Panel defers $24,147 tariff cost dispute
The Reading Permanent Building Committee approved a $7,072.20 change order but deferred a $24,147 steel tariff charge pending a town counsel opinion.
Other Committee · Meeting of September 2, 2026
READING — The Reading Permanent Building Committee approved a $7,072.20 change order but deferred a $24,147 steel tariff charge pending a town counsel opinion. Member Kirk McCormick argued the contract's general conditions, section 3.14.2, make the contractor responsible for tariffs, asking "what the justification is for shifting the risk... from the contractor to the owner." The panel also reelected John Coote as chair and Nancy Toomey as vice chair, voted unanimously to form a seven-member furniture and fixtures working group, and elected Mark Doxa, 6-1, as its representative. Project manager Peter reported the build is 31 percent through its schedule at 24 percent of budget, with $164,316.42 in prior change orders and a $124,045.14 builder's risk insurance payment drawn from contingency funds.
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Source: the Other Committee meeting of September 2, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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