Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Audrey P. Beck Municipal Building

Conference Room B

MINUTES

Present: Bill Simpson, Chair, Elizabeth Paterson, Mark Boyer, Gordon Schimmel, William Hammon

Absent: Bill Simpson, Chair, Anne Rash, Jeff Smith, Matt Hart, Anne Willenborg

Staff: Fred Baruzzi

Guest: Rick Lawrence, Lawrence Associates

1. Call to Order/Roll Call

Mr. Simpson called the meeting to order at 5:06 p.m.

2. Meeting Minutes

The minutes of June 13, 2007 were moved, seconded and approved unanimously.

3. Opportunity for the public to address the Committee

No one came forward.

4. Scope of Work by Rick Lawrence

Mr. Lawrence distributed copies of the progress summary.

Mr. Lawrence reported that reviews of the existing conditions from the architectural standpoint for the three elementary schools. The Middle School is scheduled to be done on Friday morning.

Jeff Smith arrived at 5:07 p.m.

Mr. Lawrence reported that feedback on enrollment is needed for a better estimate. A draft copy will be distributed to Mr. Schimmel and Mr. Hammon for review before it is distributed to the Committee which will include findings and drawings for each building. These will be used as a baseline for moving forward.

Mr. Simpson questioned if there were “as-builts” for the building. Mr. Hammon replied that there are no “as-builts” and that he was insisting that actual visitations were done to each of the buildings.

Mr. Lawrence distributed a sample questionnaire for staff that might be considered problems or issues. He would like it distributed once school starts and a meeting to be scheduled at each school that would entail a full day after the questionnaire is received for feedback.

Mr. Lawrence then discussed public workshops, taking into consideration Town Council meetings and Board of Education meetings to be held in the evening. Workshops will include floorplans in color, site plans, information that can be visually seen that helps put things in context and stimulate ideas. These will start in the fall and end in the spring.

Mr. Smith inquired as to if there should be a public meeting and not a meeting that possibly just the parents might attend. Ms. Paterson advised that with a lot of advertising throughout papers, cable channels, flyers, posters more people would be aware and that it would be beneficial for the community and parents to work together on this project.

Ms. Paterson asked if flat roofs could be changed to a pitched roof for a minimal cost. Mr. Lawrence replied that would be part of the study as the School Facilities Unit requires minimal pitch to the roof.

Mr. Lawrence then inquired as to when a joint meeting between the Town Council and the Mansfield Board of Education should occur. Ms. Paterson recommended having the meeting after the election in November due to some possible changes in members.

The schedule for bonding would be as follows: Board of Education approval, Town Council approval, then referendum for bonding, after approval for funding then to the State so would need to go to referendum next fall when the most number of voters would occur. When the Council adopts resolutions in July or August, the Committee can no longer advocate for this. Ms. Paterson stressed that one of the most important things to happen would be to get as much publicity as possible right from the beginning. Mr. Simpson also mentioned the development of a website just for the building renovation project.

Mr. Lawrence also touched on selecting a Construction Manager. The probably would not occur or be needed until late fall of 2007.

Mr. Simpson inquired as to how LEED’s occurred. Ms. Paterson and Mr. Lawrence both replied that it was a performance standard and points were “earned” for showing a more energy efficient building or for using less natural resources or recycled materials. There are certain ways to collect points, (water, energy, sewer).

5. Other

The MMS retrofit project will occur at 4:15 prior to the School Building Committee Meeting. The next meeting will be September 19, 2007 at 5:00 p.m. in Conference Room B

6. Adjournment

Mr. Schimmel adjourned the meeting at 6:10 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

L. Patenaude

Capital Projects and Personnel Assistant