A third-party geotechnical engineer from Haley and Aldrich will offer an opinion on why the soil is not infiltrating on a part of the Charleswood School site.

During Tuesday’s meeting, the Elementary School Building Committee (ESBC) heard about the problem and the conflicting explanations offered by Brait Builders and Samiotes Consultants.

Chris Eberly of Vertex (the owner’s project manager) noted, “Rather than get into a he said/he said with two engineers, bringing in a third party seems reasonable at this time.”

Eberly said in the past, Vertex and architect Perkins Eastman expressed concern when Brait Builders was “stockpiling with tree clearing and boulders” in an area that was to remain protected (including erosion control) as designated in construction documents and the logistics plan.

“Eventually, the materials were moved,” according to Eberly, “but they were replaced with a sediment basin, intentional or not … where ponding gathered most of the fall into winter.”

Samiotes issued a statement of non-conformance, asserting there were issues in that area, said Eberly.

When infiltrometer testing was repeated, Eberly said, the area Brait used as a sediment basin and for soil stockpiling was unable to pass any water in four locations. It was abandoned at multiple depths in the infiltration system.

In contrast, in a protected area, the results of the retest were almost the same as when tests were conducted as part of the initial permitting process.

In addition to water not passing through, sediment control and dust management are other issues that prompted architect Perkins Eastman through Samiotes to send Brait a non-conformance notice. Engineers said the test results were because of the stockpiling and potential for sediment gathering.

In response, a letter from Brait contended that the design assumptions were not appropriate, and disclaimers in the original testing stated the soil was heterogenous and couldn’t be relied upon to produce the same results in different locations, Eberly relayed.

“[Brait] asserts the soil does not drain, and we should have expected that,” Eberly noted.

Engineers on both sides of the issue said they would respect a third-party opinion on the matter.

In between meetings, ESBC chair Jon Graziano gave the go-ahead to allocate $15,000 for the Haley & Aldrich review. The total cost with markup is $16,500.

Eberly said if the soil is not infiltrating because of the contractor’s actions, Brait will be back-charged full costs and for the second round of tests.

“Should it be found they can’t continue this work, Brait may make a claim related to this issue,” the project manager said. He added the matter should not be discussed at length in open session if that happens.

ESBC member Bill Flannery asked if the situation would delay the project. Eberly replied that it is premature to make a judgment about timing, but he added if the contractor’s action led to timing problems, it would be Brait’s responsibility to get back on schedule.

The third-party engineers also would be available to advise on how to resolve the problem at the contractor’s expense, Eberly added.

Eversource, roadwork may overlap

Vertex project manager Chris Kenney described a second issue involving getting an access agreement issued for a tall pine tree located on private property at 143 Hayden Rowe Street.

Graziano is in the process of negotiating with the resident for its removal.

There is a delay in getting Eversource utilities relocated, and the worry is that the project’s roadway work will conflict with putting up power lines, Kenney said.

Roadwork is slated to begin after June 25, when school lets out for the summer.

Eberly said he found it “somewhat frustrating” that Eversource raised the matter when the poles were in place and could potentially “overlap” when roadwork starts.

In other business, ESBC members and Eberly and Kenney thanked Susan Rothermich for her many years of service to the district and this project.

Eberly said he appreciated her “experience and attention to detail,” noting, “We’ll miss you.”

He added, “You have big shoes to fill,” addressing Jeff LaBroad, who will assume her duties related to the Charleswood project. Rothermich is retiring at the end of June.