Reading building panel approves $50,000 interim change-order authorization

The Reading Permanent Building Committee voted unanimously to adopt an interim change-order authorization policy that allows a designated financial working group, led operationally by Joe Huggin, to approve change orders up to $50,000 between full monthly meetings.

The motion — to "adopt the change order authorization policy of 50,000 for through Joe Huggin and the financial working group as outlined" — was moved and seconded during agenda item 7A and passed on a roll-call vote: Nancy Tumi (yes), John Coot (yes), Kirk McCormack (yes), Michael Nazaro (yes), Ari Greenberg (yes), Ron Powell (yes), and Pat Tommpkins (yes).

Committee members said the change-authority is intended to prevent costly delays. One committee member noted the approach is consistent with how the library building committee handled interim authorizations and that a decision-maker is necessary to keep construction from stalling between monthly meetings. The motion includes a requirement that staff summarize any such authorizations to the full committee within a few days and present a fuller account at the next monthly meeting.

The chair and staff emphasized the process is written to require a written proposal, evaluation by designer and OPM, recommendation to the financial working group and a formal authorization in writing (either a fixed lump sum or a time-and-materials cap), with subsequent reporting to the committee.

The committee also noted the financial working group will receive initial notice of significant proposed change orders before the group authorizes work. No dissenting votes were recorded and members said they expect the mechanism to speed routine, time-sensitive actions while preserving full committee oversight.