Permanent Building Committee Warns of Cost Overruns for New Junior High School as Subcontract Bids Exceed Estimates-October 27, 1967

Bidding “Gone Wild” Pushes Subcontract Low Bids to $1.14 Million

Subcontractor bids for Norwood’s proposed junior high school opened at noon yesterday, revealing cost figures that virtually guarantee the town will have to request additional funding. Representative Frank Quann of architectural firm Korslund, LeNormand and Quann reported to the permanent building committee that low bids across 17 subcontracting categories totaled $1,146,379.

Because subcontracts typically account for approximately 43 percent of total construction expenses, committee member Ernest G. Paciorcowski warned that exceeding the project’s original $2,995,000 appropriation is now inevitable: “Only a miracle will save us from going over our appropriation… It’s a foregone conclusion we’re going to have to ask for more money at the special town meeting.”

Committee Chairman Justin C. Barton cited soaring labor, materials, and contracting costs across the region, observing that “bidding has gone wild.” Quann noted that 71 percent of new public schools built in Massachusetts this year have required supplementary appropriations before completion, adding that statewide school construction costs are set to jump from $25 to $30 per square foot next week for the 117,110-square-foot facility. Quann expressed disappointment that despite sending out over 93 sets of blueprints, relatively few contractors submitted proposals, leaving only one or two bids in several key categories. General bids for the project are due next Thursday, with eight major contractors expected to compete.

List of Low Subcontract Bids Filed

• Pre-cast concrete: Eastern Fireproofing Corp. (Wakefield) – $39,207
• Masonry (lowest unrestricted): Lusalon Inc. (Burlington) – $270,550
• Roofing & flashing: Burgess and Blacher (Boston) – $33,350
• Metal windows: Eastern Sash Engineering Corp. (Warwick, R.I.) – $14,337
• Waterproofing: Western Waterproofing Co. (Boston) – $8,460
• Miscellaneous & ornamental ironwork: Star Steel Corp. (North Grafton) – $26,480
• Lathing & plastering: Pasco Construction Corp. (Chelsea) – $97,490
• Acoustical tile: The Cheviot Corp. (Needham) – $45,364
• Ceramic & quarry tile: Western Tile Co. (Boston) – $50,000
• Terrazzo: De Paoli Mosaic Co. – $6,900
• Resilient floors: Mari and Sons Flooring (Somerville) – $19,874
• Glass & glazing: Empire Plate and Window Glass (Cambridge) – $17,842
• Painting: Johnson Foster Co. (Somerville) – $28,438
• Plumbing: E.C. Kelly (Knowlton) – $171,655
• Heating & ventilating: Harding, Welding and Piping Corp. (Quincy) – $207,217
• Electrical: Hixon Electric Co. (Braintree) – $358,890
• Kitchen equipment: Peters and Co. (Dorchester) – $55,082

Selectmen Align University Avenue Street Numbers with Westwood

In municipal government action, the Board of Selectmen voted to align street addresses on University Avenue in Norwood sequentially with existing address numbers in neighboring Westwood. The ruling follows a formal request by Star Market, which constructed a major warehouse complex within the Norwood Industrial Park along the cross-town thoroughfare.

Local Republican Town Committee Hosts Autumn Dinner-Dance

In community news, the Norwood Republican Town Committee will host a smorgasbord dinner and dance tomorrow evening at the American Legion Hall. Organization committee members Barbara A. Barton (359 Prospect St.), Edith H. Bloom (316 Washington St.), and Ralph B. Hersey Jr. (30 Chatham Rd.) are handling ticket sales for the event, which features cocktails at 6:30 p.m. and live music by Ernie Gotham.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger