Questions surround study for Marblehead school construction

MARBLEHEAD – Stung by the June override defeat of the $28.8 million Glover-Eveleth School project, School Committee member Dick Nohelty had some harsh questions for architect Gregory Smolley and Owner?s Project Manager Chuck Adam on the extension of the Glover feasibility study Thursday evening.?Was this project the best one and if so, why are we backing away from it?” Nohelty asked. “I think the building we came up with should be built. If we don?t have the stomach for that we should step down. This makes everyone in town wonder what we?re doing.”?We need to get the town behind the project and see if we can simplify it,” Kathy Leonardson told him.Three residents who said they voted against the Glover project were present. Bradley Freeman argued in favor of building at the Eveleth School site, which is small but without ledge, and John Riley and David Borden said they wanted to watch the process.Nohelty?s frustration may stem from recent events: for about a month after the Glover project failed by 70 votes, the Glover School Building Committee was prepared to bring its original proposal back for a fall Town Meeting and override election as the only way to guarantee 40 percent reimbursement from the Massachusetts School Building Authority.On July 28, however, the MSBA approved its first Model Schools or standard designs for elementary schools, with an offer of 39 percent reimbursement. The committee then voted to approve a $94,600 extension of the feasibility study, including site study and design that could result in a lower construction cost.Smolley said a town backhoe was used to dig 10 test pits at the Glover site Thursday, to obtain better information about the amount of ledge there.School Business Manager Brian Salzer said $23,500 is available in the Glover feasibility study contingency fund and the remaining $71,100 in school operating funds can come from the town?s share of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) aid.Nohelty joined the School Committee in unanimous support for the extension, the use of $71,100 in operating funds, the expenditure of $23,500 on site investigation, $32,500 on design, $38,600 on owner?s project management services and sending a letter informing the MSBA of the committee?s actions.Nohelty also expressed misgivings about the School Committee?s apparent lack of information and control over change orders at the Marblehead Village School project – a committee member serves on the Village School Building Oversight Committee and the superintendent of schools signs change orders as the School Committee?s agent.Superintendent of Schools Paul Dulac said he would make inquiries and report to the committee.?You can update the policy or have me create a procedure for this,” he said. “It?s imperative to show the townspeople we?re watching this,” Nohelty said, indicating the committee?s three visitors.