Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Mansfield Town Hall

Conference Room B

MINUTES

Present: Mary Feathers, Chair, Anne Willenborg, Mark Boyer, Elizabeth Paterson

Absent: Cherie Trahan, Anne Rash, Debra Adamczyk, Jim Palmer, Norma Fisher-Doiron, Eric Ohlund

Staff: Matt Hart, Fred Baruzzi, William Hammon, Jeff Cryan, Jeff Smith, Candace Morrell, Jaime Russell

Guest: Tom DiMauro, Newfield Construction, Mike Callahan, Fuss & O’Neil, Rick Lawrence, Rick Lawrence & Associates, Greg Padick, Director of Planning

1. Call to Order/Roll Call

Ms. Paterson called the meeting to order at 5:02 p.m.

2. Meeting Minutes

The minutes of November 12, 2008 were moved, seconded and approved unanimously.

3. Opportunity for the public to address the Committee

No one came forward.

4. Fuss & O’Neil re: MMS Fossil Fuel Project

Mr. Callahan reported that a meeting was held to eliminate the following alternates from the original bid. These include the medial center, music wing, and the first floor classroom area due to the review of the previous bid being received over the authorized budget.

5. Mr. Padick, Director of Planning

Mr. Hart requested that the Committee deviate from the agenda to add Mr. Padick, Director of Planning.

Mr. Padick reported on potential sites for the one school option. Mr. Padick stated that Town-owned land should be considered first. He has been looking at sites that are in the 10, 15, or 20 acres range. However, most of the open space land purchased with Federal and State money has stipulations that require that portion to be kept in open space.

Mr. Lawrence reported that the State reimbursement guidelines reimburse 10 acres plus one acre for every 100 students and due to estimated enrollment approximately 17 acres would be needed.

Mr. Padick has looked into the site northeast of the Mansfield Middle School – which includes the school, garage and some open space that has no stipulation on what is required of the purchase. He also stated that privately owned property might be found, but the septic requirements are a big factor.

One site mentioned is the 30 to 40 acres of apple orchard located on Route 195 which is owned by UConn. It was discussed that UConn might not be willing to part with it. Mr. Padick also mentioned that approximately 1/3 of the Town is in wetlands and areas that have the most potential may not be central in Town as requirements state they must be 50 to 150 feet away from wetlands.

Mr. Smith asked about the old Mansfield Training School now owned by UConn (located off Route 44) as a potential site. Mr. Padick stated that he has not looked into that corner of Town.

Other potential sites are the 17 acres that are located behind the Mansfield Community Center but are not suitable to build due to ledge and south of the Public Works Garage which was purchased with Grant money and are held due to DEP restrictions.

Ms. Paterson noted that there was a meeting at Region 19 on the regionalization of a K-12 school system and requested that that be taken into account. The possibility of a regional property would be the Baxter property located on Baxter Road which is being leased out. However, the Agriculture Committee would want to keep this property in an agricultural state.

The Committee authorized Mr. Padick to do the following:

1) look at or find an approximate 17 acre piece of land not located in a neighborhood and on a main road

2) check with UConn regarding the apple orchard located on Route 195

3) in regards to the Mansfield Middle School property if not a possibility, why?

4) look into the property located at the Mansfield Training School

6. Architect/Construction Manager’s Report

Mr. Lawrence reported that the most attractive option for the Town of Mansfield is building a new school. This would also include the best reimbursement rate. Mr. Lawrence has summarized the findings in a letter to Mr. Hart and Mr. Baruzzi.

7. Construction Manager Services

Mr. DiMauro had nothing to report.

8. Other

Next steps are as follows:

1) identify a probable site

2) evaluate the site

3) Lawrence Associates to do a schematic for the specific site

4) report to the Town Council and Board of Education

5) recommendations specific to site

No meeting has been scheduled at this time.

9. Adjournment

Ms. Paterson adjourned the meeting at 6:20 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Linda Patenaude

Capital Projects and Personnel Assistant