Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-10-07-PBC-min.pdf TOWN OF LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS PERMANENT BUILDING COMMITTEE Minutes of Tuesday October 7 1997 Meetina at Diamond Middle School , as approved November 25, 1997 The meeting was called to order at 7 42 p m by Chairman Bruckman, with committee members Johnson, Kelley, Poinelli and Touart present Also attending were Owner's Representative Fay DeAvignon, HMFH representa- tives Miller, Hayes and Lewis as well as Town Meeting Member Dawn McKenna The meeting began with a question about the line items listed as "casework" for the high school Architects pointed out that the $50 ,000 listed as cost per room was for science labs A corresponding cost at the middle schools is $25 ,000 because less is required Handouts at this meeting included agenda compiled by Ms DeAvignon, Lexington Public Schools ' sheaf of materials to be used in the School Committee's presentation and shown as viewgraphs later this evening, and probably used at the October 8 public information meeting and HMFH' s sheets of Options A and B for splits between the two middle schools , in terms of program and student populations The HMFH option sheets represented comparisons between schematic design and possible proposed shift in additions to the middle schools In Option B, which would give a smaller difference between student popula- tions at Clarke (660) and Diamond (940) , the total net additions would be 52 , 500 square feet as compared to 55,000 in the former schematic plans Option A, which would result in a greater differential between student populations at Clarke (530) and Diamond (1070) , would require only 46,000 net square feet of additions However, the number of students at Diamond would be double that at Clarke, tantamount to two schools No decision was made by the PBC, and it was agreed to present the middle schools to the School Committee as a topic "to be revisited" Phase I is to be presented to the School Committee (and town) will thus include the high school , Diamond, Clarke and Harrington A new Diamond, it was confirmed and VOTED, would be infeasible because of site and financial considerations Technology Plan years 3 , 4 and 5 will be included as reimbursable parts of the project It was noted that Federal grants for technology may come directly to communities next year Chairman Bruckman conveyed to the architects the Selectmen' s request for HMFH expenditures in October and for an explanation and cost differen- tial between schematic and full design development Architects will comply Meeting adjourned to at 8 45 p m to join the School Committee meeting that resumed at 9 p m after refreshment Attending that meeting were SC members Elberger, Peltz and Rosenberg; Lexington Minuteman reporter Les Masterson, representatives of the Appropriation and Capital Expendi- tures committees; School staff members including Superintendent Young, Buildings Operations Director Moynihan, and Diamond Principal Hennessey; as well as several citizens PBC Minutes of 10/7/97 - Page 2 A sampling of comments are noted here Superintendent Young announced that the October school population census showed the schools ' enrollment projection off by only three students He then presented the schools ' viewgraph presentation PBC member Kelley reported that plans for a new Diamond building had been abandoned Citizen Robert Enders noted that there would be no field if a new school were to be built CEC Chairman Kennedy pointed out that $65 million does not include any money for swing space (not reimbursable) Citizen Ms McKenna questioned probable disparity in size of the two middle schools Superintendent responded that equal size is not a measure of equity Operating budget requirements due to school size would have to be addressed, he added Rosenberg sharply p y questioned the proposed plans Elberger commented that she would be satisfied so long as sufficient space were provided to fulfill the educational needs of the children The number of students in each school is not paramount, but administration is clearly a concern PBC member Johnson opined that no matter which course was taken, the project will encounter problems Elberger recommended getting on with the project on faith that uncer- tainties on the middle schools can be resolved Then the School Commit- tee VOTED to go ahead with the proposed $65 million for Phase I , based upon the September 2 report of the Permanent Building Committee Meeting adjourned at 10 35 p m Respectfully submitted, 4t Erna S Greene Secretary