Building Permit Still Pending for Jones Library Expansion Project.  New Extra Costs Reported

Report on the Meeting of the Jones Library Building Committee, August 11, 2025

This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded.

Amherst Building Commissioner Rob Morra informed the Indy that while the Jones Library demolition and expansion project received a demolition permit several months ago, it has not yet received a building permit. Morra wrote in an email, “We are still collecting and reviewing information. We did receive an updated TEDI (Thermal Energy Demand Intensity) and HVAC package about 10 days ago from the design team but have not reviewed it yet. The design team is currently working on gathering other requested information from our initial review. We expect to get back into reviewing updated documents later this month.” 

This lack of a building permit and its significance for what kind of work can be accomplished now was not shared with the Jones Library Building Committee at its August 11, meeting.

According to Trey Logie of Colliers, the Owner’s Project Manager (OPM) for the Jones Library demolition and expansion project, work is proceeding on schedule with the site work largely completed, and work beginning on the interior of the 1928 building. Despite holding a monthly meeting, the Jones Library Building Committee (JLBC) was again asked to approve invoices for change orders that had already been paid.

Remaining Trees on the Site Protected
After removing more than a dozen trees including the large Norway spruce tree in front of the Amherst Historical Museum Building (The Strong House), Fontaine Brothers Construction protected the trees that will remain with fencing. The company also protected the site with erosion barriers during construction. When asked if the town granted permission for the removal of the large Norway spruce, the town’s Capital Projects Manager Bob Peirent said that permission was not needed, since the tree was on private property. JLBC member Alex Lefebvre stated that she was present at the time the tree was taken down and that although it looked healthy, there was a lot of damage inside the tree.

A second egress from the rear of the Drake was preserved by constructing a five-foot wide path of crushed stone from the rear door to the sidewalk. Also, an emergency rear exit to the site was added at the request of the Amherst Fire Department. 

Historic Mahogany Protected During Construction
The work on the interior of the library is beginning on the third floor. Rare Philippine mahogany woodwork that is to remain in the renovated structure is being covered for protection. Woodwork that will not be retained is being carefully removed and will be stored at the former VFW site that is being used as a staging area. The mahogany being removed will hopefully be reused by the town or in another historic project located elsewhere. 

The drop ceilings on the third floor have been removed to provide access to utilities.

Budget Update
Peirent presented the committee with the budget report and invoices since the July 14 meeting. Extra costs totaling $595,800 from three change orders were approved by Town Manager Paul Bockelman. These change orders were a $510,812 increase in changing from simulated slate roof to real slate on the 1928 building, $37,686 for a temporary fire alarm system, and $47,306 for additional wood salvage. The sub-bid for the slate roof was $495,00, but Fontaine Brothers added a five percent mark-up and additional money for added insurance, as is allowed. The temporary fire alarm system was required by the Amherst Fire Department to protect the building during construction when the system that had previously protected the building is turned off. The demolition could not begin until the temporary fire alarm system is in place, so, Peirent asserted,  there was no time to bring that expense to the JLBC before it was approved. All change orders need to be signed by the OPM, Fontaine Brothers, and the Town Manager. The town is the owner of the construction contract.

Invoices approved at this meeting were: $19,000 for storage of materials to be paid over the next 24 months, $422,000 to Fontaine Brothers for site preparation, $5,500 to Finegold Alexander Architects (FAA) for civil engineering, $64,000 to FAA for remaining payments for the architect and construction administration, $14,563 to Colliers for OPM services, and $21,000 for the September rent for the temporary space on University Drive. Details of the invoices can be viewed here.

There was no public comment. JLBC Chair Austin Sarat concluded the meeting with a comment that “the level of coordination between the architect, contractor and OPM is extraordinary.”