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
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