Work At FHS Will Extend Beyond Deadline

     TLT President Thomas Kostinden and Executive Vice President Christopher R. Cormier will meet with town and project officials on Monday to tour Falmouth High School.
     The meeting comes as the Falmouth High School renovation nears its next deadline, August 8, in which town officials expect TLT Construction Corporation of Wakefield, the general contractor, to conclude phase one of the project.
     However, Mr. Cormier said in a phone interview yesterday, that this portion of the project will not be finished until at least two weeks after that deadline.
     That could pose a problem, and some residents wondered at yesterday’s Falmouth High School Building Committee meeting what the town could do if TLT does not finish phase one by the second week of August.
     Committee member John K. Scanlan said the town could notify the bonding company. Because there are performance bonds imbedded in TLT’s contract, he said, the bonding company would have two options. They could either work side-by-side with TLT to ensure they finish the project, he said, or they could opt to go with another general contractor.
     Mr. Scanlan said the town will be sending a letter to TLT tomorrow demanding by next Tuesday that they produce a recovery schedule in order to finish phase one by August 8.
     Douglas L. Correllus of Boxberry Hill Road, Hatchville, was concerned about the manpower at the site, noting that there were very few cars at the high school. “They must all carpool,” he said of the workers, joking that “maybe the trolley is bringing them to work.”
     Mr. Scanlan said the manpower is double what it was a few weeks ago and was confident the work can get done by the proposed deadline.
     Despite this Mr. Correllus was frustrated that TLT continues to remain part of the project and compared the renovation to the Big Dig in Boston. “We should have stopped this a year and a half ago,” he said. “[This project] didn’t start off right in the first place,” noting that the town should have had a contract with TLT that had firm deadlines and penalties for not meeting them.
     Computer Equipment
     In other news, the building committee approved the purchase of $103,603 worth of computers, wireless network connections, and anti-virus software. That will include a total of 120 desktop computers and five laptop computers.
     The equipment will be purchased in time for the start of the new school year and be used in House A.
     Over half of the money will be used to purchase 75 computers for three computer labs, including an advanced graphics lab, an open lab, and the library. Another 40 computers at $644 each will be purchased for each permanent classroom in House A. Five desktop computers are for secretarial staff. 
     In August, Marc P. Dupuis, assistant superintendent for finance and human resources, said he will present the second phase of the purchase, which will include projectors, SMART boards, and printers for House A, to the committee.
     The committee also authorized Mr. Dupuis to solicit proposals from three firms for the planning, coordination, and bidding of the purchase of school furniture and equipment.
     Based upon the proposals, Mr. Dupuis will recommend a firm to the committee in order to coordinate the process. That service, which includes meeting with staff to review furniture options, preparing specific project budgets, and laying out overall furniture needs, Mr. Dupuis said, is generally provided by the firm at no cost to the town.
     The majority of the furniture, he said, will be purchased at the end of the project. He estimated the cost of furniture and equipment to be roughly $2 million.