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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Fiske's shortcomings were further elaborated upon by the consultants Electric systems and electric distribution are outdated, ranging from 10 to 50 years old Life safety systems such as the emergency generator and its lights need replacement Nowhere are there enough electric outlets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