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: February 15, 2024 Time: 6:00 P.M Location: Mayor’s Reception Room / Zoom School Building Committee Members Present: Thomas A. Golden, Jr. (City Manager / School Building Committee Chair), Richard Underwood (Operations and Maintenance Director), Conor Baldwin (Chief Financial Officer), Mark Byrne (Former DPW Commissioner), David Peaslee (LPD Captain), William Samaras (Former Mayor of Lowell), Edward Kennedy (State Senator), Rodney Elliot (State Representative), Maryann Manzi (Public Safety Research & Planning Director), Maria Sheehy (Community Member), Benjamin Opara, (Community Member), Erica Harvey (Commission on Disability Secretary), Vanna Howard (State Representative) City Staff Present: Austin Ball (Deputy CFO) Perkins Eastman Consultants Present: Joe Drown, Robin Greenberg Skanska Consultants Present: Jim Dowd Suffolk Consultants Present: Pannha San Chung The order of business was as follows: I. Attendance / Roll Call: Meeting Called to order at 6:05 P.M by T. Golden and asked to accept and place on file remote / zoom participation, roll call showed 13 present. City of Lowell: T. Golden 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 V. Howard II. Suffolk: Phase 2 – Construction Update Pannha – In February we will begin installation of metal panels, complete all the elevators in phase two as well as begin to install stairway D in Building D, begin the roof work on Building C and complete the infiltration systems in the quad. In March, we will complete the roof steel dunnage in building C, complete the exterior masonry, complete the stairway in Building D and start Building D finishes. Pannha – Showed progress photos. T. Golden – Any questions? E. Kennedy – Are we on schedule and within budget? Pannha – Yes currently on schedule and within budget. E. Kennedy – Asked for an update to the bleacher issue that was discussed in the last meeting. Jim – The solution is for mobile bleachers as the plan was to maximize the size of the gym under MSBA guidelines. E. Kennedy – Asked Jim and Robin to clarify if when we use the bleachers if it will continue to rip up the floor. Robin – There are a couple things that are needed once the bleachers are pulled out and we are working with the school department to fix this issue. W. Samaras – Do you see any problems that will be a result of these bleachers? Robin – We believe that we can get to a resolution to correct this problem. W. Samaras – Asked if we could have a walk through tour? Jim – Yes, we can do that, we will work with the Manager’s Office to setup sometime once school is out for summer break. E. Kennedy – Asked for the bleacher resolution to be placed on the agenda once a solution is devised. III. Suffolk – MBE Workforce Update: Pannha – Currently exceeding the goal of the minority workforce, the goal is 15.3% and we are currently at 24.5%. Project goal for female workforce is 6.9% and currently we are at 4.5%. Lastly, the Lowell resident workforce is at 9.72%. Currently working with DEI consultant to increase these numbers. B. Opara – What is the project goal for local residents? Pannha – There is no goal on the project for Lowell residents. C. Baldwin – Can Suffolk tell us if these numbers are consistent with other projects that you are working on? Pannha – Yes, the Local and minority are consistent with other projects but women is a tougher category in other projects as well. IV. Perkins Eastman - Designer Update: Robin – No update this month. T. Golden – Any other questions. (None at this time) 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 $109 million to date. The main thing we are currently tracking is the contingency line items which has 17.2 million remaining. There have been 18 change orders to date totaling 3.9 million. January month’s billing to the city was $5.8 million and total invoiced to date is $183 million. Commented that the PFA bid amendment has been executed with the new funding from the state and the maximum total facilities grant increased by 36.9 million with this additional funding. T. Golden – I wanted to thank on behalf of my administration and the entire City Council Senator Kennedy for spear heading this additional funding as well as Representative Howard, Representative Elliot and Representative Mom for this additional funding. Any other questions? (None at this time). Next Steps: Jim – Proceeding with finishes on Building F as well as a big push on Building’s C and D. T. Golden - Any other questions? (None at this time) Motion to adjourn at 6:22 by W. Samaras, 2nd by E. Kennedy, so moved.