HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-09-30-PBC-min.pdf TOWN OF LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS
PERMANENT BUILDING COMMITTEE
Minutes of Tuesday September 30 1997 Meeting in Estabrook Hall , Cary
Memorial Building, as approved December 9, 1997
The meeting was called to order at 7 35 p m by Chairman Bruckman
(present until 9 30 p m with other committee members Kelley, Poinelli
(from 9 20 on) and Touart present Also attending were HMFH representa-
tives John Miller, Dorthea Hayes and Philip Lewis as well as Project
Manager Fay DeAvignon, Director of School Buildings Operation Moynihan,
School Committee representatives Susan Elberger, and Pct 9 Town Meeting
Members Michael Schroeder and Dawn McKenna Appearing at the last half
hour of the meeting were Karen Dooks and Charles Hornig of the Capital
Expenditures Committee and Selectman Dan Fenn
Forthcoming public meetings begin Wednesday, October 8 at Clarke Middle
School 7 30 p m , as the previously announced meeting of Saturday
October 4, has been postponed to Saturday morning, October 18 at
Diamond The second meeting, which will have basically the same
presentation, will be only two days prior to the October 20 Special Town
Meeting Both meetings are sponsored by the School Committee
After some discussion it was concluded that citizens should do the
presenting insofar as possible Professionals should contribute
technical information on history, state reimbursement and current
project (the architects for about 20 minutes , with the other parts of
the presentation about 20 minutes) It was recommended that Peter
Kelley participate only if the subject of comparison with the findings
of the Building Finance Committee be brought up Members of the finance
committees should be asked to give information on long-range planning
(CEC) and tax consequences (Appropriation)
Thursday morning tour with Selectmen Busa and McSweeney was deemed quite
successful by committee participants Bruckman and Johnson Focus was on
the high school with TMP engineers It was recommended that the
engineering aspects of the schools renovation needs be emphasized in the
public presentation
Handouts of this evening included a lengthy agenda generated by
DeAvignon, an information packet and memo with schedule on a new Diamond
School , as well as a sheet describing categories to summarize
construction project costs The parameters for renovating and adding to
Diamond and a possible new Diamond are quite similar Soil tests will
be done on the playing field part of the site to assess its loading
capability
Issues of a new Diamond building were aired, along with at least four
new school sketches and ideas The architects presented two prototype
two-story site layouts using adapted plans of an existing school A
three-story plan that would use even less land was discussed in terms of
its basic impact and height dimensions Recommended that architects
check zoning and other restrictions that might apply Two new ideas
were also presented by non-architects at the meeting (1) to piggy-back a
school onto the existing Diamond, attaching to existing gym and
PBC Minutes 9/30/97 - Page 2
auditorium, and (2) to build a new Diamond on the Harrington site, the
only one in town capable of accommodating a second school
The two new ideas brought up several new issues What to do with the
present (old) Diamond? How to deal with breaking into an existing
school ( lacking in any insulation whatsoever, said Moynihan)? This new
building would extend the scope of the project? What kinds of swing
space expenditures would the state reimburse? What about redistricting
and disruptions of heavy recreational uses , such as soccer?
Need for further discussion between this meeting and the next scheduled
PBC meeting was clearly expressed Those present pointed out likely
lack of support for a new Diamond, concern over blurring of issues and
PBC credibility All present agreed that decisions by the PBC and
School made in their separate and joint meetings of last Tuesday
( 9/23/97) needed to be reconsidered, especially due to lack of full PBC
committee discussion beforehand
After the chairman left , the remaining quorum (not the same as at the
meeting's outset) agreed to meet Friday morning October 3,
at 7 30 a m
Meeting adjourned at 10 07 p m
Respectfully
espectfullysubmitted,ubmitted,
Erna S Greene
Secretary