East Bridgewater Awards Major Contract for Central Elementary School
Massive Fill Operation to Begin in Weeks
EAST BRIDGEWATER - February 2, 2026 - The East Bridgewater Select Board took a significant step forward in the Central Elementary School project Monday night, officially awarding the Construction Manager at Risk (CM at Risk) contract to Gilbane Building Company. This milestone paves the way for immediate site mobilization, including a massive “pre-loading” operation that will see up to 90 trucks per day traversing local roads for several weeks to prepare the soil for construction. While the school project gains momentum, the town also faces stiff legal challenges as officials confirmed they have been named in a lawsuit by the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office over MBTA Communities Act non-compliance, a status already costing the town hundreds of thousands of dollars in denied state grants.
The Full Story
The meeting opened with a detailed presentation from the town’s Owner’s Project Manager (OPM), LeftField, and architects from Raymond Design Associates regarding the selection of a construction manager for the Central Elementary School project. Following a rigorous two-part “CM at Risk” process that saw nine qualified firms submit proposals, the selection subcommittee ranked Gilbane Building Company as the top choice.
“The committee decided to go construction manager at risk because it was going to be a very time-sensitive project,” explained Alyssa Chatani of LeftField [19:05]. She noted that Gilbane has a track record of never opening a school late and staying on budget. The Board voted unanimously to approve the $150,000 pre-construction contract, which is funded through the existing feasibility budget and requires no new taxpayer money at this stage [21:05].
Residents should prepare for a significant increase in heavy vehicle traffic starting in late February or early March [21:29]. Architect Steven Watchorn detailed a “pre-loading” phase where massive amounts of fill will be brought to the site—where the current softball fields are located—to settle the ground before foundation work begins next year [22:53]. Board members expressed concern over the logistical impact, with estimates suggesting between 60 to 90 trucks could enter and exit the site daily for approximately six weeks [26:19]. To mitigate the impact on schools, trucks will be subject to “blackout times” during student drop-off and pick-up, and a police detail will be stationed on Bedford Street (Route 18) to manage traffic flow [24:59].
The celebratory mood regarding the school project was tempered later in the meeting during a discussion on the town’s legal standing with the state. Town Administrator Charlie Seelig confirmed that East Bridgewater is one of nine communities officially being sued by the Attorney General’s office for failing to comply with the MBTA Communities Act zoning requirements [42:38].
Seelig reported that the non-compliant status is already impacting the town’s bottom line. “Right and left, we’re losing out,” Seelig said, referring to state grants [41:02]. Denied funding includes everything from $648 mini-grants for the Council on Aging to potential losses of $500,000 for IT and cyber security infrastructure [42:30]. Board member Katherine Mullen recommended documenting every denied grant and its specific impact to present to the town’s legislative delegation [53:38].
In more positive fiscal news, the FY27 budget outlook was described as “less worse” than initially feared [45:12]. Seelig noted that health insurance rate increases, originally projected at 12–15%, may drop to 6–8% due to plan changes by the Group Insurance Commission [46:04]. Additionally, the town is exploring a strategy to use roughly $2 million in OPEB (Other Post-Employment Benefits) funds to help pay for retiree insurance premiums, potentially freeing up hundreds of thousands of dollars to offset the general budget deficit [46:46].
“This is not a solution to our problem, but it certainly what we would have to go through during the next year should be less severe than we thought it was going to be.” [48:30] — Charlie Seelig, Town Administrator
Why It Matters
The awarding of the Gilbane contract moves the town closer to a brand-new elementary school, but the upcoming six-week trucking operation will test the patience and safety of residents on Route 18. Simultaneously, the MBTA lawsuit places East Bridgewater in a precarious legal and financial position; the “hundreds of thousands” in lost grant money must eventually be made up by local taxpayers or through service cuts if compliance is not reached.
Official Minutes & Data
Key Motions & Votes
Motion: To approve the contract with Gilbane as construction manager at risk for the Central Elementary School project.
Vote: Unanimous ([28:34])
Motion: To wave interest and demand fees for 127 Village Road for water department bills.
Vote: Unanimous ([30:41])
Motion: To approve revisions to the personnel policy regarding vehicle use (primary insurance on personal vehicles for town business and mandatory accident reporting).
Vote: Unanimous ([40:05])
Public Comment
George and Natalya Doucette of Hayward Road addressed the board regarding a year-long “debacle” in their neighborhood involving a neighbor’s unpermitted construction, alleged hazardous conditions (burying tires), and a pending Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) permit near a wetland buffer zone [01:46]. George expressed frustration with the building inspector and requested the board intervene to pause permits until property lines are clearly established [08:53]. The Board agreed to have the Town Administrator research the jurisdictional boundaries of the Select Board versus the Conservation Commission and Building Department [11:34].
What’s Next
The Select Board entered into Executive Session at the conclusion of the public meeting to discuss strategy regarding collective bargaining for firefighters and clerical staff, as well as the ongoing litigation with the Commonwealth regarding the MBTA community zoning statute [55:26]. The Board did not reconvene in open session.
Source Video: EBCAM