PUBLIC BUILDING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012 (DRAFT)
A meeting of the Public Building Commission was held on Thursday, October 18, 2012 in Conference Room “B” next to the Welling Conference Room in the East Hartford Town Hall. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 P.M. by Chairman Daniel DePietro.
PRESENT: Daniel DePietro, Chairman
Richard Domler, Vice Chairman
Richard Kehoe, member (Chairman of the East Hartford Town Council)
Valentine Povinelli, Jr., member
Travis Simpson, member
ABSENT: Pasquale J. Salemi, Jr., member
Patricia Harmon, member (Town Council)
ALSO PRESENT: Marcia A. Leclerc, Mayor
Patrick Jones, Director of Libraries
Mary G. Martin, Project Administrator for Raymond Library
Bruce C. Tuthill, AIA, Tuthill & Wells Architects
Peter D. Wells, AIA, Tuthill & Wells Architects
APPROVAL OF FEBRUARY 24, 2010 MEETING MINUTES:
Motion by: Richard Domler
Seconded by: Richard Kehoe
To approve the Minutes of the February 24, 2010 meeting.
Vote: Motion was approved unanimously by the members who were in attendance at that meeting (Mr. DePietro, Mr. Domler, Mr. Kehoe, and Mr. Simpson). Mr. Povinelli abstained.
RAYMOND LIBRARY ADDITION AND RENOVATION:
Mayor Marcia Leclerc introduced members of the project team. Mary Martin gave an overview of the funding currently available for the project and noted that two (2) grant applications (State Library Construction Grant for Distressed Municipalities and the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving) are pending approval in January 2013.
Architects Bruce Tuthill and Peter Wells presented a number of design boards showing the proposed layout of the addition and improvements to the existing structure along with a preliminary plan for increasing parking. They explained how this project began in 2008 with an application to the State Library Construction Grant Program to address deficiencies and to plan for a 20-year future needs assessment of the Raymond Library. Total square footage of the Library at 840 Main Street will increase from 27,000 to approximately 41,000s.f.. The estimated total budget at this time is approximately $8.2 million. Plans are about 80% complete.
Public Building Commission Minutes – Page 2 of 2
October 18, 2012
Highlights of the presentation included the following description of physical improvements: installation of an elevator that will service all levels of the building; wireless technology for digital resources that will make the entire Library wi-fi and enable flexibility of seating and the utilization of laptops and tablets; expansion of the Children’s Area by almost double including separate and secure areas for craft and story hour functions, additional computers, and more stacks for books; creation of a Young Adults section with computers, study booths and seating; increase of community room space by almost three-fold to enable educational workshops, business seminars, etc., with a state-of-the-art media and sound system; construction of a new roof on the existing structure to stop damage currently being caused
by leaks and installation of a “variable refrigerant flow” HVAC system capable of being connected to solar power. Other improvements include expansion of the parking lot and the creation of a climate-controlled local history archive.
A discussion was held regarding the next time the Public Building Commission should review plans and specifications. It was decided by consensus that Town staff and the architects would return with engineering consultants in early December, 2012. It was also decided that another (third) review of plans and specifications will take place after the Town’s Building Department and Fire Marshal’s Office has commented but before the project goes out to bid. It is estimated that review will be in late February or early March, 2013.
OLD BUSINESS:
Mr. Domler spoke of the new East Hartford/Glastonbury Elementary Magnet School and its ribbon cutting ceremony at the beginning of this school year. Mr. Domler noted that the planetarium portion of the facility will not be open to the public until April, 2013.
NEW BUSINESS:
A discussion was held regarding the status of the window replacement project at the East Hartford Middle School. Al Costa, Director of Facilities for the East Hartford Board of Education, had indicated to the Chairman that the State of Connecticut has given its tentative approval. They are waiting for the November 2012 bond referendum to be held to determine if the balance of funding not covered by the State will be funded by the Town.
ADJOURNMENT:
Motion by: Richard Domler
Seconded by: Valentine Povinelli
To adjourn the meeting of the Public Building Commission (8:45 P.M.).
Vote: Motion was approved unanimously.
Recorded by: Mary G. Martin
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