Methuen council approves $139,888 contract to replace Timoney School carpet; asbestos abatement to be handled separately
June 25, 2025 | Methuen City, Essex County, Massachusetts
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The Methuen City Council on Wednesday approved a $139,888 contract with Atkinson Carpet & Flooring to remove carpets and install vinyl composition tile (VCT) and cove base at the Timoney School.
City officials said the Timoney has the most extensive area of aging carpet and that asbestos-containing adhesive beneath carpet in older sections requires separate abatement before flooring work. "The Timoney... has the issue of needing asbestos abatement," a city official said during the meeting.
Why this matters: School officials and the mayor’s office said the Timoney’s older sections have the most extensive needs and the project will be the first in a planned series of classroom floor replacements funded through the Capital Improvement Plan. City staff told the council they intend to incorporate additional classroom carpet replacements in forthcoming CIPs for other schools.
Details of the work and schedule: School department staff said about 42 rooms across the building need replacement; of those, roughly 22 will require asbestos abatement. "Of those 42, about 22 of them need abatement... we have gone out to bid for the abatement," Mr. Gosselin said. He also said the administration expects to use school vacations, including Christmas and April breaks, to complete work in rooms that do not need abatement.
Contract and specification questions: Councilors pressed the administration on contract details. One councilor said the contract references a sketch of rooms but does not include square-foot measurements or a clear contractor warranty. Mr. Gosselin replied he would provide the sketch and room square-footage the next day: "I can get that for you tomorrow." Councilors also asked whether the contract specified the flooring product and the installer warranty; city staff said manufacturer warranties may be 5–10 years while contractor workmanship warranties typically range from one to two years.
Asbestos and abatement contracting: Councilors asked why asbestos abatement was not included in the flooring contract. City staff said abatement must be performed before flooring installation in affected rooms and that abatement bidding is proceeding under a separate contract so the flooring work can begin in non-abatement areas during school breaks.
Next steps: The council voted unanimously to approve the flooring contract. City staff will provide the requested room sketch and square footage and return any additional abatement and abatement-contractor awards to the council as separate agenda items.
City officials said the Timoney has the most extensive area of aging carpet and that asbestos-containing adhesive beneath carpet in older sections requires separate abatement before flooring work. "The Timoney... has the issue of needing asbestos abatement," a city official said during the meeting.
Why this matters: School officials and the mayor’s office said the Timoney’s older sections have the most extensive needs and the project will be the first in a planned series of classroom floor replacements funded through the Capital Improvement Plan. City staff told the council they intend to incorporate additional classroom carpet replacements in forthcoming CIPs for other schools.
Details of the work and schedule: School department staff said about 42 rooms across the building need replacement; of those, roughly 22 will require asbestos abatement. "Of those 42, about 22 of them need abatement... we have gone out to bid for the abatement," Mr. Gosselin said. He also said the administration expects to use school vacations, including Christmas and April breaks, to complete work in rooms that do not need abatement.
Contract and specification questions: Councilors pressed the administration on contract details. One councilor said the contract references a sketch of rooms but does not include square-foot measurements or a clear contractor warranty. Mr. Gosselin replied he would provide the sketch and room square-footage the next day: "I can get that for you tomorrow." Councilors also asked whether the contract specified the flooring product and the installer warranty; city staff said manufacturer warranties may be 5–10 years while contractor workmanship warranties typically range from one to two years.
Asbestos and abatement contracting: Councilors asked why asbestos abatement was not included in the flooring contract. City staff said abatement must be performed before flooring installation in affected rooms and that abatement bidding is proceeding under a separate contract so the flooring work can begin in non-abatement areas during school breaks.
Next steps: The council voted unanimously to approve the flooring contract. City staff will provide the requested room sketch and square footage and return any additional abatement and abatement-contractor awards to the council as separate agenda items.
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