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20250424-124934-cb6-PresentationAPMAPerkinsEastmanUpdate_1.pdf

It was a busy evening, Monday, April 21, at the Bristol Warren Regional School Committee meeting for those parties advising the construction projects about to become a reality throughout the district.

Representatives from PMA Consultants, the direct's owner project manager, and architects Eastman Perkins were once again in attendance to provide updates on the plans for the new Mt. Hope High School as well as the other renovations being made to buildings in both towns.

The evening began with an expansive discussion and presentation among the district reps along with abutters of the MHHS Chestnut Street campus.

The advisors stated firmly all construction contractors, including those making deliveries, are required to access the site via Metacom Avenue. No vehicles will be permitted to use Route 114 in Warren or Bristol, nor will they be allowed to use the campus border road, Naomi Street. Residents were urged to contact the district if that occurs.

In addition, the audience was told fencing and stormwater containment apparatus, including a second retention pond, will be installed. Water treatment practices, such as the removal silt, are to be instituted.

No trespassing signage will be posted near those residences right up against the property line so as to alert students not to access the campus in that manner.

The planners said the existing upper grass field on the north side of the site will eventually be closed for use. It will later be re-situated some 60 feet from the perimeter, rather than the current 11, and be slightly enlarged.

The project includes an option for adjacent homeowners to allow for visual documentation of the interior and/or exterior of the residences, so that if any provable damage arises from the construction they can be dealt with in a timely and appropriate manner.

The presenters said work must follow existing time and noise restrictions in the town, meaning no work can be done prior to 7 p.m. and no later than 9 p.m. However, it was stated most days construction will end by mid-afternoon around 3:30-4 o'clock except for extenuating circumstances. And any needed work on the weekends will adhere to the 8 a.m.-6 p.m. timeframe, though that is expected to happen rarely.

Trash and debris is expected to be removed from the site in a timely, consistent manner. Pest control measures will be implemented.

Lastly, of interest to some, the project begins with the proposal to build a baseball field in the southeast corner of the campus as an alternate. If it can't be budgeted, the area is to become a simple, grassed green space.

RIDE backs plan
Next up, PMA's presentation directly to the committee alerted publicly the Rhode Island Department of Education recently reviewed and gave its approval to the crucial Stage III of the district's plan, the 60-percent completed design element, meaning the project has officially reached the fourth phase, construction.

With that in mind, five general contractors responded to a Request for Proposal, made site visits and have been pre-qualified to perform the work: Agostini Construction, Commodore Builders, Brait Builders, Consigli and Fontaine Bros.

The project timeline ramps up in the coming weeks with the following key dates: April 28 – bidder questions and clarifications period ends; May 8 – meeting of Bristol Planning Board; May 30 – final bids are due (subject to change); and June 9 – proposed contract approval/execution by the school committee.

Of note, the Warren Planning Board has already indicated its tentative support to the remodeling plans at Kickemuit Middle School and Hugh Cole Elementary School there.

The proposals still must be reviewed and approved by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, the Governor’s Commission on Disabilities, the state Historical Preservation Commission and the Coastal Resources Management Council.

New TRC approved
Later in the gathering, the body took up a discussion item titled "Approval of Technical Review Committee as recommended by the School Building."

As can be gleaned from the working name, the district's building committee, at the behest of PMA Consultants, recently backed a proposal to form a tighter technical review group so as to help streamline and expedite components of construction when necessary.

The TRC would be comprised of the superintendent of schools or their designee; a representative of the school business department, school committee or building committee; and a representative of the school’s facilities department or a school building committee member with industry experience.

The item came with the following explanation: "As you know, the fast-paced nature of construction requires the owner to provide timely contract interpretations and financial decisions daily to mitigate additional unnecessary cost or time impacts which might otherwise jeopardize the overall success of a project. Additionally, construction contracts include provisions whereby payments due and unpaid under the contract shall bear interest from the date payment is due at the legal rate prevailing. With these considerations in mind, PMA is recommending the following protocol for consideration and vote of approval by the BWRSD School Committee."

Key for the TRC to be nimble would be its ability to agree to allow for certain "change orders" with costs between $50,000-$250,000 to move forward tentatively until a majority of the full school committee could approve said expenditures formally.

The school committee eventually approved the recommendation, though prior to the vote member Jessica Almeida stated her discomfort with such a small cohort being able to approve allocations in those amounts. She suggested a lesser amount at the top end.

"That's a lot for some individuals to approve and say go forward without a majority vote," Almeida said, adding, "that's a very big range for a select group to approve."

In response, Superintendent Ana Riley noted the proper processes remain in place and those who compose the district building committee would not have supported such a suggestion lightly, adding "they also have a financial interest in (project) being legit and done on time."

Construction cost update
Near the end of the meting, District Director of Finance & Administration Danielle Carey alerted the committee of the charges incurred from vendors, approaching $10.5 million, while the district completed the first three phases of the construction projects as set out by the Rhode Island Department of Education.

Stage 1 expenses totaled $115,882.45, which was paid for via a RIDE grant. Stage 2 costs to the district were $1,166,359.60. And expenses related to the Stage 3 application process totaled $9,138,6899, payment of was derived from the $6,320,000 bond anticipatory note (BAN), the district took out last year. As of the April 21 meeting, the district has received $5,549,038.70 in reimbursement payments from RIDE.