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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995-09-08-BFC-min.pdf TOWN OF LEXINGTON AD HOC BUILDING FINANCE COMMITTEE Minutes of Meeting September 8 1995 meeting at School Administration Building, as approved September 15, 1995 The meeting was called to order at 7 35 a m by Chairman Kelley, with all committee members except Garber, Kennedy and Pierce present Draft statements on the Central Fire Station, Visitors Center and Cary Memorial Building were passed out Commented that all three buildings lie inside an Historic District If an HDC permit is required for reroofing with anything but a slate roof , samples will need to be supplied with application and/or at the hearing Also noted that budget line items now being proposed for the Fire Station must be tightened with better estimates Minutes of Auaust 30 1995 drew comments on several topics The new finial for the band stand is made of redwood instead of pine like its predecessor It was first lacquered and then painted The Parks Department put it up and it "didn' t take long" as the finial fit into a hole The Town received an invoice from Custance, that had been paid by Grace Chapel Minutes of last Wednesday's meeting were APPROVED as amended School Program-Space Issues are to be discussed in a meeting today at 9 a m with Superintendent Young, School Committee Chairman Dini and Mary Neumeier Space needs for secondary schools are urgent Reutilization possibilities at the high school are being reexamined, while keeping in mind that technical and mechanical systems of the buildings need upgrading Unified maintenance of school and town facilities was suggested as a means to keep school maintenance from being raided when a budgetary shortfall occurs This proposal was called a "murky area" that might benefit from a fresh perspective with the new DPW director, expected in October Eagle pointed out the vast differences and difficulties in the way of such unification pay scales and working conditions differ considerably between school and town employees Presently the areas outside schools are maintained by both the DPW Parks Department (notably the playing and recreation areas of school grounds) and the school custodians (walks and yards close to buildings) with the parking lots and driveways maintained by the Highway Department Overall capital investment in facilities unkeen should be roughly $50 million in the next 10 years, according to the Archetype report Town Barn Agreed that the committee should endorse the DPW building process Something like $100 ,000 should be needed for drawing up architectural plans and doing environmental studies of the site for a project that could cost $2 5 million to construct Chairman Kelley will prepare a draft policy statement on the DPW building for next week' s meeting He noted three distinct problems in the barn storage area (1) air quality because diesel engines must warm up, especially in winter (2 ) position of the posts make maneuvering most difficult ( 3) use of the second floor, cantilevered from the barn to above the first floor offices How much use of this area is needed? Ad Hoc Building Finance Committee Minutes 9/8/95 - Page 2 be kept inside? How many vehicles are there? Are there alternatives to a full replacement of the barn area of the building? What about building cost? Buildings usually cost between $70 and $100 per square foot, with schools and public buildings costing more Recommended that the committee talk with incoming DPW Director Col George Woodbury in December, after he has had a chance to size up his new assignment Eagle pointed out that the property has had quite a history Committee questioned the priority and necessity of the project and also wondered about the practicality of relocating Fire Department Headquarters in the DPW front yard That would promote efficient vehicle maintenance and possibly free up an excellent building for School Administration offices or possibly an excellent location for the Senior Center, that is already experiencing space, parking and heating/ventilation problems in its present location Cary Memorial Building Statement needs more detail The following should be specified (1) Ventilation is needed on the lower level , (2) parapet and chimney work should be done at $22 ,000 cost (while roof maintenance can be accomplished under the maintenance budget) , (3) $40 ,000 is required to rebuild the front entry stairs to eliminate water problems below In addition a study of the whole building should point out what life-safety and ADA measures are needed This study should encompass a survey of potential use for the building if it is brought up to current safety and accessibility standards Committee members admired the building' s beauty and recommended that Estabrook, the second floor meeting rooms and possibly and Bird Room should be made available Central Fire Station Headquarters statement should recommend that new roofing material should be high quality architectural grade 30-year shingles These are a combination of a little fiberglass material with asphalt , far superior to those produced in the mid-1980s and causing problems Visitors Center statement should be amended to add a list with cost figures, including sprinklers, as well as roof gutters , downspouts and ventilation Total cost of these improvements thought to be about $38 ,000 Private funding for this work will be sought Architect Steve Hurley, who has given his services pro bono is soon to go before the Historic Districts Commission for changes in the rest rooms Committee members asked that all statements be dated, with updating as revised Statements will be reviewed at next week' s meeting Adjourned at 9 03 a m until September 15 at 7 30 a m - at the Police Department for a tour to precede the discussion/meeting Respectfully submitted, Erna S Greene, Secretary