School Building Committee

The City of Lowell • Office of the City Manager City Hall • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 P: 978-674-4402 • F: 978-970-4007 www.Lowellma.gov Thomas A. Golden, Jr. City Manager School Building Committee Meeting Meeting Minutes Date: October 19th, 2023 Time: 6:00 P.M Location: Mayor’s Reception Room / Zoom School Building Committee Members Present: Mike Vaughn (Chief Procurement Officer), Liam Skinner (LPS Superintendent), Richard Underwood (LHS Operations and Maintenance Director), Michael Fiato (Head of School), Conor Baldwin (Chief Financial Officer), James Hall (LPS COO), David Peaslee (LPD Captain), William Samaras (Former Mayor of Lowell), Edward Kennedy (State Senator), Rodney Elliot (State Representative), Jay Mason (Lowell Sustainability Council – Architect), Maria Sheehy (Esq.), Benjamin Opara, (Community Member), John Haley (Community Member), Paul St. Cyr (DPW Commissioner) City Staff Present: Shawn Machado (Assistant City Manager), Austin Ball (Deputy CFO) Perkins Eastman Consultants Present: Joe Drown, Robin Greenberg Skanska Consultants Present: Jim Dowd Suffolk Consultants Present: Rex Radloff, Pannha San Chung The order of business was as follows: I. Attendance / Roll Call: Meeting Called to order at 6:00 P.M by S. Machado and asked to accept and place on file remote / zoom participation, roll call showed 15 present. City of Lowell: S. Machado asked the committee to review the minutes from the last meeting and to make a motion to place on file. Minutes passed by roll call, motion by E. Kennedy and 2nd by M. Vaughn. II. Suffolk: Phase 2 – Construction Update Pannha – Currently on Phase 2 milestones, in October began façade work at Building D, began interior finishing in Building F and continued MEP overhead rough in Building D. J. Mason – Any reason we are still showing gym in the plan? Pannha – No, this is an old photo and we will update for next meeting. In November we are looking to complete façade work in Building F, begin elevator work and drywall work in Building D and lastly, begin the façade work on the South Bridge. Showed progress photos from the past couple months. S. Machado – Any questions? (None at this time) III. Suffolk – MBE Workforce Update: Pannha – Currently exceeding goal of the minority workforce, the goal is 15.3% and we are currently at 24.4%. Project goal for female workforce is 6.9% and currently we are at 4.2%. Lastly, the Lowell resident workforce is at 10.4%. B. Opara – It seems these numbers are improving. Pannha – That is correct, we are exceeding the minority workforce goal and with new trades that are coming on, we hope to increase the number in the female workforce category. IV. Perkins Eastman - Designer Update: Joe – No update this month. V. Skanska – Budget / Cash Flow Update Jim - The total budget for the LHS project is $381.9 million dollars and the MSBA has reimbursed the city $101 million to date. The main thing we are currently tracking is the contingency line item, to date we have had 14 change orders totaling almost $3.4 million dollars and we currently have $17.8 million remaining in construction contingency. This month’s billing was $6.6 million and the total billing is $157 million. Jim – Any questions? J. Mason – Do you feel that the project is about 50% spent down? Jim – Of the committed dollars we have spent about half, this is where we should be. B. Opara – Do you think we are on track with our contingency numbers? Jim – Yes, but it will tick up as we get further into the renovation phase of the project. S. Machado – Any other questions? (None at this time). Next Steps: Jim – Suffolk will have a big push to get envelope enclosed in the next month and half with the winter approaching as well as the brick façade. Actively working with the school administration to limit impacts on the students. C. Baldwin – As a follow up from our last SBC meeting the city sold a bond of $30 million with an interest rate of just over 4%. B. Opara – What was the projected interest rate at the beginning of the project? C. Baldwin – 5% L. Skinner – Can you please discuss and give us an update on elevators and air conditioning within the project? Which phase will that be a part of? Joe – Elevators are located within each portion of each phase. When the project is finished there will be a total of 8 elevators. AC will be given to phase 1 and 2 once phase 2 is officially completed. M. Vaughn – Are the elevator companies having issues getting parts? Pannha – As of now, we currently haven’t had any problems. W. Samaras – Are we still on schedule with this project? Pannha – Yes, we are still on schedule to complete phase 2 as well as on schedule to start phase 3 next summer. We are also on schedule for the entire completion of the project in 2026. J. Mason – Is the electrical switch gear all set? We have seen long lead times for electrical service equipment. Jim – Yes, the Phase 2 switch gear resides in Phase 1 and the remaining phases are already in storage. M. Fiato – I’d like to recognize Jim and his team for their hard work and quick response if any staff member runs into an issue or problem, Jim’s team is quick to respond and address the problem. Do we have any update on the city hiring of the HVAC specialist? S. Machado – Yes, we are very close to hiring an individual. The interviews have finished and an offer letter was sent out. M. Fiato – Will this position be just for the high school or all municipal buildings? S. Machado – Mainly just the high school but will work on other buildings as needed. S. Machado – Any other questions? (None at this time) Motion to adjourn at 6:20 by B. Opara, 2nd by C. Baldwin, so moved.