Finance Committee Minutes
Town of Bellingham – High School
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
1. FinCom Present: Roland Lavallee, Toni Picariello, Carol Dill, Raymond Szczepan, Henri Masson, Katie Quinn.
2. FinCom Absent: Joseph Collamati
3. Meeting called to order: 7:00 p.m.
4. ARTICLE 23. REVISION TO TOWN ZONING BYLAW SECTION 2140 (Planning Board)
To see if the Town will amend Section 2140 of the Town’s Zoning Bylaws by deleting said Section in its entirety and replacing it with the following:
2140. Lots Split by Town Line. When a lot in one ownership is situated in part in the Town of Bellingham and in part in an adjacent city or town, the regulations and restrictions of this Zoning By-Law shall be applied to an application for a building permit to the extent that the proposed structure will be located in Bellingham. Land located in the adjacent city or town may be used to satisfy Bellingham’s minimum lot area, frontage and yard requirements. If the structure is located in the adjacent city or town, construction shall be governed by the zoning regulations of the adjacent city or town.
Letter from Planning Board, 4/29/2011: At the meeting on April 28, 2011 the Planning Board voted to recommend passing over the following article at the May Annual Town Meeting: • Article 23 – Section 2140 Lots Split by Town Line
Raymond Szczepan/Henri Masson motion to pass over this Article. VOTE: 6/0.
5. ARTICLE 1. MIDDLE SCHOOL BOILER PROJECT (of the June 13, 2011 Special Town Meeting)(School Department)
To see if the Town will vote to appropriate, borrow or transfer from available funds, a sum of money to be expended under the direction of the School Building Committee for a repair project that includes the replacement of the boiler and related equipment at the Bellingham Middle School, located at 130 Blackstone Street, which such repair project would materially extend the useful life of the Middle School and preserve an asset that otherwise is capable of supporting the required educational program, and for which the Town may be eligible for a school construction grant from the Massachusetts School Building Authority (“MSBA”); and if by borrowing to authorize the issuance and sale of general obligation bonds or notes of the Town therefore for the purpose of the boiler repair. The MSBA’s grant program is a non-entitlement, discretionary program based on need, as determined by the MSBA, and any project costs the Town incurs in excess of any grant approved and received from the MSBA
shall be the sole responsibility of the Town. Any grant that the Town may receive from the MSBA shall not exceed the lesser of: (1) 51.21 percent of eligible approved project costs, as determined by the MSBA; or (2) the total maximum grant determined by the MSBA.
From April 19, 2011 Minutes: Appearing: Richard Marks (RDK Engineers, Boston)
Mr. Marks explained that the Budget for the boilers has increased to $600,000 and there is a 99.9% that the school building assistance (SBA) program will approve the project and reimburse the Town 51.21% ($306,000). The Town has 90 days to recommend the project. There will have to be a Special Town Meeting, probably on June 8, 2011. The bid will go out April 12th and will be due in about 3 weeks. The cost breakdown is as follows:
Feasibility Study Agreement $17,440.
Administration 21,400.
Architectural/Engineering 34,260
Site Acquisition 0
Construction Budget 497,222
Alternates 0
Misc. Project Costs 2,500
Construction Contingency 24,861
Owner's Contingency 1,462
Total Project Budget $599,145
The Green Repair Program Committee has been established. School Department applied for money to replace two boilers at Bellingham Memorial Middle School. The Middle School boilers are 47 years old (1964). Honeywell is the company and would replace the old with 4 high efficiency boilers and controls (a whole new system). In the meantime, they retubed the boiler at a cost of $17,000.
Town Meeting's vote in the fall recommended $440,000, since that Town Meeting the cost had increased. Also, in the fall 3 high efficiency boilers & controls would replace two 47 year old boilers. They are now planning on 4 boilers.
FinCom: Raymond Szczepan/Henri Masson motion to recommend $600,000 for the Boiler project. Funding: Borrowing. VOTE: 7/0.
(The FinCom had recommended it, but we need to revote for the STM)
Since members of the School Department did not appear before the FinCom, the recommendation of this Article will be made on the night of Special Town Meeting at 6:45 p.m.
6. GENERAL DISCUSSION
A. Next scheduled meetings are Monday, June 13, 2011 and Monday, June 27, 2011.
Adjourned:
FinCom: Raymond Szczepan/Katie Quinn motion to adjourn. VOTE: 6/0. 7:30 p.m.
(Accepted 7/25/2011)
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