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SPENCER/EAST BROOKFIELD – During a brief David Prouty High School Building Committee meeting on January 15, members heard about a backup to the sanitary line system that necessitates the 1.1 gpf (gallons per flush) rate be increased to 1.6 gpf.
Later in the meeting, while discussing change orders, it was noted an item “not to exceed,” $16,104 was approved between meetings by Superintendent Paul Haughey and committee chair Mike Ethier (as allowed for smaller ticket items).
As a result of the approval, toilet diaphragms are on order to alleviate problems on the sanitary lines and increase water flow
In addition, Kristian Whitsett of architectural firm Whitsett Jones said the plumbing contractor snaked and sent a camera into existing sanitary lines to ensure there are no blockages.
The problematic areas were the boys’ and girls’ locker rooms and the restrooms across from the gym used by the public, he said.
Rob Day, senior project manager from Fontaine Brothers noted the issue was happening while project personnel were dealing with a sprinkler main line burst on the second floor on December 18—causing water damage on that floor and the main floor.
School was subsequently closed until January 5 so the necessary inspections and remediation work could take place.
Day noted, “We got through it and overcame hurdles.” He added that the gymnasium floor would get replaced this summer and remaining items include replacing some millwork that came down and re-fabricating a hall wing for insulation.
He asked that Fontaine Brothers be notified if school personnel “notices anything else we need to react to.”
Further, Day added, “It was a tough situation everyone had to deal with and your support meant a lot to myself and the team.”
Day showed committee members photos of progress being made on the building project. The photos depicted “the last of the concrete slab,” in the new north wing; the auditorium with a new catwalk completed; interior partitions in the “A” wing and the student commons area.
Date not set for topping off ceremony
A “topping off” ceremony is anticipated with a date to be determined. Representatives from the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) will be present as a beam, signed by students, gets hoisted up by a crane at a “mini event,” he said.
Building Committee members and other town leaders are expected to attend.
In addition to the sanitary line-related change order, the committee approved a total of $112,767. Larger expenses were $14,142 for full-height, galvanized steel hand railings at the pre-K entrance and $21,581 for added installation costs for the utility garage.
Whitsett said the initial contractor (Ironfist) was unresponsive and would not sign a contract after quoting a scope of work price. Therefore, this amount was the best they could obtain.
He said the $346,000 value of the concession building upgrade was less than the $485,000 put aside for it.
In other business, the committee approved nearly $1.6 million in invoices with most ($1.4 million) for Fontaine Brothers and the rest mainly for Jones Whitsett ($88,444) and Colliers ($53,723).
Nick Pimentel of Colliers Project Leaders said there is a balance in project contingencies of $677,000 and $1.1 million in earmarks set aside for potential costs.
The next DPHS Building Committee meetings will be hybrid on February 12 and March 19, both starting at 6 p.m.
