Vertex, the owner’s project manager for the Charleswood Elementary School project, will seek a civil engineering expert to oversee roadwork construction during the summer of 2026.

At Tuesday’s Elementary School Building Committee meeting, Chris Eberly, Vertex project manager, explained that DPW director Kerry Reed requested there be a full-time person to observe road work in response to concerns like soil getting on the street and “other things I think are known issues.”

Eberly acknowledged, “We’ll be interrupting a significant number of residents of Hopkinton” with the street work.

Eberly said typically Hopkinton has a resident engineer who oversees all street projects. However, because there are so many projects going on at the same time, town staff is unavailable.

As a result, Eberly said, the intent is to seek a civil engineer “consistent with policies the town has with street improvements” to ensure the work is being done “the way it should.”

He noted that he reached out to VHB Engineering, the firm that designed the roadwork for the project, to get a proposal and received a rough cost in the $74,000-$80,000 range, or $185 per hour.

Member Mike Shepard said he was not comfortable hiring a consultant “from the outfit that designed it.”

“You are better off hiring [someone] not affiliated with the design of the roadwork or who oversees the roadwork for the downtown road project,” Shepard said. “Given the magnitude and importance, it should actually go out to bid.”

Eberly told the board about two options. One would involve putting together a request for proposals (RFP) similar to the one existing with Tighe and Bond, that came about at the Planning Board’s request.

The other would be to “think about this as enhanced construction administration.” That would involve an engineer familiar with the documents who understands the intent of the work and makes sure it is carried out consistently every day.

“Both scenarios are valid,” Eberly added.

Chair Jon Graziano noted, “Given the nature of the work and what is being asked here … I feel like a third party would provide better oversight.”

The ESBC gave Vertex its “direction by consensus” to put together a procurement package and find a provider for the oversight services.

Eberly said he would bring back options from “resume and cost standpoints,” and noted the project has about six months before the road work begins.

He told the board there may be minor costs involved because it was not originally something Vertex intended to pursue.

In other business, the committee heard an update from Chris Kenney, Vertex project manager, who said the work is slightly ahead of schedule with some activities, the foundation and structural steel permit was obtained, and the excavation for stormwater detention was finished.

In a budget overview, Kenney noted the following: architect (Perkins Eastman) at $8.6 million (or 71% of its contract value), Vertex at $1.5 million (33%) and construction billings (Brait Builders) at approximately $17 million (16.6%).

Startup costs for construction/roadway is at $1.4 million (2.1%).

The total budget cost is $158,422,394. Expenditures to date total $27,895,215 (23%).

Kenney also invited the committee to its “topping off’ ceremony on Monday at 3 p.m. He said a beam that was painted, adorned with decals and signed by students and staff will be raised and installed.