Westborough Library Committee Approves $149,300 in Construction Change Directives

WESTBOROUGH — June 30, 2026 — Westborough Library Building Committee clears $149,300 in construction change directives as project targets late-August completion. The committee voted 9-0 on June 30 to approve Construction Change Directive 11, a 14-item package covering work ranging from freeze protection at the boiler room to $69,000 in sidewalk replacement along West Main Street and Parkman Street — of which the Department of Public Works has committed to reimburse 20 percent. Vertex project manager Steve Farron told the committee that general contractor Seaver Construction's revised schedule shows a September 1 finish date, and that the consolidated CCD was designed to "keep the pressure on" and eliminate pricing delays that had repeatedly stalled the work. With full NTE spend, $164,000 remains in the construction contingency. The committee also voted 9-0 to approve Amendment 4 to Vertex's contract, adding MEP commissioning and construction testing services within existing budget lines. A subsequent motion to reaffirm the existing Bowler Engineering landscape plan — which includes 20 liriope plants flagged by a public commenter as potentially invasive — deadlocked 4-4 and failed, leaving the prior approved plan in place while the project team was directed to explore a substitute ground cover without affecting the project schedule.