Litchfield Schools Building Committee

Meeting Minutes

Special Meeting

 

 

 

LOCATION                                                                   Litchfield Intermediate School Cafeteria   

 

           

DATE OF MEETING                                                     May 7, 2008     

 

 

TIME MEETING STARTED                                           7:04 PM

 

 

PERSON PREPARING THE MINUTES                          Marianne Arancio Stilson

 

 

MEMBERS PRESENT

 

1.  Jack Healy, Chair & BOS Representative                  2.  Bob Blazek

3.  Mac Bramley                                                             4.  Lynn Chapman

5.  Gary Waugh - BOE Representative                          6. Stacie Kavle, Vice Chair arrives at 7:23 PM

7.  William J. Buckley, Jr. arrives at 7:28 PM

 

           

 

MEMBERS ABSENT

1.  Jeff Zullo, Treasurer & BOF Representative             2. Kent Gilyard

3. Leo Paul - Ex-Officio

 

 

 

OTHERS PRESENT

A. Brooks Fischer of Herbert S. Newman, Louis Rosenblatt from O&G, Matt Shamas from Spectrum Services

 

 

QUORUM PRESENT                                                     Yes     

 

 

1.  CALL TO ORDER

 

Jack Healy, Chair called the meeting to order at 7:04 PM.

 

Jack Healy, Chair states that this is a special meeting and that the agenda needs to be followed.  He states that this meeting was scheduled to go over Spectrum Services contract and the punch list items that O&G and HSN need the Building Committee to make decisions on this evening.

 

 

2.  REVIEW PAINTING CONTRACT (SPECTRUM SERVICES) AND DISCUSS STATUS OF INVOICE.  Take action as deemed necessary

 

Matt Shamas, owner of Spectrum Services is here this evening to go over the finishing of the glue-lam beams at the High School.  He states that the drawings call for the beams and the deck to be painted and that they were directed to natural finish the beams.  He further states that that change put an impact on the cost and on the company to do that work.   He states that no change order was issued for that work and that they did the work under protest.  They state that they were directed by the architect to do the work and that after repeated calls and correspondence from them and through O&G to the architect, they proceeded with the work under protest.  He goes over the drawings and the wording in the drawings that indicate that the beams were to be painted.  He explains the amount of work that goes into finishing the beams versus painting the beams.   Matt Shamus states that the difference in the work he did is $42,000.00.  Louis Rosenblatt from O&G Industries, Inc. hands out a package of documents regarding Spectrum Services, Inc. to the members of the Committee.  Louis Rosenblatt goes over the documents in the package with the members of the Committee.  Louis Rosenblatt discusses the procedure of continuing with the work under protest.  It is brought to his attention by Mac Bramley that there was a document that said that the work would not exceed $27,000.00.  Matt Shamus states that if there is a document that states that the work would not be more than $27,000.00 agreed to by someone in his company, then he would honor that amount even though the cost to do the work was $42,000.00.  Jack Healy, Chair thanks Matt Shamas for that acknowledgement.  Matt Shamus states that the drawing language and the specifications language are not clear and that there is a conflict between the two documents.   A. Brooks Fischer representing Herbert S. Newman states that they agree that there are conflicts with the two documents and that there is one note on the drawings that calls for the beams to be painted.  He states that any questions regarding the documents should have been asked during the bid process.  He does however differ with the interpretation of Spectrum Services regarding the work that was to be performed in regard to the beams.  He states that there is language in the specifications that indicates that the beams were to be clear coated.  He states that there is some argument over whether those were the existing beams or the new beams.  He states that the intention of the architect was to have the beams done in a clear coated finish.  He states that there is an issue here that has to be resolved.

 

Stacie Kavle arrives at 7:23 PM

 

Matt Shamas states that he had no issue with the finish of the old beams but does have an issue with the finish of the new beams and that there are two places in the drawings that state that they are to be painted.   Some of the memos from Peter Bowman were discussed.  Lengthy discussion ensues.  Mac Bramley brings up the issue of the bids that were received and the difference in the price between the winning bid and the losing bid. 

 

William J. Buckley, Jr. arrives at 7:28 PM

 

Matt Shamus presents the drawings to the Committee.  The Committee proceeds to go over the drawings and reviews the language in the drawings regarding the beams.   O&G and Newman and Spectrum Services discuss their interpretation of the language in the drawings.  No one brought a copy of the specifications. 

 

Lynn Chapman leaves at 7:33 PM to get a copy of the specifications.

 

A lengthy discussion continues regarding the drawings and the language regarding the beams.  A disagreement between Spectrum Services and Herbert S. Newman ensues regarding the interpretation of the drawings.  Gary Waugh is concerned about whose responsibility it is to pay the extra money to Spectrum.   William J. Buckley, Jr. states that $27,000.00 would be what would be paid if the Committee sides with the painting contractor and that nothing would be paid if the Committee sides with the architect.  Louis Rosenblatt states that the work was done under protest so the painting contractor would have to sign in daily.  William J. Buckley, Jr. would like to know the value of the work performed based on the daily tickets.  Discussion ensues.  Jack Healy, Chair states that the Committee is asking O&G to put the documents together with the tickets for the Committee to go over in order to make a decision.  This issue is tabled until Lynn Chapman returns with the specifications.

3.  REVIEW PUNCHLIST ITEMS AND TAKE ACTION AS DEEMED NECESSARY

 

Louis Rosenblatt of O&G hands out a punch list from O&G dated 3/27/2008.  The Building Committee goes over the items marked as “issue” on page seven of that punch list.

 

 

Relocating AC Units to Roof

Jack Healy, Chair notes that the school had input into the placement of the A/C units.  He states that the original location of the AC units was to be on the roof.   He states that the school and the town preferred the AC units be on the ground rather than on the roof.  He also states that there was a credit issued because of the difference in the amount of work.   He notes Newman’s concern about noise and the potential of vandalism but that is it is easier to maintain the AC units in the location they are now in.   Jack Healy, Chair notes that no one in the school has complained about the noise of the AC Units.  A. Brooks Fischer notes that Newman has never documented their agreement with the decision.

 

Motion:  William J. Buckley, Jr. moved that the issue of the AC units is resolved and that the Committee accepts the units where they are and that the Committee should have no further action on this issue.

So moved.  Seconded:  Mac Bramley

Discussion:  None

Vote:

Absent: Lynn Chapman, Jeff Zullo, Kent Gilyard & Leo Paul - Ex-Officio

Abstain:  None

Objection:  None

All Ayes

Motion passed.

 

 

Hand Rails Mitered to Round Corners

Lynn Chapman returns at 8:01 PM

 

A. Brooks Fischer states that the drawings called for mitered corners and the railings continuing into the floor and not dying into the columns.  He states that the change was decided by the user because of safety and that change was approved by the Committee.  He states that he has not seen a credit for the work done and that there is a difference in the work performed and what the drawings called for.   Louis Rosenblatt of O&G states that the school was concerned about having sharp mitered corners and wanted more of a rounded corner.  Newman again states that there should be a credit for the difference in the work performed.  Louis Rosenblatt will look into a credit.  Discussion ensues.  Louis Rosenblatt states that the work was done by General Welding.  Jack Healy, Chair states that everyone was involved with this decision.   Discussion ensues of the dying out of the columns. 

 

Motion:  William J. Buckley, Jr. moved in order to resolve this issue that the Committee accept the railings as they are subject to credit issued that is satisfactory to the Chairman.

So moved.  Seconded:  Bob Blazek

Discussion:  William J. Buckley, Jr. states that he made the motion that way so that the Chairman has the authority to accept the credit.

Vote:

Absent: Jeff Zullo, Kent Gilyard & Leo Paul - Ex-Officio

Abstain:  None

Objection:  None

All Ayes

Motion passed.

2.  REVIEW PAINTING CONTRACT (SPECTRUM SERVICES) AND DISCUSS STATUS OF INVOICE.  Take action as deemed necessary (CONTINUED)

 

Finishing Existing Glue Laminated Beams

Jack Healy, Chair states that there is a Committee meeting next Thursday and that prior to that meeting he would like Louis Rosenblatt to prepare all the documents and tickets for the Committee to review regarding Spectrum Services.  William J. Buckley, Jr. would also like to see the section of the specifications that either speaks to or doesn’t speak to work from both O&G and Spectrum.  Matt Shamus will bring whatever documents he has to the meeting and will be present at next week’s meeting.  The Committee would also like Matt Shamus to look over the work again and give a final price for the work performed.  Matt Shamus said that this has been going on for a year and half and that he would be happy to work with the Committee to come to a resolution of the issue.

 

 

Removal of Cement Baseboard in Hallways

A. Brooks Fischer states that this issue should not be pursued because the specifications do not say that all the cement baseboards should be removed and that this issue should be removed from the punch list.  The Committee agrees that the issue should be removed from the punch list.

 

 

Leveling of Existing Floors

A. Brooks Fischer states that there are dips and drops especially in the work room where the old administration room used to be.  Jack Healy, Chair states that when the original building was built, the floors for each room were poured individually and not at the same time so consequently, the floors are different heights. Louis Rosenblatt explains that each floor was poured relative to the room and that the floors in each room were different levels.  He states that the result was that after the walls were taken down, the difference in the floor levels were noticeable.  He states that the floors were feathered as best they could because the cost to level the floors was very high.  He states that this issue is purely aesthetic and is not a safety issue.  A. Brooks Fischer agrees.  Discussion ensues.

 

Motion:  William J. Buckley, Jr. moved to accept the floors as they are.

So moved.  Seconded:  Bob Blazek

Discussion:  None

Vote:

Absent: Jeff Zullo, Kent Gilyard & Leo Paul - Ex-Officio

Abstain:  None

Objection:  None

All Ayes

Motion passed.

 

 

Science Lab Fire Dampers

A. Brooks Fisher states that it's the architect’s position that the fire dampers are required.  Louis Rosenblatt states that both the fire marshal and the building inspector have stated that that is not the case.  Lengthy discussion ensues of the code issue, the liability issue and the issue of the need for the dampers.  Louis Rosenblatt states that the $9,000.00 to put in the dampers is still in a PCO that has not been approved.  He states that this issue affects four classrooms.   A. Brooks Fischer states that they have taken this issue to their code analyst and that the architects have to take liability for the building and that they cannot accept the fire dampers not being installed and if the Building Committee accepts this without the dampers then they will issue a letter that they will not be liable.  Further discussion ensues on the issue of insurance.   Gary Waugh would like to see the money spent to install the dampers if the money is still in the line item. 

 

Motion:  Gary Waugh moved to spend the $9,000.00 to have the dampers installed.

So moved.  Seconded:  Bob Blazek

Discussion:  Discussion of whether the money is still in the line item ensues.  It is unclear whether the funds are still in the line item.  William J. Buckley, Jr. has a problem with the motion because the fire marshal and the building inspector were aware of this issue and have ruled on this issue.   He is uncomfortable modifying what the fire marshal has ruled.  He would like to have the fire marshal review the situation with the dampers again and that if he feels that there is a need for the dampers that the Committee will have the dampers installed and if they are not needed that the Committee will stick with the decision of the fire marshal.  Jack Healy, Chair states that he does not believe that the science rooms are being used to the full extent and he does not know if it is because of this issue or not.  Gary Waugh would like to know if the science rooms are being fully utilized and if not why.  Lynn Chapman would like Peg Perusse to look into the insurance issue to see if this is already covered under their policy. 

Gary Waugh withdraws his motion.

Bob Blazek withdraws his second.

The Committee decides to ask Peg Perusse about the insurance and get more information on why the science rooms are not fully utilized.

 

 

1-hour Fire Walls

A. Brooks Fischer states that Newman has discussed this issue with the fire marshal and that this issue involves the storage rooms.   He states that the storage rooms are not smoke tight and that this issue needs to be addressed.  He feels it is not necessary to have the 1-hour fire walls but that they are smoke tight.   Louis Rosenblatt thinks that this issue involves the walls that should have gotten the 1-hour fire ceilings that protrude higher and not the issue with the storage rooms.   A. Brooks Fischer states that if you have a 1-hour ceiling then the fire walls don’t need to be installed.  He states that if this issue is for those areas then this is a closed issued and should be removed from the list.

 

 

Firewall Terminations on Exterior

Louis Rosenblatt states that this is the firewall terminations on the exterior of the building up on the roof.  A. Brooks Fischer states that they issued a sketch to install a metal panel to come across the firewall.  He states that this issue is purely aesthetic.  William J. Buckley, Jr. states that it looks terrible now.  Gary Waugh agrees.  Stacie Kavle states that this issue also appears at the front entrance.  A. Brooks Fischer states that this issue only addresses the issue in the courtyard and not the front entrance. Discussion ensues on the issue of the fascia.  Stacie Kavle states that she has been calling George Graikoski and that he has not returned her phone calls.  Louis Rosenblatt will look into the fascia issue.  Discussion ensues.  Jack Healy, Chair states that the fix to the firewall terminations on the exterior is not a punch list item because it was not part of the original drawings and would have to be considered an extra item.  He further states that there are no funds budgeted for this item.  Further discussion ensues.  No decision was made on this issue.

 

 

Fascia and Block Popping “Firewall terminations on exterior” above

Decided to take “block popping” as a separate line item below.

 

Motion:  William J. Buckley, Jr. moved that the Committee consider the fire wall termination on the exterior resolved as it is and take the fascia fix and hire a separate contractor to do it after next Thursday if they don’t hear back from the contractor.

So moved.  Seconded:  Bob Blazek

Discussion:  William J. Buckley, Jr. states that he is giving the contractor until next week to come back to the Committee with a quote and that he is not authorizing the work or the money to be spent but rather to have a contractor that is working for the Committee respond to a request for a proposal.  Stacie Kavle is concerned about how long the contractor has had it.  She is not sure when O&G handed the drawing over.  Louis Rosenblatt states that their turnover time is 24 hours.  William J. Buckley, Jr. states that in an attempt to be fair to the contractor, the Committee would like to know when the drawings were turned over to the contractor for a price.  Stacie Kavle asks Louis Rosenblatt to call her tomorrow with that information.  Gary Waugh questions the cost and is concerned with upsetting the contractor considering the time that Stacie Kavle has put into resolving this issue.  Louis Rosenblatt agrees to get back to Stacie Kavle tomorrow.  It is agreed that the motion will be addressed next week as the Committee isn’t sure how long the contractor has had the drawings and has not responded.

William J. Buckley, Jr. withdraws his motion.

Bob Blazek withdraws his second.

 

 

Block Popping 

Jack Healy states that at the high school in the area where the cafeteria is, the blocks are popping again.  He notes that the blocks that are popping were installed in 1976.  Gary Waugh states that this is a real issue and that it is in a parent drop off area and that it looks like the Committee did not resolve the problem.  Jack Healy, Chair states that the problem was resolved and that the blocks that were replaced have not popped but that other blocks have now popped from the 1976 addition.  He states that the blocks from the 1955 original building are fine but the blocks from the 1976 addition are the ones causing the issue.  He states that those blocks were poor quality blocks and that a whole section has been replaced already and that it was never the intention of the Committee to replace the entire block area.  A. Brooks Fischer states that it is not a structural issue. The allowance was used to fix what could be fixed with that allowance and now other blocks have popped.  He believes it is a moisture issue and an issue that the school will have to deal with as an ongoing maintenance issue.  Discussion ensues of possible solutions and of the allowance.  William J. Buckley, Jr. states that this item as it now exists does not belong to any contractor that the Committee has a contract with.  Jack Healy, Chair agrees.  It is the consensus of the Committee that there is nothing for the Committee to do on this issue and that it has to be accepted as it is and considers this issue closed.

 

 

Change of Base Color in “A” Wing Science Rooms

A. Brooks Fischer states that he looked at the documentation that called for it to be done in black and that the architect has accepted it in black if the Committee agrees.   He states that it matches the other black items in the room.  The Committee unanimously agrees to accept the color as it is now and consider this item closed.

 

 

Change Ramp VCT to Non-slip for Non Code Areas

Jack Healy, Chair states that he did direct the tile to be put down and that one of the ramps did come back as non-code compliant and was changed to skid resistant tile.

 

Motion:  William J. Buckley, Jr. moved to consider this item closed.

So moved.  Seconded:  Bob Blazek

Discussion:  A. Brooks Fischer states that Newman asked O&G to confirm the distance of the ramps so they could confirm that they were within code compliance.  They just want O&G to confirm the distance.  Louis Rosenblatt states that they did have them all inspected and that the one that was replaced was the only one not in compliance.  A. Brooks Fischer asks that this issue be put off for one week to review the distance and the code.  Louis Rosenblatt will send A. Brooks Fischer a fax with the dimensions.   Louis Rosenblatt states that they have already gone over this issue with the building inspector and that it was corrected. 

Bob Blazek withdraws his second.

The motion is not heard since no one else would second the motion.

 

 

 

 

Out of Plumb Column

Louis Rosenblatt states that a column enclosure would be done.  A. Brooks Fischer does not feel that an enclosure would be appropriate.  Stacie Kavle also disagrees with an enclosure.  Mac Bramley wants to know if there are any structural issues.  A. Brooks Fischer states that there is not a structural issue but just a visual issue.  William J. Buckley, Jr. does not want the liability and wants the architect to give the Committee a written document.  A. Brooks Fischer states that the architect will give a letter.  A discussion ensues about whether the wall has moved.  Discussion ensues of monitoring the deflection.  William J. Buckley, Jr. would like a structural engineer to look at it and give a report.   Louis Rosenblatt will get General Welding to get a sign off from a licensed State of Connecticut structural engineer to look at the column and review it at no cost to the Committee.  Discussion of a credit ensues.  

 

 

Damaged Walks and Curbs

Louis Rosenblatt states that they have many pictures of the plows on the sidewalks with chains and there was also a lot of blade rubbing and use of salt.  Gary Waugh states that this issue came up at the Board of Ed meeting by many residents.  He states that Tony Crowe stated that the damage existed from the beginning and preceded the use of equipment on it.  Gary Waugh states that he has heard the opposite and that it was the trucks and plows that did the damage.  Louis Rosenblatt states that he has 25 to 30 pictures as proof.  Jack Healy, Chair states that there were instructions to the Town crew to not put salt on the newly poured concrete and that he saw for himself and witnessed a large town truck up on the sidewalk plowing the sidewalks.   He also states that the railing at the intermediate school was bent and that the concrete was damaged because it was hit with a snow plow.  Discussion ensues of the use of rock salt.  William J. Buckley, Jr. would like to see the cylinder reports of the concrete.  Jack Healy, Jr. states that the Board of Selectman authorized the purchase of the correct equipment for the maintenance crew to use and that it is the school’s responsibility to see that the equipment is properly used and the work done properly.  Gary Waugh states that the perception is that the concrete is falling apart and defective.  He would like to make sure the public is aware that the issue with the concrete was caused by maintenance.   Jack Healy, Jr. is upset because there is now an orange tractor by the cafeteria leaking oil on the asphalt and that he has told them many times that it has to be moved and it has not been moved.  Jack Healy, Jr. states that the Board of Selectman have purchased the correct equipment for the crews and that this is the school’s responsibility and that he has talked to many people at the school and nothing is done.  William J. Buckley, Jr. agrees with Gary Waugh that the Committee needs the documentation so that the responsibility for the damage is not that of the Committee but of the maintenance to the property by the school. 

 

 

Damaged Grass Areas

Jack Healy, Chair states that there are certain areas that have not been allowed to grow because of truck and tractor traffic.  He states that topsoil is still owed.  He talks about the rocks in the soil.  Louis Rosenblatt states that some core samples can be taken in the areas of concern and define whether or not those core samples meet the submittal that had been approved by the landscape architect.  He states that they can also have a landscape architect come out also.   The Committee agrees that Louis Rosenblatt should proceed with getting the testing done and look into the specifications to see if it the work was done properly.

 

 

A. Brooks Fischer states that there are numerous items on Newman’s punch list that do not appear on the punch list of O&G and wants the Committee to be aware of that issue. Jack Healy, Chair states that he only wanted to deal with these punch list items this evening.   Louis Rosenblatt will talk to George Graikoski about the issue of the two punch lists and that he will review both punch lists.  He agrees there should only be one punch list.  Discussion ensues.

 

 

4.  ADJOURNMENT

 

Jack Healy, Chair asks for a motion to adjourn.  William J. Buckley, Jr. moves to adjourn.  The motion is seconded by Lynn Chapman at 9:42 PM and carries unanimously by the members of the Committee.

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Marianne Arancio Stilson

Marianne Arancio Stilson

Recording Secretary