Board approves special payments, contract invoice settlements and a budget transfer

The board cleared several administrative and financial items on March 27, including payment of validated invoices and a budget transfer.

Facilities staff reported they audited Johnson Controls invoices and found the billed work corresponded to work orders or staff requests; Johnson Controls representatives said they performed the work in good faith and requested prompt payment. The board approved a special payment for validated work immediately and directed staff to continue negotiating any remaining items.

Separately, the board approved a budget transfer moving $200,000 from MSBU fire reserves to the appropriate budget to satisfy an HR settlement decision made on Feb. 27. That motion passed 4–1, with Commissioner Cornell recorded in dissent. The board also moved several consent items and deferred or pulled several agenda items for future consideration as requested by staff.

No further fiscal commitments for new programs were authorized at the meeting; payments approved were for previously validated work or to address identified liabilities.