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Home My WebLink About1998-04-14-PBC-min.pdf TOWN OF LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS PERMANENT BUILDING COMMITTEE Minutes of Tuesday April 14 1998 PBC Meetina in Estabrook Hall , Cary Memorial Building, as approved April 28 , 1998 The meeting was began at about 8 12 p m with committee members Cannalonga (now School Committee appointed PBC member) , Johnson, Poinelli and Touart present and Chairman Kelley arriving shortly later Also attending were HMFH representatives Philip Lewis and Arthur Duffy, Director of School Building Operations Moynihan, High School Principal and Assistant Principal Philip Lanoue and Anthony Capezza, School Committee members Peltz and Long as well as the ad hoc advisory group Dan Busa, Neal Boyle, Bill Kennedy (Capital Expenditures liaison) , Richard Lucas , Ed Natale Town Meeting Members Bruce Collier, Michael Schroeder and Dorrie Traficante attended as observers Due to the technical nature of the meeting and initial absence of the chairman, John Moynihan presided Approval of invoice from HMFH dated April 8 , 1998 in the amount of $10 , 500 for geotechnical work at the high school , Clarke and Diamond, APPROVED Reports on this work have been delivered to Moynihan Distributed reports included a list of 59 suggested Phase I (non programmatic) cost cuts, with a construction cost (only) estimate of each Items that might be necessary in a reimbursable project or those that would have to be allowed by the local building commissioner (and fire chief) were noted Another report distributed and discussed later was a Phase II list of ways to cut costs that would affect program or way the school operates The Phase I list , including some that had already been informally termed "unacceptable" by PBC members, encompasses a menu of $4 3 million in cost cuts A general discussion was held, with no conclusions reached Below are some of the major comments 1 No work on emergency roadway behind the school It is dirt now but paved in front and around the side of the science building 2 Cut number of tree plantings No comment 3 Decrease in number of outdoor cafeteria tables High School principals noted that present outdoor tables now receive heavy use during almost the entire year, and told of their concern about ability to seat the anticipated high school population, even in three shifts 4 Bituminous berms recommended for areas of less traffic, with granite to be installed in areas of heavy use No one spoke in favor of pre- cast concrete curbing 5 Reduction in site lighting cost by use of concrete poles instead of aluminum and reduction in number of new light poles Moynihan explained but little comment 6 Reduction in number of new concrete steps and metal handrails by 30% No comment PBC Minutes of 4/14/98 , page 2 7 Delete all new benches 8 Delete free-standing Gazebo No comment 9 Delete all site work associated with the inner courtyard Lanoue pleaded for this feature for safety and simplification of landscaping Price $255 , 603 10 Delete second commons patio and replace with seeded lawn No salient comment 11 Deletion of reconfiguration of existing "rear" parking lot, including Muzzey Street entry, although some work would be needed adjacent to the proposed custodial addition (price $389,144) Lanoue expressed concern about "waste space" in the Waltham Street side parking lot and also strongly favored closing off the Muzzey Street vehicular access Some commented on the overgrown trees now blocking view of the high school through Muzzey Street Little objection was raised about numbers 12 through 14, but Moynihan expressed concern about the roofs in numbers 15 and 16 ( leaking) , that would be nearing the end of their life expectancy before completion of the project Architects questioned whether omitting these roofs would be accepted by the State Board of Education for a reimbursable project Kennedy expressed favor for replacing these roofs Numbers 17 and 18 would involve placing ADA compliant doors in various sections of the building, requiring one three-foot and one two-foot door leaf in each frame, altogether at 19 locations, to save a total of $36, 670 19 Reducing the quantity of gypsum board ceiling and soffits by 25% campus-wide would save $24, 908 20 Reducing the quantity and quality of acoustic ceilings in the 1964 building classrooms and various other locations would save $167 , 977 and also reduce sound damping by about 25 percent, still an acceptable level , architects assured 21 No replacing the gymnasium wood flooring was termed "unacceptable" by Moynihan and others , since the floor can no longer be sanded and has nails protruding Moynihan noted that repairing rather than replacing bleachers would be nearly as expensive as new bleachers in the gymnasium and field house Considerable debate ensued over windows and curtain walls , whether to replace or repair Architects had already questioned whether state reimbursement would require replacement Elimination of curtain wall replacement alone (number 28) could save nearly $1 2 million Numbers 24 through 28 altogether would save about S1 4 million PBC members favored replacement of art room curtain walls Numbers 30 and 31 regarding sprinkler systems in the field house and crawl spaces were termed matters for the building commissioner and fire chief to decide PBC Minutes of 4/14/98 , page 3 Moynihan weighed against #32 repairing the existing gymnasium operable partition, saying that repairing it was expensive to repair 33 Lanoue and Capezza termed enlargement of darkroom space as a real need in order to accommodate larger classes and save on staffing 34 Reduction in cost of new entrance canopies drew no comment 35 Eliminating painting of existing spaces not reconfigured drew some PBC comment that some rooms had not been painted for some years 36 Deletion of new fire extinguishers and cabinets would save only about $12 ,500 since the code-required number of extinguishers would have to be supplied anyway 37 and 38 Entry matting Elimination of benches and reception desks No comment 39 Reducing the allowance for repairs of existing stage rigging by 50 percent drew comment that the rigging needs replacement 40 Reuse of athletic lockers raised no comment 41 Reductions in cost of new windows to save $13,704 drew no comment During discussion of hot water and heating economies (Nos 42 , 43 , 44) , Moynihan noted that he is now negotiating with Boston Gas Company and others about multi-school performance contracting Lucas said that he has contacted several firms in this connection and Moynihan said he would welcome talking with some of them 45 In discussing air conditioning and air handlers, Lanoue entered a plea for air handlers in good working condition 46 The "summer boiler" proposed for elimination (a $6,000 saving) would provide economies in operation, it was noted 47-58 These items included elimination of replacing either one or both of the 35 year old boilers in the Science Building and a series of alternatives in air handling equipment, sound systems and lighting 59 Reducing lighting costs by 25 percent would save $260 ,000 by a number of economies listed In the interval between discussion of the Phase I and Phase II lists , Poinelli explained that the soft costs, which would have to be added to a reduced construction cost project, would not come down entirely proportionally, since reduced project costs would not necessarily entail reductions in schedules, or cost of clerk of the works, and other associated overall project fees and expenses Ad hoc committee member Natale protested about the number of potential savings that he feared would be put back into the project and be unacceptable Agreed around the room that no decisions would be made this night, but that the list should be analyzed in the next two weeks until the next PBC meeting PBC Minutes of 4/14/98 , page 4 The Phase II nine Proposed cuts had no costs attached to them because each would involve interrelated shifts and possibly extensive relocation expense Only the first two cut proposals - elimination of the athletic entry and its lobby, and simplified redesign of the new library addition to be a one-story and flat roofed - would not require School Committee approval The other seven suggestions would affect the educational program, the last three to the largest extent 3 Eliminate enlargement of ABC, DEF, H and J second floor classrooms 4 Not relocate the main entrance from its present location to the Worthen Road side 5 Perform only minimal work in the athletic wing of the building, except to meet code 6 Do not demolish the Science Lecture Hall 7 Reduce scope of reconfiguration and refurbishing of science laboratories (but lecture hall demolition would be in this scheme) 8 Do not build the new library addition 9 Do not build the custodial (and other functions) wing The draft list pointed out what other functions and dislocations as well as reductions in educational spaces would be involved with each suggested cut Noted by Poinelli that all Phase II cuts involving program would be School Committee and not PBC decisions Following a brief discussion of what is considered an optimum size for a classroom, group decided to spend the next two weeks thinking about the most prudent cuts so that some decisions could be made at the next meeting April 28 Adjourned at 10 25 p m Respectfully submitted, Lee., DIY Erna S Greene, Secretary