HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-03-03-PBC-min.pdf TOWN OF LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS
PERMANENT BUILDING COMMITTEE
Minutes of Wednesday March 3 1999 meeting in Room G-15 Town Office Building, as
approved March 10, 1999
The meeting began at about 7.35 p.m. PBC members present included Chairman Kelley
Bruckman, Cannalonga, Johnson, Poinelli, and Touart. Also attending were Director of School
Buildings Operation John Moynihan III, School Committee Chairman Barrie Peltz, as well as
HMFH representatives John Miller, Arthur Duffy and Philip Lewis, along with Peter Spellmeyer
and Randy Sorenson of Carol Johnson Landscape Architects.
An update of the roast two weeks' developments and events from John Moynihan took up the first
20 minutes of committee discussion. Moynihan reported that HMFH is anxious to expedite their
contract and would like to meet directly with two committee members about this (this idea was
modified in later discussion with HMFH people by the committee s insistence that they need
another subcommittee meeting first, followed by full committee before sitting down with
HMFH). Moynihan and the subcommittee will meet early next week before Moynihan departs
on his vacation Tuesday Also reported were a conversation with John Kennedy on project
management (committee to continue its search for a project manager before considering a firm),
he receipt of 43 resumes that Poinelli and Johnson narrowed down to 10 for full committee
consideration. Moynihan will copy these and have packages ready for all PBC members at the
Police Station by Friday Moynihan reported on how a small lint fire in a kitchen dryer at Clarke
had caused a good fire drill and little damage beyond some smoke. A custodian had discovered it
and had nearly extinguished the blaze by the time the fire department arrived. He added that the
fire truck took out a tree and came close to a fire hydrant and lamp post on its way in.
HMFH representatives arrived shortly before 8 p.m. and reported that they are in the process of
setting up through Moynihan's office, meetings with the middle and high schools on phasing.
Further discussion of Clarke top level entrances to new wings that had been proposed as
`emergency only' exits with no outdoor hardware was aired, and it was agreed that the principal
should be consulted on this. After debate, and in later discussion with architects and landscape
designers, committee recommended that one of the exits should be handicapped and have outside
hardware in consideration of the walkers from that side of the building- a measure described by
one PBC member as 'the right thing to do"
Site plans for Clarke and the high school were posted on the wall and reviewed particularly with
respect to wetland mitigation required. Landscape architects pointed out that guidelines of last
year have become full regulations this year. All work in wetlands must be mitigated on a one to
one basis, if no increase in amount of wetland destruction. However, any increase in impervious
surfaces would require a two to one mitigation.
At Clarke an increase in wetland disturbance would occur if the present basketball court at the
end of the present lower parking lot were to remain. Runoff from the parking lot would first be
PBC Minutes of 3/3/99 page 2
directed to the planned detention basin for siltation settling before flow into the stream. Of
course the parking lot catch basins would be equipped with grease traps to remove that pollutant
first. Wetland seeding of the areas adjacent to the stream would cost about $5,000 to $7,000. A
total of 8,000 square feet of wetland mitigation would be required for a net increase of 4,000
square feet. PBC VOTED to adopt `Scheme II' combination plan that makes minimum grade
adjustment to accommodate the new wing entrances and adds only resurfacing and a granite curb
to discourage incursion into a residential driveway across Stedman road/right of way The plans
include some enlargement of the lower parking lot on the gym and main entrance sides, and a
direct driving and walking connection with existing stairs replaced between the upper (school bus
drop-off near the main entrance) and the lower lot, which would be enlarged to become a loop for
dropping off parents and for exit of all vehicles. Net cost of these changes to the original D.D
plans would be about $60,000. Consultation with the school's administration was advised prior
to finalizing these plans.
High School wetlands problems near the back of C house, an area now used extensively for
pupil drop-off of students from the north side of town as well as traversed by vans for LABB
students, were shown on plans. After considerable discussion of possible mitigations, the PBC
VOTED to eliminate an existing connecting road in order to simplify enlarge available
mitigation area and reduce cost.
The roadway loop serving the present main high school entrance received considerable
committee discussion with agreement that this access should be "pedestrified' without
eliminating emergency vehicle access. Also agreed to remove the pine trees that were installed
in the last high school enlargement project that currently block an originally conceived vista from
Massachusetts Avenue through Muzzey Street. Sorenson will explore materials to accomplish
the pedestrian way idea.
Preliminary Plans were submitted to the State Department of Education for the March 1
submittal requirement. Recent changes to building plans that the architects have come with,
such as space-swapping to reduce 1500 square feet from the dimensions of the Clarke new wings
(from 9,000 to 7,500 s.f.) and replacement of curtain walls with Alucabond panels on the
Worthen Road and J House sides, as well as use of this material in the new library were generally
met with favor by the committee. Also noted was an emergency egress door in an unobtrusive
corner of the high school library Architects assured code compliance on fire resistance ratings in
proposed new materials.
Minutes of February 17 1999 were approved as amended.
The meeting adjourned at 10:25 until Wednesday March 10, 1999 at 7:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted, y�. f ,�x; -� Erna S. Greene, Secretary