The Johnstown Town Council voted 6-0 Monday night to approve a $14,997,161 guaranteed maximum price contract with Fransen Pittman Construction Co. for the Town’s new Senior Center, moving the long-planned facility into the construction phase. Councilmember Damien Berg was absent from the meeting, while the six remaining members voted in favor.
The contract calls for work to begin on or before Nov. 2, 2026, with substantial completion scheduled for Nov. 5, 2027. Town Manager Matt LeCerf told Council construction could potentially begin before the Nov. 2 contractual start date.
Councilmember Dee Anne Menzies emphasized the desire to move quickly, saying during the discussion, “We want to get a shovel in the ground.” The comment came as Council moved from months of design and cost discussions into the construction phase of the project.
Contract sets maximum construction price
The agreement identifies Fransen Pittman Construction Co. as the contractor for the Town of Johnstown Senior Center Facility, with Collab Architecture serving as the project architect. The contract describes the project as construction of a new ground-up Senior Center and recreation-use spaces for the Town.
Under the agreement, the contract sum is structured as the cost of the work plus a contractor fee, with a guaranteed maximum price of $14,997,161. The amount may be adjusted through additions or deductions approved by change order under the contract.
The GMP includes a 2.5% construction contingency totaling $374,929. Fransen Pittman is required to report contingency draws before using the funds, and any amount remaining at final completion will reduce the cost of the work to the Town.
Project plans identify the facility at 550 Mountain Bluebird Drive. The plans show the Senior Center building along with parking areas, internal drives, sidewalks and landscaping planned for the site.
Project changed following recreation district discussions
Monday’s contract award follows a significant project discussion in August, when Town officials were preparing for the possibility that Thompson Rivers Parks & Recreation District would leave the planned partnership. The building had originally been designed with Senior Center space, recreation district space and a multipurpose area.
At that time, Fransen Pittman had submitted an initial guaranteed maximum price of approximately $15.05 million for onsite construction and improvements. A third-party estimate commissioned by the Town placed that work at approximately $14.47 million, a difference of about $586,000.
When off-site improvements were included, the project estimate presented in August was approximately $15.9 million. Town staff also said the project had originally been budgeted at $10 million.
The Town Council ultimately directed staff to keep the Senior Center portion of the building in its existing configuration while eliminating approximately 915 square feet from the east wing. The remaining east-wing space would be left unfinished for potential future Town use, and the motion passed unanimously at the Aug. 17 meeting.
Town staff said that approach would allow the project to continue without the approximately 60-day delay associated with a more extensive redesign. The decision also allowed staff to complete the construction agreement and return to Council with a project award in September.
The Johnstown Republic previously reported on the redesign discussion, the recreation district’s anticipated departure and the earlier project cost estimates as the Town worked toward a final construction agreement. That earlier story provides additional background on how the project reached Monday night’s contract vote.
Construction could begin before November
The final contract requires Fransen Pittman to begin work on or before Nov. 2, but LeCerf told Council the contractor may be able to begin sooner. The agreement sets a substantial completion deadline of Nov. 5, 2027, subject to adjustments allowed under the contract.
Monday night’s approval completes the construction award Town officials had anticipated bringing back to Council after the August design decision. With the contract approved, the project can now move from design and cost planning toward construction.
