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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-01-14-PBC-min.pdf TOWN OF LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS PERMANENT BUILDING COMMITTEE Minutes of Tuesday January 14 1997 Meetina in Room 105, Town Office Building, as approved February 4, 1997 The meeting began at 7 35 p m with Chairman Bruckman and other committee members Kelley, Johnson and Touart present Also present were School Committee member Joseph Dini and Director of School Buildings Operation John Moynihan Secretary noted that in the process of checking accuracy of the committee list, that the term of office of Dan McCabe is March 31 , 1997 , and that technically he is still a committee member Except for Poinelli and Kelley, no appointments have been officially made At Town l Manager's office, no one seemed to know about Scanlon's moving out-of- town and resignation Although Peter Johnson's term was officially up in 1995 and he has not been reappointed, he has been attending meetings and contributing to the committee ' s work quite frequently Relationship of PBC with other committees and to this nroiect received considerable attention in discussion While PBC purview does not extend to school policy and educational program decisions , it was generally assented that the committee could comment and have sway over the total project 's space allowances in order that the schools not become overbuilt for the anticipated peak enrollments These deliberations led into information on restrictions on use and timing of spending of borrowed money ( for example, according to new regulations , a town may purchase state bonds with borrowed money that awaits spending) Peter Kelley injected a new angle into the committee role debate The Selectmen last night asked him to reconstitute the Building Finance Committee, as an additional assistance to the Selectmen regarding building projects He saw a difference in the two committees in that the BFC is an advisory group whereas the PBC has actual administrative responsibilities in representing the Town as building owners (Also the PBC is authorized and specified by Town By-Law ) Ouestions about space study recommendations Why was the early education center place at Fiske? Land availability? Cafeteria/gym considerations? During this discussion committee indicated favoring putting two-story additions on to schools already having two stories to conserve available land on sites Answers to some of the committee's questions Moynihan, who had been shuttling to the SC meeting upstairs, responded that Fiske was chosen for the Early Learning Center due to the centrality of its location PBC noted that the site vehicular access is poor What is a Learning Center? This is a way to provide in one area a constellation of special needs services for individuals as well as groups of varies sizes most efficiently This has worked well as Fiske and the SC would like to replicate in each elementary school This is an adjunct to the mainstreaming of special needs students , who must now be served by the schools from age 2 1/2 to 23 , according to state law Minutes of 1/14/97 PBC meeting - Page2 What are the fitness centers in the Middle schools and high school? Moynihan These are multipurpose spaces providing equipment (of smaller size in middle schools) and weights (particularly in high school ) where individual students can work out or for a second simultaneous physical education class Noted that schools are not required by the state to provide P E Chairman asked all committee members to look over the distributed materials from HMFH dated 1/14/97 and come to Saturday' s meeting with them so that John Moynihan can give answers The SC will not be meeting at this time Further concerns and questions regarding gross space and placement of additions arose Several questioned the need for computer labs in each elementary school Perhaps computers-on-a-cart? Although there is general agreement around town and in surrounding competitive towns for art and music spaces , the committee felt it should ride hard directly on the architects to get reasonable amounts of additions without overhousing Chairman said he would go over enrollment projections and space calculations carefully to keep total project from being overblown Meeting ended at 9 45 p m Respectfully submitted, Erna S Greene, Secretary {