During an unusually short 15-minute meeting on Tuesday, the Elementary School Building Committee approved invoices and announced an upcoming community forum.

The committee authorized total payment of $651,151.35 to Vertex and Perkins Eastman for costs associated with the new Elmwood School project.

Of that total, $454,289.77 was appropriated for design work by architect Perkins Eastman.

Chairman Jon Graziano noted that “there is nothing extra,” and the invoices are funded through money Town Meeting approved last fall for the project.

Additionally, the committee approved funds “not to exceed” $6,000 for Vertex to contract backhoe services with William Deiana.

Tim Persson, who is the schools facility director, said this money is for the excavator to dig test holes that will be filled back in afterward.

When asked about access issues like what were encountered with geothermal well testing, he said the problem then was the condition of the road to get a truck to the back of the site. This is a different situation without that issue, he said.

The committee also selected March 27 at 7 p.m. to hold a public forum as required by the review process of the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act office.

Outreach needs to be demonstrated to residents living in an environmental justice community, targeting people who otherwise may be marginalized.

Graziano said the South Asian Circle of Hopkinton would be helping to sponsor the forum.

Graziano said he would also be sending out a town-wide survey to residents about the Elmwood School replacement project, even though votes for passage already were successful last fall.

He said getting feedback and questions is “still critical” as the project proceeds through the design and permitting phases.

Graziano noted despite the committee’s efforts, past forums had been “lightly attended.”