Joint Capital Improvement Committee
and Finance Committee Agenda
(with notes & history)
Town of Bellingham – Municipal Center
Monday, March 12, 2012 at 7:15 p.m.
1. CIC Present:
FinCom
2. CIC Absent:
FinCom
3. Meeting called to order: 7:15 p.m.
4. SCHOOL DEPARTMENT - MSBA AND MACY SCHOOL PROJECT DISCUSSION
Email to School, 3/3/2012: The FinCom would like to meet with the School Department regarding the MSBA and the Macy School Project to review:
a. The specifications
b. Renovations needed
c. Total cost
d. Building Committee duties
Also, Joseph Collamati (JCollamati@comcast.net) would like to be a member on the Clara Macy Elementary School Building Committee representing the FinCom.
Past Macy Issues:
From January 24, 2011 Minutes:
The school is looking for a Statement of Interest to send to GRP for repairs to Macy School in the amount of $2M. Macy school needs repairs as follows: asbestos, replace carpets, etc. It is the oldest school and will need a roof, windows and boilers. MSBA proposals can be modified and the amount can be moved from school to school, but it must go to Town Meeting first.
Judy Manning is all for closing Macy. Raymond Szczepan mentioned that community schools are no longer a priority.
From May 26, 2010 Minutes: ARTICLE 13. SCHOOL CRITICAL NEEDS (by School Committee)
3. Safety Switch (Macy) $27,000
From April 12, 2010 Minutes: ARTICLE 13 - SCHOOL CRITICAL NEEDS
James Testa made a presentation as to the following requests as listed in the Town Meeting Warrant (all costs will be listed below).
The Finance Committee and Capital Improvement Committee members toured Macy and Stallbrook schools on Saturday, April 10th to see what the school needed and why.
1. Asbestos tile removal at Macy School;
2. Carpet removal and tile installation at Macy School;
He received quotes for abatement and removal of asbestos floor time and carpet from one classroom. If multiplied by 17 classrooms and 5,000 sq. ft. of hallways, it would be approximately a total of 23,000 sq. ft. At $4.78 per sq. ft. the cost is approximately $110,000. A lot of the carpet has been damaged and mildewed because of water. Mr. Testa mentioned that there was suppose to be dehumidifiers in each room. Roland Lavallee mentioned that mold and happen on carpets in brick buildings also. Testa said that a field tech did air quality testing and felt that the mold was only in the carpet, which had been cleaned with bleach. Fischer said carpeting is not a new issue, it came up now because of all
the rain. Cartier mentioned that maybe they could clean the carpeting with dry-cleaning.
Also to replace the existing tiles with VCT floor time at $3.00 sq. ft would be around $73,600. He feels this is a "critical" need and has added 15% contingency.
3. Purchase, installation and implementation of critical safety items at Macy School;
He would need $26,955.00 to replace the Heavy Duty Safety Switch in the boiler room. This switch cuts the electric power off to the school building, but it has failed twice in the past. This item was included in the Flansburgh Report
Joseph Collamati was not sure the repairs should be done to Macy until it is decided what the long term viability of Macy School was going to be. He mentioned that he was surprised to see that Macy was not as bad as expected. He mentioned that there could be three options for Macy:
a. Fix what needs to be fixed piecemeal;
b. Close the school for one or two years and renovate it completely; or
c. Close the school.
It was discussed that Macy, Stallbrook and South elementary school are not operating at their full capacity. Mr. Fischer admitted that there is declining enrollment and the School Department was looking to be affective and not to lose any programs. He said that they could fit Macy students into Stallbrook, but it would be crowded and they would have to look at class sizes. It was mentioned that some of the student could go to South. Stephen Patrick mentioned that South School was operating at capacity, but Gary Maynard stated that there were 7 empty classrooms in that school. Stephen Patrick stated that you would have to put the children somewhere, he cannot see Macy not being a school and they are prolonging
the repairs.
Mr. Gauvin stated that there was discussion about separating grade levels between the three elementary schools, but there were questions regarding busing and ADA requirements.
From April 10, 2010 Notes/Tour: Macy:
Items 1 & 2. The rugs will be pulled-up, the asbestos tile removed and new VCT Linoleum tile be replaced in 17 classrooms and various hallways. There is approximately 2,300 square feet that need to be replaced and could cost around $5,000 per classroom. A lot of the carpet has been damaged and mildewed because of water. Mr. Testa mentioned that there was suppose to be dehumidifiers in each room, but some were missing.
Item 3. The critical safety "items" is one item - the Heavy Duty Safety Switch in the boiler room. This switch cuts the electric power off to the school building, but it has failed twice in the past. This item was included in the Flansburgh Report.
From March 29, 2010 Minutes: Article 13 and the Debt Exclusion are for the following:
1. Asbestos tile removal at Macy School;
2. Carpet removal and tile installation at Macy School;
3. Purchase, installation and implementation of critical safety items at Macy School;
Joseph Collamati wants to know what the viability for Macy School is.
Raymond Szczepan (who also served on the School Budget Committee and School Facilities Committee) let the Committee know that he gave an update to the School Committee last Tuesday on closing Macy School. He said on Thursday, he was notified that both those citizen committees where disbanded.
Denis Fraine mentioned that there were two options on what to do with Macy, Stallbrook and PJP schools.
The FinCom wants to schedule a "field trip" to Macy and Stallbrook before April 12, 2010. The meeting would have to be in the evening or on a Saturday morning. Toni Picariello will notify the school department.
From October 27, 2008 Minutes: Mr. Cruz explained the Flansburgh report. They need to submit a report to the State for funds, which deadline is November 15, 2008. The statement of interest will state outline: Is there a facility in Town that needs to be repaired. They need to propose the school cost and will suggest Macy School based on age. Joseph Collamati commented that on student use, doesn’t Stallbrook have more needs. Mr. Cruz stated that Stallbrook is a bigger and newer school and Macy is older.
Joseph Collamati feels that Macy is underutilized. Macy has 270 students and the capacity is 400; Stallbrook has 259 students, 124 early childhood students and has capacity for 500. There are approximately 20 students per classroom.
From March 27, 2006 Minutes: Joseph Collamati wanted to know what was happening with Macy School and the low enrollment?
From September 26, 2005 Minutes: 300 Student Desks-for the Macy School. Amount requested $37,500. These are all new desks.
Henri Masson/Kevin Connolly motion to recommend $37,500 from Free Cash. VOTE: 4/0.
From September 28, 2004 Minutes: Clara Macy School – Paint 15 Interior Doors and Frames - $4500, Paint 15 Exterior Doors - $4500 – Paint 8 Restrooms - $6000
Roland Lavallee/Joe Collamati – Motion to recommend $15,000 for Article 2, Clara Macy School - Paint 15 Interior Doors and Frames - $4500, Paint 15 Exterior Doors - $4500 – Paint 8 Restrooms - $6000 – Funding by Free cash
Vote 7/0 – Motion passed
5. UPDATED CAPITAL SPREADSHEET
6. TOWN MEETING WARRANT
7. GENERAL DISCUSSION
A. Correspondence/Emails/Memo's etc.
Invitation from Blackstone-Valley Tech School.
Adjourned:
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