that. Um, so far with this included, we're up to 515,000. So, there's there's room in the budget. Um, but that's for
this uh reimburseable item. >> Make a motion. >> Make it motion to approve the design and work associated. >> Sorry. Well, uh vote to approve um the design and work associated with providing temporary natural gas service
to Williams Middle School. >> Motion >> second. >> Motion and second. Any discussion? >> Seeing none, call for a vote. Kate, >> yes. >> Nicole, >> yes. >> Marty, >> yes. >> Armen, yes. Dave, >> yes. >> Josh, >> yes. >> Nobody else has joined, correct?
>> No. >> Okay, thank you. Vote passes. That's it for us. Thank you. >> Who's up? Fontaine. I'll >> take it. >> Is this uh item number seven >> on the construction updates? >> Um just to note for your packages, there
is on item number 7A, tree removal for road widening. You all have that in your packages to review. We're still um gathering more information and so we will discuss that at a future meeting. >> And we'll take it from Fonte. Okay, I'll
take it. Um, so this is exciting. It's our first proper uh construction update, I think, on the project. Our last SBC, we were just starting to mobilize uh within a day of that. So, um, a lot has happened over the last month. Um, we
have some on-site work. On-site meaning right where the future school is going to be and where the, um, current field we've taken over. And then there's also been some off-site work that we've been doing for sidewalks. So, we'll just kind of skip through a few things here. So, the primary thing, if anybody's been
driving by Williams, it's no news. We've mobilized with sight fencing. You can see all that um with scrim on the fencing inside the fence line. We have erosion controls really for the civil and uh rainwater uh containment on the site. We started stripping stock um top
soil um and really prepping for where the future driveway is going to be coming in off of Williams. Um you'll see our trailers just uh have gotten there and set up over the past couple of days and we're starting to coordinate uh electrical power and things like that for the site. So um everything's going
great on schedule from that standpoint. Um, and I'll mention uh this um for those that were uh at the previous SBC's and phasing plans, this is what we're calling phase 1 A, the first uh of the phase one phases that are happening this
summer um which is primarily focused on the uh the site mobilization and the um off-site sidewalks. Uh if you driven by the site, you probably seen our site site sign that's up there now. Uh but we're coordinating with Eversource um next week actually. I think they're
going to be installing a pole um inside the fence uh not too far from where that um sign is right now. Um and you'll see in a few photos we have next. We've started taking deliveries of a lot of the site utilities that are going to be going into uh into the site.
We just have a few of these photos here. You can see the surfing of the top soil um that's been underway um and some of the drainage structures and um um grates and some uh tree removal on the property that's been uh been underway. And for future SPCs, we're going to have drone
shots. We had it scheduled for yesterday, but with the rain, we kind of got rained out. But um next time you'll we'll have some u videos and photos to show. Um and then meanwhile we've been doing off-site enabling work which has been going great. Um we started basically mid
June. Um and uh just showing on the screen here the extents going from Ridge Road to Heather Road and we're pretty much about 90% complete. Um really at the tail end. Uh neighbors have been very accommodating um and we appreciate their patience uh with the work that the
crews have been doing out there. I also saw you guys I mean just my observation as opposed to other projects that have happened in town you've been trying to preserve their driveways as much as possible as well not putting like patches on it. >> Yes. >> So thank you. >> Yep.
>> Um so yeah within the next uh couple weeks we're going to be all wrapped up. There is some drainage work that we just started saw cutting for in uh Williams uh William Street. Um and so you'll start to see that work happening over the next uh few days and probably be
wrapped up in under two weeks. Uh but we were able to coordinate that with the design team and really limit the road uh shutdown to pre prevent a road shutdown. And here's just a few photos of the sidewalk work. And then uh now coming up probably
starting next week uh we're going to start the road widening work. Uh we're going to start on the school side of the property. So, basically west of the new driveway entrance. Um, so like I mentioned, Eversource, they're going to be relocating the pole next week that basically allows the road widening work
to continue. Um, and then, um, you know, as summer marches on, we'll be, uh, moving eastward. There's another utility pole to be installed on the corner of the new, uh, driveway as well. Um, but everything's uh, on schedule there. >> It's awesome. And then just hit on a few
of the procurement things. Uh you already heard from Adam and Christian. So ERP 1B that is our pre-purchase of a couple key pieces of electrical equipment. Uh the switchboard and generator have very long lead times um
that have gotten uh just worse over the past 5 years. Um so what we've been doing and pretty typical on our um projects is pre- purchasing the equipment. Uh we then later assign it to the actual electrical contractor that comes on board for the project. Um, but this basically starts the submittal
process very early and gets that coordinated with the design team and the construction documents when they get issued later on. Um, and really uh really mitigates the risk of delays there. >> What are those lead times up to roughly >> over a year? They're probably right at a year.
>> Right at a year. Okay. >> Um, so you'll see this looking ahead next SBC meeting. Uh, those two bid packages will be part of our amendment too. And then ERP2, which Christian mentioned, is on the street right now with the biders. And these are the bid packages. You can see uh under that ERP2
heading on uh on those uh bid packages that are uh going to be due at the end of the month. And that'll be part of the CM amendment three in September. And then uh Adam hit on the RFQ that's out on the street right now. Those are all coming in tomorrow, uh like you
mentioned. And um so those once the pre-qualification period is passed and all the qualifications are evaluated, they get notified and then the um they'll be bidding off of the 100% construction documents that come out at the end of September. >> Any questions from the committee for
Fontaine in regards to what they reported on? >> What's the bid environment? Is it >> very favorable? >> Yeah. I mean, just for that early plumbing package, you had 10 plumbers respond to a package that was advertised for $40,000. >> Pretty small.
>> Yeah. >> So, uh yeah, we're having a walk through tomorrow. >> Tomorrow >> with the ERP2 uh subs and we know we've got a a lot of interest on folks that are looking at already. >> Awesome. >> That's great. >> Yep.
>> Yeah. Excellent. >> All right, >> that's it. >> Think that's it. Next step meetings. Like I said, as soon as we have more information, we'll provide on 7A. Outside of that, I would entertain a motion to adjurnn. >> So move. >> Second. >> Second.
>> Motion and second. Any discussion? >> Seeing none, call for a vote. Kate, >> yes. >> Nicole, >> yes. >> Marty, >> yes. >> Harmon, yes. Josh, >> yes. >> And David, yes. >> We are adjourned.