MINUTES
LITCHFIELD SCHOOL
BUILDING COMMITTEE
LITCHFIELD
INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL LIBRARY
A meeting of the Litchfield School Building Committee was
held on
Present were: Jack
Healy, Chairman; Mac Bramley; Bill Buckley; Chris Canfield; Lynn Chapman;
Stacie Kavle; John Mullen; Gary Waugh; and Jeff Zullo.
Also Present: John
Tindall-Gibson;
Meeting was called to order at
Approval of Minutes
Motion was made by Mac Bramley to approve the minutes of the
Motion carried. All
votes were in the affirmative. There
were no abstentions.
Public Participation
Sue McGowan, Director and Finance Committee Member of the
Litchfield Education Foundation – We are
a 501(c)(3) non-profit group whose mission is to promote excellence
and innovation in public education throughout the entire community.
This year, as an integral part of our capital campaign, we would like
to offer a brick enhancement to all three schools. Initially, we
would like to put a circular brick bench around the flagpole at
.
Leo Paul stated that he had attended most he the BC meetings
and supports all decisions 100%. Since
the announcement of the renovated Gym, several townspeople informed him of
their concern about a renovated gym. At
the last BOS meeting there were folks who both supported and were against the
renovation. He asked if the new gym was
on an alternate list and whether it was possible, if there was enough money, to
go back to a new gym.
Jack Healy explained that he had met with HSNP and CM about
this question. It would require
additional fees to do a dual path. It’s
an element of cost and schedule. The BC
is behind in schedule. Detail Design was
to be completed early November. With all
the going back and forth, it will not be completed until the end of
December. More delays will cost more
money. We can not have a new gym as an
alternative.
Leo Paul stated that he is 100% behind the BC and appreciate
all their volunteer time. He asked if
the BC could explain the renovation as new.
Will it have an enlarged lobby, new weight rooms, renovated locker
rooms?
Jack Healy – The numbers that were discussed last week
included all those things. The $740K is
a net savings, not gross.
Leo Paul – It’s time we step back and let you do your job.
Jack Healy – I know you have a lot of questions. We are trying to get answers and you’ll hear
some tonight.
Jeff Zullo – Those funds saved should go to site work.
Bill Buckley – I want to compliment Leo for coming to as
many meetings as he does. We encourage
all the BOS members to attend some of our meetings. These are not easy issues we have to deal
with.
Bill Dranginis – I made a comment to the newspaper stating I
would support an increase in the cap by 1.5M to add a new gym. I am in support of what you are doing.
Jonathon Costa – The BOE discussed your design and are
unanimously in support of the BC decision.
Regarding the technology numbers, as you make decisions about what to
add and not, please listen to the technology numbers.
Ed Fabbri – The decision you made [to renovate the Gym] was
a good one.
David Meharg – I thank the BC for the work you have
done. I was at Tuesday’s BOS
meeting. The article in the Waterbury
Republican was incomplete and touched on a couple of negative comments. This is a problem; a lot of
inaccuracies. The papers pit feelings of
residents in Town and make things more difficult. There was positive support at the meeting and
an affirmation with 100 signatures in support.
Mike Murray – I thank the BC for all the work that is
done. It is ridiculous to blame the
newspaper. It’s the people involved that
aught to communicate accurately. If the
renovated project is good enough for Dr. Breslin, it’s fine with me. If you don’t give people what they think
they’re going to get, they will be dissatisfied. What is the harm in that? You are destroying the credibility of all the
Town’s governing bodies. Thank you for
the tons of hours you have put into the project.
Winnie Harrison – You can not get information from the
newspapers. I am here to learn
more. How many changes are going to be allowed?
Gary Waugh – Thank you for taking the time to come here and
find what the truth is.
Communications
Jeff Zullo – The BOF is pleased with the progress and
interested in beginning the bond issuance planning. Keep up the good work.
Bill Dranginis – Dan Coelho stated that the BC is in a
position that it can not do anything else.
Jack Healy – A few BC Members met with
Gay Waugh – I am in contact with
Bill Buckley – We should direct the Architect to look into
that to find appropriate places for these bricks.
Sue McGowan – We are looking for approval in concept. We would like to start in the next six
weeks. We are looking for people to
volunteer to lay bricks. We are not
looking to add expense to this project.
We are looking for volunteers and expertise.
Jack Healy introduced the new member of the Building
Committee, Chris Canfield.
Finance Subcommittee Report
Mac Bramley - Presentations for payment:
1. Hayley &
Aldrich $4.707.00 for another 25% of total work performed. We need a mechanism put together. Contract submissions should go to the
Architect in order to see it the work has been done and what percentage.
Bill Buckley – The recommendation to hire Hayley &
Aldrich came from the Architect. We need
to hear from the Architect whether the work was performed.
2. Reviewing
new proposals from consultants
Environmental Site Assessment
Motion made by Mac Bramley that the Building Committee
contract with DTC for $11,200.00 for an environmental site assessment as
recommended by Architect, seconded by Bill Buckley.
Bill Buckley – I would have the contract reviewed by the
Attorney. We are assuming liability
here.
Motion Carried. All
votes were in the affirmative. There
were no abstentions.
Environmental
Consultant
Mac Bramley – Two proposals from Environmental Finance
Service and Penelope Sharp.
Motion made to authorize Penelope Sharp at an hourly rate of
$90.00 per hour to be available as needed as environmental consultant, seconded
by Jeff Zullo.
Motion to Amend Motion to cap the total of the consultant
fees to no more than $1000.00
Motion to Amend Carried.
All votes were in the affirmative.
There were no abstentions.
Motion Carried. All
votes were in the affirmative. There
were no abstentions.
3.
Mac Bramley – This is a max. of a $1,500.00 expense, would
the BC feel comfortable delegating to the Chairman?
Bill Buckley – They said the work was already done by them,
that is why they were so inexpensive.
Motion made by Mac Bramley to authorize the Chairman to
negotiate and execute an appropriate contract with Berkshire Engineering &
Surveying, LLC, to complete the A-2 survey for submission to the land use
boards, seconded by Gary Waugh.
Motion Carried. All
votes were in the affirmative. There
were no abstentions.
4. To date we
have paid a total of $143,976.69 to Architect.
HSNP said the schematic design was done, the Finance Subcommittee
agrees.
Motion was made by Bill Buckley to pay the balance to
Herbert S. Newman Partners equaling 100% payment consistent with the contract
on Schematic Design, seconded by Jeff Zullo.
Motion Carried. All
votes were in the affirmative. There
were no abstentions.
Motion was made to pay, as a reimbursement to Wilbur Smith
and Associates, the sum of $10,350.00, seconded by Bull Buckley.
Motion Carried. All
votes were in the affirmative. There
were no abstentions.
Chris Canfield agreed to be the new member of the Finance
Subcommittee.
Architects and Construction Manager Update
John Tindall-Gibson and Andrienne Longobucco worked with the
Architect consultant to work up a cost estimate on Technology. They handed out a sheet entitled Technology
and Library Recommendation for Building Projects and attached hereto.
Discussion
Mac Bramley – Does the cost of the PC include special
software?
Andrienne Longobucco – This does not include software.
Mac Bramley – Are we looking at wiring in both places, just
the new areas or rewiring?
Andrienne Longobucco – The suggestion is that LHS be rewired
and LIS use what is presently there.
Jack Healy – We have monies allocated for security systems,
telephone system, clocks.
Andrienne Longobucco – Are servers included in that?
Jonathon Costa – What is the last point of design? I would be interested in speaking with the
Design Tech. Team about priorities. When
do we know what resources we have?
Bill Buckley – One suggestion, we carry that number. If bids come in high, we’ll have to borrow
that and find it someplace else.
Jack Healy – I would like to include Technology on the
Agenda for a couple of meetings. Why
aren’t we going wireless?
Jonathon Cost – I see this as a first step, not an end
point.
Gary Waugh – Are we carrying a line item for
Technology? Is security and telephone in
the same figure?
Jack Healy – Those are in other areas.
Jeff Zullo – Our budget can support this. Issue is bonding for technology, an issue we
need to discuss, long term financing on something with a short life.
Mac Bramley – This is the entire list. Is there a list of what is/is not
reimbursable?
Jonathon Costa – Given our budget history, we won’t get this
technology any other way.
Bill Buckley – Ask Leo Paul to investigate how the Town can
bond a certain portion of the project for 5-10 years. Can you check with the Finance Director?
Mac Bramley – The bond schedule is already set up like that.
Jeff Zullo – We will be replacing technology in one fell
swoop. Five to six years out, 80% will have
to be replaced again. You have to try to
maintain a cycle.
Jonathon Costa – Obsolescence is not as big as a thing as it
was.
Jeff Zullo – I would ask you to include a column of what we
have currently.
Budget
Discussion
Bill Buckley –
Bill Buckley – The list of ADD and DEDUCT items are similar
to what we had but some have been removed.
The water line is out. We
continue to do this as we move through this project. Things change. I would like to see lighting in the
Auditorium.
Jack Healy – The last four weeks we have made a lot of
progress, a lot of decisions. We are
getting a lot of information and will continue to add and subtract things.
Jeff Zullo – One thing that has not changed, this project
meets the Educational Specifications.
Bill Buckley – Contingency – 77% for design at LIS and 10%
for design at LHS, was that always the same?
Mac Bramley – The October 7TH spread sheet was
also 70% - 10%.
Ann
Stuhlman – We will be closer to the staircase.
The two rooms across, we hope one will be Nurse’s office and OT and the
other will be special education. We can
see people coming down the hallway, but will still have to use monitors. The Library with all the windows is a great
place for an art room.
Ann
Stuhlman – The Nurse’s office can be taken out of the plan and used for central
office storage.
Bill
Buckley – Are we still adding three classrooms?
Jack Healy
– Each time we do this I would like to see where the three new classrooms are.
Bill
Buckley – When you come in with a new proposed change, can you come in with a
drawing of where we were at the last meeting?
Jack Healy
– Are you telling us the net dollar change is at most zero dollars?
Motion was
made by Mac Bramley to authorize Architect to move ahead with Design
Development utilizing the existing
Jack Healy
– In order to meet code, the end of the two corridors need fire doors.
Motion carried. All
votes were in the affirmative. There
were no abstentions.
Mac Bramley
– How does the configuration of the (new) Library work if it has to be
reconfigured?
The
Committee discussed the slope of the roof on the new addition; it slopes in
toward existing structure. BC would like
to see it slope out.
Program
Enhancements for the Gymnasium.
Expansion needs are: Locker room area, visiting team area, ae
Jack Healy
– I suggest the plan for new gym support space should be posted at Town Hall.
Motion was
made by Bill Buckley to adopt budget estimates that O & G handed out to us,
but ask them do adjust the site work to $638,805.00 total making total revised
Schematic Design estimate $32,999,999.00, seconded by Jeff Zullo.
Discussion
Jack Healy
– We are just leaving this site work out there that we don’t want to address.
Bill
Buckley – There was a section of the site work that was included prior to
tonight. This is all additional.
Call to
order. – Carried
Motion carried. All
votes were in the affirmative. There
were no abstentions.
Schedule
Jack Healy
- Bill Buckley made proposal to cut to one meeting a month. I asked the Architect and CM how to help them
get back on schedule. They suggested
they just make presentations once a month.
Bill
Buckley – We can deal with the Financials at one meeting and have presentations
at the other. The normal protocol is you
slow down to get Detail Design done.
Motion to
Adjourn was made by Mac Bramley at
Motion carried. All
votes were in the affirmative. There
were no abstentions.
Respectfully
submitted,