SAUGUS – The Belmonte Middle School Building Committee voted Monday to approve $37,000 in change orders for the middle school repair project.These four change requests include additional window shades for $27,000, 17 additional sprinkler heads for $7,700 to be installed under the stairwell and $1,600 to power a kiln that had to be moved because it was in the way of a sprinkler head.Jim Dowd, project manager for Skanska USA Builders, said there was already $25,000 approved for new shades in the contract, which would bring the new total for shades to $52,000.?The existing shades didn?t line up with the new windows so we ended up getting pricing on replacing all of the shades in the school,” said Dowd. “We went through this through every conceivable angle. We have all thoroughly vetted this issue.”Dowd also said adding additional sprinkler heads is “not an uncommon change.”With the vote, that leaves $296,000 in contingency money. There was originally $609,000 in contingency money at the start of the project and Dowd said he forecasts about $210,000 remaining if some anticipated changes need to happen.?Some may come to fruition and some may not,” he said. “Last month I was forecasting our contingency would be at $210,000 so we?re staying on a good pace.”The committee also discussed style, location and costs for lettering on the school?s new facade, which will say “Augustine J. Belmonte Middle School.”Costs range from $1,700 for 10-inch letters in Arial font to $10,000 for 18-inch letters.Options ranged from lettering on the inside wall above the entrance to the far left wall of the school. The committee agreed on the first option, which has the school name above and to the left of the main entrance of the school in 18-inch, black helvetica font. It will cost a little more than $4,000 for the lettering and about $2,200 for installation.The committee will vote on the lettering at its next meeting on March 25.Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].
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