Diman building committee takes up another change order Monday after more than $760,000 in August and September votes

FALL RIVER Diman's School Building Committee meets Monday to vote on another construction change order for the regional vocational school's new Fall River building, which opened this school year with demolition and field work still ahead.

The committee meets at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 16, in Room A103 at the school, 251 Stonehaven Road, with a Google Meet link for the public. The agenda lists project updates from the owner's project manager, the architect and the builder, followed by discussion and a possible vote on Prime Contract Change Order No. 023 and an internal change order, No. 023.1.

The Greater Fall River Vocational School District serves Fall River, Somerset, Swansea and Westport. The state's figures for the project date to December 2021, when Massachusetts School Building Authority staff put its total budget at $293.5 million and recommended a maximum state grant of about $148.7 million.

Where the project stood in September

At the committee's Sept. 14 meeting, Charles Roberts of Colliers, the owner's project manager, reported that the project was 88% complete, with about $800,000 left to finish the first phase, according to the minutes. Change orders were in the $2 million range, and about $8.3 million was being held as retainage, money kept back from contractors until their work is finished.

Roberts reported $19.3 million left in contingencies, holds and allowances, including $8.3 million in additional state funding, a $2.8 million owner's contingency and a $2.3 million construction contingency. He said spending on furniture, fixtures and equipment and on technology had gone over budget and recommended covering the overage from the owner's contingency once the accounts are reconciled. He also reported $400,000 more for asbestos removal from the gym floor and said the project remained in a strong financial position, the minutes show.

The same meeting heard that the second phase, demolition of the old building and work on the fields, was underway, with more ledge blasting possible and an underground storage tank still to be removed. Greg Joynt of Kaestle Boos, the architect, said the new parent drop-off and bus loops are expected to help ease traffic on Stonehaven Road.

What the committee approved

On Sept. 14, the minutes record a unanimous roll-call vote for Change Order No. 021, totaling $348,247.22. Its largest piece was $210,026.41 for additional lockdown indicator lights. The building has 39 of the lights in corridors and large shops, and they give a visual signal during a lockdown while the public address system gives the audio warning. It also covered $82,000 in added stone for the student parking lot and a $50,000 hold for drywall patching and paint.

The committee also voted unanimously that night to upgrade the surface of the new track for $259,799.31, a longer-lasting, higher-grade surface in orange with black exchange zones. Joynt said a track typically needs resurfacing every 10 to 15 years. He told the committee in August that the athletic complex had been cut back during value engineering and later added as an alternate, and that the project's financial position left room to consider the upgrade. A $15,359.61 purchase of protective mats for the gym floor passed on a roll call, with member Paul Jennings opposed.

In August, the minutes record a unanimous vote for Change Order No. 020, totaling $138,286.44, which builder Suffolk said mostly covered changes to shops for equipment whose requirements differed from the original plans. Superintendent-Director Brian S. Bentley said change orders are submitted to him for review and approval so work can keep moving, the Aug. 10 minutes show.

Change Order No. 022 and its internal companion were on the committee's Oct. 13 agenda, and the minutes of that meeting are up for approval Monday.

What happens next

After Monday, the agenda lists the committee's next meeting for Monday, Jan. 11, 2027. The district's offices can be reached at 508-678-2891.

Label: Reported by us, from the town's posted records.