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Meeting Opening and Chair Appointment (Link: 00:00:00 – 00:00:00)
In the absence of the regular chair, Moses Grader convened the meeting and announced that the board needed to appoint a chair pro tem for the day’s meeting. A committee member made a motion to appoint Moses Grader as Chair pro tem for the meeting. Another committee member seconded the motion. Grader called for a vote, and the motion passed unanimously, officially appointing him as the temporary chair for the meeting.
Public Comment Period (Link: 00:00:00 – 00:00:00)
Grader opened the session for initial public comment, asking if anyone online would like to make a public comment. A speaker confirmed that no one was online. Grader then asked if anyone present in the meeting wished to comment, and there were no responses. With no public comments, Grader indicated the meeting would move to a presentation from the schools regarding a contract.
School Construction Contract Presentation and Approval (Link: 00:00:00 – 00:09:00)
A school representative presented a contract for the Marblehead High School roof and HVAC project to the board for approval. The speaker explained that they needed to get the contract signed and equipment ordered expeditiously due to potential six-month lead times for HVAC equipment, though the HVAC work would not commence until July as part of the latter portion of the project.
The bidding process involved pre-qualifying all bidders and conducting filed sub-bids for roofing, HVAC, plumbing, and electrical work. The lowest bid came from Homer Contracting at approximately $2.1 million under the construction bid estimates, totaling $8.97 million for actual construction. Including other project costs such as the owner’s project manager and designer fees, the total project cost is expected to be around $12 million, which is $2 million under the approved $14 million budget.
The contract was drafted in conjunction between the town counsel’s office and the project team. It had already been approved by the school committee and was being circulated for signatures through various town officials, with the select board chair’s signature being the final step in the approval process.
Regarding the timeline, construction would not begin before graduation to avoid disrupting seniors’ final days. The majority of heavy work including cranes would be completed before students return to school, with the full construction phase expected to wrap up in September or early October. A committee member clarified that while some work might continue after school starts, it would not impact the return to school operations.
The school representative mentioned that a subcommittee chaired by Mr. Glasda had been formed, consisting of seven members including community experts in contracts, construction, roofing, and HVAC. This subcommittee reviewed all contracts, suggested changes, and would continue advising throughout construction. A committee member noted their satisfaction that the project involved a roof recover rather than liquid restoration, and suggested that Mr. Cummings could serve as an additional resource given his experience with similar projects.
Grader made a motion to approve the contract between the town and Homer Contracting for the Marblehead High School roof and HVAC project at 2 Humphrey Street in the amount of $8,970,000 and to authorize the chair to sign on behalf of the board. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously. The school representative thanked the board for accommodating the Tuesday morning meeting before the holidays.
Meeting Closing and Adjournment (Link: 00:09:00 – 00:09:00)
A speaker called for additional business and announcements. Another speaker indicated there were just brief announcements. Grader asked if there were any announcements, and a committee member offered holiday wishes, saying happy holidays to everyone and encouraging everyone to stay safe and have a great time. Grader then called for a motion to adjourn. A committee member made the motion, another seconded it, and Grader called for a vote with all members voting in favor to adjourn the meeting.
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