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