HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-06-03-PBC-min.pdf TOWN OF LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS
PERMANENT BUILDING COMMITTEE
Minutes of Tuesday June 3 1997 Meetina at Fiske School , as approved
June 10 , 1997
The meeting, joint with the School Committee, began with a tour of the
school shortly after 7 30 p m Attending were Chairman Bruckman,
Himmel , Johnson, Kelley, Poinelli and Touart of the PBC, as well as
Chairman Peltz , Dini , Elberger and Neumeier of the School Committee
Also present were Director of School Buildings Operation Moynihan,
Superintendent of Schools Jeff Young, Bruce Collier, Les Masterson of
the Lexington Minuteman, Dawn McKenna and Paul Bongiovanni In addition
to architects Miller, Hayes and Lewis of HMFH, the following engineering
consultants were present Mike Spence (HVAC) , Roger Wardwell (plumbing)
and Brian McCormack (electrical ) of TMP, Dick Foley of structural
engineers Foley and Buhl , Dick Peterson, roof and envelope consultant,
and Paul French of Daedalus , cost estimator
Prior to the formal meeting in the school lunchroom, the group inspected
the building envelope, seeing rusting (explained that steel expands as
it rusts , causing damage to nearby brick or glass) lintels, cracked
glass block, brick and cement cracking at corners , peeling paint on
entrance canopy ceilings, ADA access problems at every classroom doorway
to the outdoor courtyard, doors needing replacement , and vents that may
be enlarged and reused with indoor equipment replaced Structural
engineer Foley did not foresee difficulty in meeting recent
seismological code since the school does not contain any major
seismological hazards such as precast concrete, parapets or walls
needing to be tied to structural elements
When the meeting moved indoors, Fiske's shortcomings were further
elaborated upon by the consultants Electric systems and electric
distribution are outdated, ranging from 10 to 50
years old Life safety
systems such as the emergency generator and its lights need replacement
Nowhere are there enough electric outlets , and in order to accommodate
five computers in every classroom the school would need its 400-ampere
service replaced with 1000-ampere service Lighting should be replaced
to become more efficient Even so, total energy use would problably
rise as would costs, as the computers would probably require year-round
air conditioning In plumbing, the sprinkler system would need to
connect with the fire department Hardly any of the water fixtures meet
today's standards for ADA or water efficiency In addition, more
checking of items such as valves is needed
Concern was expressed about the total cost of bringing Fiske up to the
state' s requirements Site costs and interior costs such as replacement
of damaged floor (asbestos?) and ceiling tiles have not yet been added
Bruckman requested that a real bottom line for renovation, exclusive of
additions and program changes , be brought in by the architects; he also
asked for enough information in narrative form to understand the
existing conditions data sheets
Ouestions summarized and listed by HMFH last week from recent meetings
at schools were reviewed with the School Committee
PBC Minutes of 6/3/97 - Page 2
1 Redistricting on a small scale to even out class sizes is always an
option However, major redistricting to equalize populations at various
schools would probably not be tackled
2 Elimination of middle school project rooms assented to by the School
Committee
3 Kindergarten classrooms are all to be enlarged as the state directed
4 Spaces in oversized libraries are to be designated for other uses
5 Coat storage in centralized areas was disfavored Maintenance and
noise problems with lockers were noted Those present favored wooden
cubbies for elementary schools, with some staff discretion remaining at
the secondary schools (probably lockers, as they afford privacy and
security for students able to handle locks)
6 Bathrooms should be equal for each sex, according to code but there
are more female members of the staff Bruckman suggested beginning
according to code, with the possibility that some restrooms might be
designated unisex
7 Special problem of the concrete risers at Estabrook was the high cost
of demolishing a large amount cement Moving the library to the riser-
room and the cafeteria into the present library met with favor, but real
cost must be predicted
8 Learning centers were quite acceptable to the state so long as the
area is integrated with the general program rooms, Moynihan reported
He will get that opinion in writing
Costs over time were a concern expressed by Himmel , who asked that the
consultants give this consideration Overall costs were discussed in
light of replacement versus reconditioning; rental costs for portables
to use for swing space during construction should be factored in
Phasing will also need to be including in total cost estimating
Proiect timing decisions call for contribution of expertise of School
Committee and PBC in their respective areas of knowledge The School
Committee was asked to rank their priorities as to which school should
be enlarged/renovated first or earlier, with the PBC enlightening their
decisions Himmel and Poinelli were asked to attend School Committee
meetings when these matters are discussed School Superintendent
suggested he and Moynihan meet the SC-appointed PBC members before the
next PBC meeting
In further discussion of swing space, Collier reminded that Cary Library
will be moving out of the main library in early 1998
Flexibility in managing the estimated $48 million in renovation costs
(not including project costs) was urged The significance of logical
versus emotional issues that are to come before the fall special town
meeting were mulled, as were the statistics and possible significance of
the yesterday's vote not to overturn the 1977 Annual Town Meeting's
appropriation of $2 4 million for Design Development , Phase I Telling
PBC Minutes of 6/3/97 - Page 3
of a June 12 (at Clarke Middle School at 7 30 p m ) special meeting on
the issues of the school renovation/enlargement project , it was urged
particularly by McKenna that more and better information be spread
throughout the town All citizens will be invited to come to the June
12 (a Thursday) meeting and bring their questions
The School Committee remained in the lunchroom, stating a need to go
into executive session, and the PBC moved to the Teachers ' Room around
the corner to discuss design development issues at about 9 50 p m
Unhappiness with the distribution of basic services and the apparent
top-heaviness of the costs devoted to the use of consultants was noted
around the table Also phasing costs and definitions are still missing
The biggest portion of the costs is for renovation, not design Better
design development costs are needed in two weeks It is not likely that
design development [phase I ] will not be completed by September or
October Poinelli stated, however, that the town needs a product to go
on from
Financial considerations Moynihan recommended that the town offer a
floor price considerably less than what HMFH has quoted so that a
realistic amount can be settled upon Concern expressed about what the
two cost estimators HMFH is using are going to provide (and how good
each estimator is likely to be) Narrative descriptions are needed
Questions such as, "What will be deliver and provide?" should be asked
Evolved from the discussion that (1) good cost estimates are needed for
the fall town meeting vote; (2) completion of design development I is
needed, with drawings noting changes, (3) costs of Fiske renovation with
and without program changes are needed to finalize SC/PBC
recommendations
Total cost discussion revolved around the possibility that other schools
may be as costly to upgrade as Fiske Data from all schools are needed
in order for the PBC to plan wisely to stay within the already
publicized budget for the total project
Meeting adjourned at 10 40 p m until Tuesday, June 10 at 7 p m at
either the Bowman or Diamond School
RespectfullyJsubmitted,
L 4i',F
Erna S Greene, Secretary