Jones Library Building Committee Approves Lots of Spending, Gets Little Information

The Jones Library Building Committee (JLBC) met on July 14, 2025 – just their second meeting since April when the town committed to the demolition/expansion project by signing a general construction contract with Fontaine Bros. Most of the updates provided were by Town Special Projects Manager Bob Peirent who indicated that his role would be dropping off greatly after this meeting since Colliers has been brought back in as Owner’s Project Manager (OPM).

Committee member and District 4 Town Councilor Pam Rooney said that several of her constituents had expressed questions and concerns over the impact of construction on the downtown area and have requested a meeting with those in charge. Town Manager Paul Bockelman said that the meeting would have to be with the contractors and Peirent added that they had met with the owners of the CVS that is adjacent to the site. He said they are “still narrowing in on a start date” and that the contract only anticipated construction work being performed on Mondays through Fridays, unless a decision is made to change that. Neither a construction schedule nor a staging strategy was presented during the meeting. 

Town Treasurer/Collector Jennifer LaFountain presented several invoices to be approved by the committee, several of which had already been paid with Peirent’s approval in May and June. Rooney asked that those that had already been paid (for a total of ~$120,000) be voted on separately but committee chair and Jones Library Trustees President Austin Sarat did not allow that. Rooney followed up by asking why some invoices had been paid and Peirent said they were “time critical” and no meetings of the JLBC were scheduled when they were due. The invoices included three ~$21,000 monthly rent payments to Slobody Development Corp. for temporary space at 101 University Drive, two ~$73,000 payments to Pioneer Moving and Home Services, nearly $40,000 for the Finegold Alexander Architects, nearly $17,000 for Colliers, and nearly $388,000 for Fontaine Bros. The total amount of spending approved exceeded $650,000. Packet materials, including invoices, can be found here, here, and here.

Peirent further reported that the anticipated ~$1 million HUD grant for the project has not yet been received but that conversations with HUD staff indicated that the required Environmental Review was complete and the matter now rests with the Congressional Grant Director.

The roof subcontract went back out to rebid in late June with bids due on July 15. The Attorney General’s Office required that this portion of the project be rebid because of the change in roofing materials for the 1928 section of the building being switched from artificial to genuine slate as a result of the Section 106 historic preservation review process. The bids will be received as hard copy only, not electronically, and are not visible on the BIDDOCS website. The Indy’s requests to Peirent for additional information about the prequalification process and the results of the rebid did not receive a response by the time of this posting.

Peirent was not certain about when “mobilization”, that is, the preparatory work on site before construction can begin would start. He said that he asked Fontaine Bros. to “hold off mobilizing for another week, because we want to get 100% through the HUD Grant process so we don’t put those funds at risk.” He did report that two Norway spruce trees between the library and the Strong House would be removed because arborists who were hired to make sure the trees that were to be retained were properly cared for during construction felt that the spruces were “unsafe” – something that had not been discussed before now. According to Peirent, Fontaine Bros. “agreed to remove that tree at no cost, because it does simplify their logistics as well, and reduces some of the tree protection they have to do.” 

Rooney inquired about the original rare Philippine mahogany woodwork (see also here) and requested to participate in a walk through along with members of the Amherst Historical Commission to make sure the disposition of all the pieces is in accordance with the stipulations of the Memorandum of Agreement from the Section 106 process (see also here, here, and  here). Sarat resisted, claiming at first that this was the responsibility of the OPM and later of the General Contractor. Rooney suggested that given the intense interest in this aspect of the project, it would be a good will gesture to allow community members with historical expertise to participate. Kirk Logie (from Colliers) said that they will be identifying the woodwork before any is removed. Peirent also said that he has been in touch with Steven Smolsky, a retired wood science consultant from Shutesbury, who has volunteered to assist in the proper identification of the woodwork.

Two people spoke during public comment. Maria Kopicki of south Amherst criticized the committee for not having meetings to discuss and approve invoices before they were paid, not asking about expenditures or contracts, not asking about the roof rebidding process, and not asking about a construction schedule or staging plan. She said, “There is not a lot of trust in this process or this committee and if you don’t do your jobs, you’re not going to build trust.”

Hetty Startup of north Amherst and member of the Amherst Historical Commission and participant in the Section 106 review said she had asked about participating in a walk through regarding the historic interior millwork. She agreed with Rooney, “It would be a goodwill gesture to have an opportunity to look at a part of the process that was a sticking point.”

The next meeting of the JLBC will be on Monday, August 11, 2025 at 5 p.m. on Zoom.