HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-04-06-PBC-min.pdf TOWN OF LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS
PERMANENT BUILDING COMMITTEE
Minutes of Tuesday Anril 6. 1999 meeting in the Conference Room, School Administration
Building, as approved April 28, 1999
The meeting was called to order by School Committee Chairman Barrie Peitz shortly after 8 p.m
and continued under PBC Chairman Kelley when he arrived soon afterward. Others present
included other PBC members Cannalonga, Poinelli and Touart, as well as Director of School
Building Operations John Moynihan III, Recreation Committee member Richard Neumeier,
Capital Expenditures Committee member Shirley Stolz, Selectman Dawn McKenna and Philip
Lewis of HMFH.
Play fields renovations total project estimate of$1 7 million was an acceptable amount to the
financial committees as well as School Committee and Selectmen. The only unanswered
question was the source of funding for the town s 41 percent beyond the state s reimbursement.
That question was deemed beyond the scope of PBC and up to Town Meeting and other town
agencies. Ms. Peitz expressed concern that the fields project should in no way interfere with or
jeopardize the schools' reimbursement for their long-planned project reimbursement. Architect
Lewis advised that the school building assistance office of the State should be advised of the
fields addition to the project. Concern was expressed that the fields project may have to be
trimmed to come within the town s ability to pay its portion or to come within the state's
guidelines for reimbursement. Lewis further asserted that the amount proposed for athletic fields
upgrading would not push the state's threshold for a reimbursable project. PBC member Poinelli
warned that all elements of the fields project must be part of the schools' program. A further
question raised: are all the parts of the athletic improvements on school grounds?Moynihan
checked and determined that the entire Central Playground area up to the far side of the pools
complex is part of the original high school site (but not including the basketball court). The
middle school fields are definitely on each of those sites. The discussion ended with a note that
educational and recreational priorities differ but that educational ones reign for this project.
Clarke library plans that have been reviewed with the school principals but not specifically with
the librarian were displayed by architect Lewis. Noted that the three classrooms - writing,
keyboarding and computer science labs - within the Information Media Center (IMC at Clarke)
had been revised for acoustic separation by placement at east and west ends of the IMC area or
by a solid wall. In answer to numerous security concerns raised by PBC members, Lewis said
doors could be provided. Glass enclosures and doors were suggested to preserve the light and
spaciousness of the area. PBC members questioned the need for equipping the writing lab with
more computer stations than the anticipated number of students in a class. Having over 30
computer stations was defended as good planning for flexible and varied future used of the room.
Other chanties at Clarke were described and shown by Lewis, notably the addition of non-
movable walls and parts of walls that will allow for more data drops and power outlets, as well as
providing for ADA compliant entrances to each classroom surrounding the IMC. It was also told
that staff toilets do not have to be handicapped accessible.
PBC Minutes of April 6, 1999 -page 2
Diamond kitchen is not planned for any work. However, committee members questioned
whether the area should be left unchanged when some of the 30-year-old equipment may pose a
hazard for kitchen employees. In response, the committee requested an a la carte menu of
possible improvements and their costs. Moynihan advised that the kitchens at all three secondary
schools should be evaluated for code compliance.
High School dining area revised plans were also shown by Lewis. Architect Duffy has found
seating for 700 students in each of three lunch sessions so that the entire student body could be
accommodated, as the state would require. He accomplished this by showing rectangular rather
than round-table seating.
An HMFH memo on architectural fees was distributed for committee members to read before
next week.
Proiect manager selection received a brief discussion, with all present plus three who had already
left or did not attend having already entered their preferential votes in favor of offering the
position to Michael Melnick of Sudbury It was agreed to offer him a 4-(7 hours) days-a-week
position as a town employee with a one-year renewable contract- with a 90-day trial period when
either party could terminate - for the duration of the project, about three to four years. Peter
Kelley will contact him, and also try to meet him in Sudbury to see some of the work he has
supervised in that town.
Meeting adjourned at 10:58 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Sa et --/
Erna S. Greene, Secretary