Library Building Committee Approves $100,000 Pipe Installation Directive Unanimously

WESTBOROUGH -- February 3, 2026, Westborough Library Building Committee unanimously approved a $100,000 construction change directive for pipe installation at the ongoing library renovation. The nine-member committee voted 9-0 Tuesday to issue the capped, time-and-materials directive rather than accept a $215,000 lump-sum proposal from mechanical subcontractor Performance, a strategy validated by results from the previous directive, which authorized up to $50,000 for pipe demolition now expected to cost less than $20,000. The project manager, representing LPA, told the committee he "couldn't possibly make a recommendation to accept a lump sum $215,000 after what we just found with the demolition costs." Brian Forrest of Vertex, the owner's representative, noted that all schedule-extension claims from general contractor Seaver Construction will be scrutinized rigorously before any additional days are recommended for approval, with the contract baseline set at September 1 for substantial completion. The new directive leaves the project's construction contingency at approximately $673,000.