At its Sept. 24 meeting, the Permanent Municipal Building Committee (PMBC) reviewed the progress of ongoing projects, including the new Council on Aging/Community Center building and the Wayland Free Public Library renovations.
Chaired by Patrick Rowe, the meeting focused on construction updates, budget considerations, and upcoming challenges as the town moves forward with its capital projects.
Owner’s Project Manager Kim Treacy of City Point Partners provided a detailed update on the progress of the community center. The siding installation is nearly complete, and work on the middle seam roof is ongoing, with expectations to wrap up by the end of the week, Treacy reported.
“We’re making good progress with the rough utility installations for fire protection, electrical, HVAC, and plumbing,” Treacy said, adding that a blower door test is scheduled for later in the week, an essential step to assess the building’s airtightness.
The asphalt binder has already been laid, with work on the sidewalks and pavers set to begin next week.
Despite some setbacks, Treacy confirmed that the project is still on track for completion by early March.
Brian Chase, a PMBC member, noted that the site had seen significant improvements since the last meeting, particularly with the completion of site preparation work.
“It’s good to see the project moving in the right direction,” he remarked, pointing to the photos Treacy presented of the recent progress.
However, the committee faced complications regarding a substantial completion-date extension. Change Order Number 4, which included several construction adjustments, such as site electrical revisions and fire alarm updates, also proposed extending the completion date to Feb. 11. This raised concerns among committee members, with Greg Lusky questioning the legitimacy of extending the contract without prior agreement.
“I don’t recall ever discussing an extension,” Lusky said.
The committee requested that Treacy and her team revisit the issue and clarify whether an official time extension had been approved.
Another matter of discussion was the future solar conduit installation, which is being designed to support future solar panels at the community center. The installation of this infrastructure, along with revisions to display cabinets and fire alarm systems, added to the overall cost of Change Order Number 4, totaling $97,273.67. Despite concerns about schedule adjustments, the committee agreed to approve the change order, provided that no additional time or costs were added to the contract.
The committee also discussed progress on the library renovation project. Treacy informed the board that site improvements were out to bid, with the interior improvements expected to be released the following day. Elevator modernization, another significant component of the project, faced delays due to the need for a new consultant.
“We had to switch gears and expedite the hiring of a consultant, but we’re targeting a bid date of early November,” Treacy explained.
The committee expressed optimism about staying on schedule, particularly with the critical exterior work being completed before the winter months.
In addition to project updates, the PMBC also addressed concerns about electricity and utilities. Treacy noted that the town is still awaiting the delivery of a transformer for the community center’s electric vehicle (EV) chargers and that the project team is working closely with EverSource to ensure timely delivery.
“It’s always a challenge coordinating with the utility companies, but we’re staying on top of it,” Treacy said.
Committee members emphasized the importance of moving quickly to complete critical tasks before the winter weather sets in. Lusky highlighted the need to ensure that both curbing and landscaping were completed on schedule.
“We’re fighting the weather here,” Lusky said. “The landscaping has to be done before the cold hits, or we’ll face delays.”
The meeting also touched on the restoration of the historic Stone’s Bridge. Work on the bridge, which has been ongoing for several weeks, is progressing steadily, with contractors currently removing soil from the top of the bridge and investigating the condition of the stone arches.
“The more we uncover, the more challenges we find,” said Michael Faia, the town’s facilities director. “It’s like peeling back an onion.”
Kay Gardner-Westcott, a member of the Historical Commission, visited the bridge site and expressed her satisfaction with the work so far. However, she raised concerns about the flow of water around the bridge, noting that a buildup of sediment on the Framingham side of the river may be affecting the water’s natural course. She recommended contacting Framingham to address the issue, but Chase pointed out that dredging the river would require permits beyond the scope of the current project.
As the meeting drew to a close, the committee approved the annual report, which summarizes the work done by the PMBC over the past year, including the completion of Loker Field and ongoing efforts on various town projects. The next meeting is scheduled for October.
