Holyoke High School will get upgrades officials had thought were beyond the project cost, like 280 new doors.
Holyoke City Councilor Rebecca LisiHOLYOKE – Additional work like improvements to science laboratories and replacement of nearly 300 doors at Holyoke High School will get done without having to borrow more money, officials said Tuesday.
The upgrades will occur thanks to the City Council’s 14-1 vote at City Hall to make a language change in an existing bond authorization for the $23 million project.
The extra work is possible because proposals from contractors in 2009 to do the work came in $6 million less than budgeted, said John P. Brunelle, a School Building Advisory Committee member.
The first phase of the ongoing renovations at the school included replacement of the heating system, addition of air conditioning, a new fire alarm system and installation of all new windows.
Having money left over allows for revamping of the science labs and nurses area, both of which were cited as being inadequate in an accreditation report from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, officials said.
Also, more than 280 doors will be replaced, asbestos tiles in hallways will be replaced and improvements will be made to the choral and band rooms and the girls’ lockerroom, officials said.
The state School Building Authority is reimbursing the city for 90 percent of the high school renovation costs, officials said.
The City Council vote was necessary to change language because the bond authorization permitted a limited scope of work based on previous cost estimates, officials said.
“What happened is the bids came in lower than expected. There’s plenty of other things that still need to be done at the high school,” Mayor Elaine A. Pluta, chairwoman of the School Committee, said later.
Council Finance Committee Chairman Todd A. McGee said in presenting the order about the language change in the bond authorization that the order didn’t entail additional borrowing.
“This is not going to cost the city any money, this is part of the original bond?” Ward 1 Councilor Donald R. Welch said.
“Correct,” McGee said.
Councilor at Large Rebecca Lisi voted no because she objected to the wording of the order, which noted there would be “an additional” appropriation.
"Do we know if there's any reason for this to be worded this way?" Lisi said.
City Treasurer Jon D. Lumbra said it had to be worded that way because the City Council was being asked to change language in the original bond authorization and that’s how the original authorization was worded.
A focus on maximizing budgeted money means that additional and needed improvements at the school can get done, said William R. Collamore, School Committe vice chairman, after the meeting.
"I think it's wonderful that the City Council is doing this," Collamore said.
Voting in favor of the change in the bond authorization language were council President Joseph M. McGiverin and councilors Diosdado Lopez, Anthony M. Keane, Timothy W. Purington, Linda L. Vacon, John J. O’Neill, Aaron M. Vega, Kevin A. Jourdain, Brenna E. Murphy, Patricia C. Devine, James M. Leahy, Peter R. Tallman, McGee and Welch.