Westford Library Committee Approves $1.6 Million in Renovation Payments, Contingency at 18 Percent

Library Board of Trustees · Meeting of July 13, 2026

Westford's J.V. Fletcher Library renovation committee approved $1.6 million in June payments and fielded pointed questions about change order transparency at its July 13 joint meeting. The Joint Board of Trustees and Permanent Town Building Committee voted 13-0-0 to approve warrants totaling $1,631,760.87 and a separate $1,102.50 legal journal entry, then voted 13-0-0 to ratify a previously orphaned $4,500 contingency transfer for commissioning costs.

Owner's Project Manager Jennifer reported that the newly installed Mary Atwood skylight survived an early-July rainstorm with no moisture intrusion, though members pressed for closer review of tight flashing clearances visible in photographs. A mold-remediation change order was closed at $27,530, down from a $42,695 not-to-exceed ceiling, after negotiation with abatement consultant United Environmental Consultants. Member Jean challenged three coordination-drawing change orders totaling roughly $36,000, saying "I've never seen anyone ask for coordination drawing fees this late in the project," and the OPM agreed to attach a written PCO cause-and-history log to future agendas.

The project's contingency fund stands at $3.215 million, with 18.21 percent spent; the revised taxpayer cost is $22.12 million, with substantial completion still targeted for March 31.

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Source: the Library Board of Trustees meeting of July 13, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.