Topping Off Ceremony for New Elementary School on May 20

The Elementary School Building Committee met on May 16, 2025 to review progress on construction and approve invoices. The steel framing is scheduled to be completed by the end of the month and will be celebrated with a “topping off ceremony” at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. A ceremonial beam has been painted white and will be available (just outside the construction site at the south end of the existing parking lot) for community members to sign (markers provided) until Monday. It will be available again for signing at the ceremony held in the same location (see yellow circle in thumbnail photo above for location of the beam). 

Construction of other components is also progressing with about a third of the concrete slabs installed; underground plumbing and electrical as well as drainage and water quality structure installation are also ongoing. Roofing and geothermal well installation will begin in June as well as exterior walls. Photographs documenting the building process can be seen here.

The committee approved another $3.4 million of invoices for owner project manager (OPM) Anser, designers DiNisco, general contractor CTA, consultants in testing and inspection, and Eversource for electrical. This brings the total paid to date up to $18.2 million.

The material presented by the OPM seems to include some change orders but they were not specifically discussed, nor was there an update about approval for overtime authorized to stay on schedule after a delayed start because of a bid protest. 

Also not discussed was an update about how the debt exclusion override would be impacting property tax payments (this information has been requested at the past several meetings from either this committee, town staff, or the Town Council). Also requested during public comment was an update about reimbursements for various sustainability measures.