Maynard Select Board approves $412,000 Green Meadow change order, eyes regional dispatch

MAYNARD — September 18, 2025 — Maynard Select Board approves $412,685 Green Meadow construction change order and eyes regional dispatch shift. The board unanimously approved change order number two with CTA Construction Managers LLC for the new Green Meadow Elementary School, covering structural upgrades to the solar parking canopy and a sewer redesign negotiated down from roughly $275,000 to approximately $168,500 — all within existing contingency budgets, according to Vernon Group project manager Chris. Town Administrator Gregory Wilson briefed the board on a potential intermunicipal dispatch agreement with a regional consortium serving about 15 communities, projecting town costs of $166,000 in year four and $265,000 in year five, described as "considerably less" than the current dispatch budget; the board directed Wilson to bring the regional director in for a formal presentation before any vote. A contentious debate over Special Town Meeting solar warrant articles ended with the board stripping Fowler Middle School from articles five and six after a remote School Committee member raised concerns the committee had never been formally asked to authorize property reuse — with solar consultant Beth Greenblat warning that failure to pass the articles could make solar installation at Green Meadow economically unviable given federal tax credit uncertainty. The board also unanimously approved a new contract for Director of Public Works Justin DeMarco running through June 30, 2028, and converted eight special police officers to unarmed traffic officers, shedding costly accreditation and equipment obligations.