Whitman Housing Authority approves $26,578 security system change order for Havoc Court

WHITMAN — July 14, 2025 — Whitman Housing Authority approves a $26,578 change order after security system engineer omitted key wireless feature. The board voted unanimously at its July 14 meeting to approve change order number one on the Havoc Court Security Intercom Access Project, totaling $26,578.19, after it emerged that the project engineer had failed to include wireless network connectivity that allows staff to manage resident key fobs from the office — a capability the contractor says it raised three times during the project. The executive director said the omission was unacceptable and noted the same firm has already been assigned another state-funded authority project, saying she and maintenance director John would be "quite vocal" about future cost estimates. The board also accepted two new state public housing notices, including a vacancy incentive offering a 5 percent formula funding boost for authorities that meet rapid unit-turnaround targets in fiscal year 2026, and a one-time grant of up to $10 per unit for American Revolution 250th anniversary celebrations. The authority reported nearly $36,000 in plumbing expenditures against a $12,000 budget, offset in part by approximately $17,000 in administrative fees earned managing state construction projects.