Hudson Construction Inc. of Hermitage has entered a settlement agreement with Brookfield Local schools and the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission that heads off litigation related to claims of water leaks caused by “defective work” when the school was built in 2011.

Hudson, the prime construction contractor, will remove brick veneer flashing and metal panels near the roof line of the cafeteria and one of the gyms that consultant WJE Inc. said were “not installed in accordance with the plans and specifications”; work with WJE to identify possible further leaks; and repair and replace materials. There will be no cost to the district, school Supt. Toby Gibson said.

promoThe agreement, approved by the school board Sept. 16 and Hudson Construction President Mark Hudson Sept. 21, specifies that Hudson does not admit its work was shoddy, but that all parties agreed to the remedial work “to avoid the expense and uncertainty of litigation.”

OFCC, the district’s partner in the building construction, had advertised for bids for the work, but the agreement heads off action on those bids, Gibson said. An OFCC spokesman said the commission approved the agreement Oct. 22, and Hudson began work upon the school board’s approval.

Gibson said the work will not impact any school activities. “The work that they’re gonna do on the roof can be done while we’re in session,” he said.