The May 27 meeting of the Farmington 1928 Building Committee opened, as they always do, with the Pledge of Allegiance. No public comment was offered, no online attendees chimed in, and the April 22 meeting minutes were swiftly approved. What followed was a businesslike march through change orders, construction reports, and a financial rundown that ended with $1.6 million in invoices getting the nod—plus a surprise from a curious student and a canceled June meeting.
Phased Occupancy, School-Year Deadline
Chris confirmed that the bleachers and grandstands for Farmington High School are scheduled for June–July delivery. The committee has also approved new fee proposals for accessible parking and HVAC improvements in the vestibule of the central office portion of the project.
As for when the building itself will open, Chair Peter offered a soft update: “There may be a soft opening… hopefully over the course of the summer and into the fall.” Gene asked whether school would begin next year with the building fully occupied. Peter’s reply: “Yes.”
A temporary Certificate of Occupancy (CO) is expected by early June, with offices phasing in gradually. The goal, reiterated by several members, is to be fully operational shortly after the Fourth of July.
Construction Update: G-Rock and Concrete
Tony from KBE Building Corporation offered a walkthrough of site progress. Masonry continues on the interior, and foundation work is wrapping up on the previous addition. G-Rock framing is underway, with RFIs and change orders holding on schedule. The discovery phase during demolition has mostly concluded, he said, and no major surprises remain.
Financial Picture: Contingency Holding Steady
Kat presented the financial report. Two documents were reviewed:
- A budget summary sheet, listing each project line item and current expenditures
- An owner’s contingency log, showing a remaining balance of $654,370.99 after accounting for $50,629.01 in approved changes
The “testing and inspections” line saw its first billing this month, and all figures were confirmed by the financial subcommittee prior to presentation.
Invoice Approvals: $1.6 Million in Motion
Invoices approved by motion included:
- Silver Petrucelli for construction administration through April 30: $42,457.24
- IMTL for materials testing and compaction monitoring: $3,350.00
- KBE Building Corporation payment application: $1,570,028.94
All invoices were verified by the architect and town staff before coming to the committee.
Change Orders: From Plumbing Carriers to Ceiling Patches
Russ led a detailed review of change orders—some credited back to the town, others reflecting midstream adjustments:
- CO #6 – Reuse of existing plumbing carriers in bathrooms: −$5,175.12
- CO #7 – Gym floor infill with concrete slab, replacing framing: −$1,780.34
- CO #8 – Site plan mismatch required new power cable for exterior lighting: +$5,545.10
- CO #9 – Foundation waterproofing for elevator pit deemed unnecessary: −$3,000.00
- CO #14 – Attic hatch and decking added for secondary egress and safety: +$3,133.91
- CO #15 – Ceiling patching after demo, addressing “an extreme number of holes”: +$29,836.19
All change orders were pre-reviewed by the financial subcommittee and recommended for approval. The attic hatch is now located at the top of the third-floor hallway, adjacent to the bathrooms.
Odds, Ends, and One Canceled Meeting
Other business included the formal cancellation of the June 10 committee meeting, with the June 24 date still on the calendar. A motion was made and unanimously passed to strike the earlier date.
Before heading off for a site walkthrough, the committee took a moment for a brief exchange with a visiting student, who asked for a project packet and endured some good-natured teasing from Russ about being “too old.” The public, sadly, was not invited along for the post-meeting building tour.
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About the Author
Jack Beckett is The Farmington Mercury’s senior writer, caffeine anchor, and the only person in town who has voluntarily watched five hours of zoning board footage in one sitting. Powered by black coffee and committee awkwardness, he enjoys translating government jargon into something resembling English.
Catch Jack’s latest work—whether it’s change orders, cultural walks, or the mysteries of Farmington’s sidewalk policy—at wearefarmington.com. For zoning nerds, click here. For school board updates, click here. For privacy wonks, we’ve got you too.
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This article, “Ceiling Holes, Attic Hatches, and $1.6M Later: The 1928 Committee Logs Progress,” by Jack Beckett is licensed under CC BY-ND 4.0.
“Ceiling Holes, Attic Hatches, and $1.6M Later: The 1928 Committee Logs Progress”
by Jack Beckett, The Farmington Mercury (CC BY-ND 4.0)
