HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-03-23-PBC-min.pdf TOWN OF LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS
PERMANENT BUILDING COMMITTEE
Minutes of Tuesday March 23, 1999 meetine in the Conference Room, School Administration
Building, as approved April 28, 1999
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Kelley at 6:12 p.m. with other PBC members
Cannalonga, Himmel and Poinelli present. Also attending the interviews were Director of School
Building Operation John Moynihan III and John Miller of HMFH. Following the interviews Phil
Lewis of HMFH also appeared.
Interview II. Lawrence (Larry) Aiello, a former builder and contractor, has been a consultant
since 1965, doing `whatever the owner needed" Among his assignments have been
simultaneous projects in Beverly and Ipswich. He has also worked extensively in Boston -B.0
Medical Center, Boston City Hospital and their underground utility system at the same time.
Miller asked him to give more details on the projects in Beverly and Ipswich. He also
enumerated problems and difficulties in several of the jobs he worked on. Among his objectives
for all jobs:
1) to make sure the project does not go to court
2) to make sure documentation is good in case it does go to court
3) to create good relationships all around to prevent problems.
He stated that he would like to keep change orders not to exceed 5 percent. One way to
accomplish this is to make change orders "difficult' Listening is key Budgets should reflect
priorities. Aiello asked the PBC about sequence, project progress, phasing and funding (he
considered 59 percent a very good reimbursement rate).
Candidate III. Michael Melnick, following introductions and project description, was about his
work in Sudbury He reported that his work, as a member of their building committee akin, to
Lexington s PBC, was all on a volunteer basis. He has been dealing with a problems with the
contractor, Mello. He described possible problems with phasing. A structural engineer by
profession, he has been doing construction management since 1990 and before that he worked in
construction. Among his recent management projects have been the veterinary school in Grafton
and the Fleet Center as owner's and architect's representative.
Melnick said that he has usually worked as an employee, with the catch that short-term
assignments present problems in getting vested for retirement. When asked how he would
handle difficult contractors, he responded that he would hold weekly meetings and impose a fine
for lateness.
Discussion of candidates included opinions on how well each might work in Lexington. Agreed
that John Miller and John Moynihan will check on the references and credentials of all of them-
all known to John Miller. Agreed not to actively seek any more interviewees - one, a Lexington
resident, apparently out of town and the other a fifth not unanimously agreed upon. John Miller
reported what he knew about Kealy and all the authority he wielded in Lowell.
PBC Minutes 3/23/99 -page 2
Review of school plans with architect Lewis told of his further consultation with LHS librarian
Susan Lum, who asked for more seating and shelf space for books. He also showed another
proposed fenestration with double window bays. This new plan was questioned by Poinelli as a
conflict with the vertical lines in the existing and planned surrounding school. Another
discussion centered on handicapped showers in the middle schools' locker room areas. After
inspecting and discussing alternate plans SKI and SK2 for Clarke, the committee and Moynihan
chose not to provide handicapped showers for staff.
Also shown and discussed was a new phasing plan to be presented to Joanne Hennessey This
new plan would cut down on the number of phases and probably shorten the project time at
Diamond by 6 months. It would call for six additional portable classrooms that would be located
on the Hathaway Road side of the school. Possibly these six could be converted into a temporary
library while the present library is being enlarged. A possible location could be on the turn
around island of the entrance from Hathaway Road. Parents have frequently avoided using the
turn around loop by making a u-turn in front of it. This could be legitimized while the temporary
structures occupy the turn around island. It was shown how deliveries to the construction area
could be routed, and bus drop-off might still come in from the Hancock Street side. Portable
structure would have to provide ADA compliant entrances and toilets.
Meeting adjourned at 9:58 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,A
Erna S. Greene,
Secretary