HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-07-15-CEC-min-AM
Minutes of the
Lexington Capital Expenditures Committee (CEC) Meeting
July 16, 2015 (Morning)
Location and Time: Town Office Building, Reed Room, 7:30 ..
AM
Members Present: Jill Hai, Chair; David Kanter, Vice-Chair & Clerk; Elizabeth Barnett;
Rod Cole; Wendy Manz
Members Absent: None
Others Present: Jon Himmel, Chair, Lexington Permanent Building Committee (PBC)
Documents Presented:
Notice of Public Meeting/Agenda for CEC Meeting, July 16, 2015
Draft Minutes of the CEC Meeting, July 13, 2015 (Distributed by Mr. KanterÈs e-mail,
July 14, 2015 3:05 p.m., to the other CEC Members and Ms. Arnold)
Draft #2 Minutes of the CEC Meeting, July 14, 2015 (Distributed by Mr. KanterÈs
e-mail, July 14, 2015 3:54 p.m., to the other CEC Members and Ms. Arnold)
Call to Order: Ms. Hai called the meeting to order at 7:31 ..
AM
Discussion in Preparation of the Summit Meeting of the Board of Selectmen, the
School Committee, the Appropriation Committee, and this Committee on How to
Proceed with the Multiple School Construction Projects:
Ms. Hai led a discussion, which included important contributions by Mr. Himmel, of where
that matter stood at the end of the first part of that Summit. Topics discussed included:
(1) Which elements of the proposed project options appeared to have preliminary
agreement by the four bodies that constitute the Summit,
(2) Where this Committee felt more information was required in order to narrow the
options from those presented by the consultant, DiNisco Design Partnership,
(3) The additional option presented at the Summit to expand the Fiske Elementary
School addition in order to reduce the need for pre-fabricated additions to the Bridge and/or
Bowman Elementary Schools at this time,
(4) Which elements could be accomplished by the TownÈs Department of Public
Facilities (DPF) as independent projects in parallel with those that would be bundled for
managements/oversight by an outside agent, and
(5) What is the timeline for when the DPF, in coordination with the PBC, must have
decision(s) on scope and financing in order to proceed with the projects so as to have a
timely delivery of the increased building capacity and enhanced site infrastructure.
In addition, Ms. Barnett asked whether Todd Lee, the original architect of the Fiske
Elementary School, had been contacted regarding whether original construction plans ever
included an expanded size.
The Committee then agreed upon a set of questions, positions, and guiding concerns for
presentation by the Chair to this eveningÈs Part 2 of the Summit:
(1) Questions:
(a) Does the original architect have information on a larger Fiske Elementary
School?
(b) What are precise timing constraints on DPF?
(c) Will the projects for any pre-fabricated structures, the relocation of the Lexington
ChildrenÈs Place (LCP) out of the new Harrington Elementary School and the renovation of
Page 1 of 2
Minutes of the Lexington Capital Expenditures Committee (CEC) Meeting
July 16, 2015 (Morning)
the vacated space in that school be managed in house by DPF or be part of the
contract-management bid?
(2) General Guidelines:
(a) Use available capacity in existing buildings as soon as possible.
(b) At the elementary level, and specifically with brick-and-mortar additions,
maximize capacity of any expansion undertaken. The intent of this is to minimize the need
to disrupt a particular school more than once and to leave additional options open for later
needs should enrollment expand beyond currently foreseen levels.
(c) Additions at schools with largest core capacities are best able to handle
increased student count.
(d) For the same investment, this Committee prefers additions to buildings with
longer expected lifespans.
(3) Positions:
(a) Middle Schools: School Committee should make policy decision on whether to
split growth, but release funds to proceed.
(b) LCP: Move forward to design freestanding.
(c) New Harrington Elementary School: Move forward only on renovation of the
current LCP space to use for General Education.
(d) Hastings Elementary School: Move forward with plan for a new 30-classroom
school complying with Massachusetts School Building Authority requirements, but aim for
earliest completion date.
(e) Fiske Elementary School: Move forward, but with largest addition site will bear.
(f) Bridge and Bowman Elementary Schools: Delay pre-fabricated structures until the
options for expansion at the Fiske Elementary School are developed; possibly longer.
Updates on the CommitteeÈs Actions Plan for FY 2016: Deferred for a future meeting.
Member Concerns Regarding Items Not on the Agenda and Liaison Reports: None.
Approval of Minutes:
A Motion was made and seconded to approve the Draft Minutes for the CommitteeÈs
meeting on July 13, 2015, as amended. Vote: 5Ã0
A Motion was made and seconded to approve the Draft #2 Minutes for the CommitteeÈs
meeting on July 14, 2015, as amended. Vote: 5Ã0
Adjourn:A Motion was made and seconded at 8:35 .. to adjourn.Vote: 5Ã0
AM
These Minutes were approved by the CEC at its meeting on August 12, 2015.
Page 2 of 2