HOLDEN BOARD OF SELECTMEN
MEETING MINUTES
NOVEMBER 2, 2011
7PM Memorial Hall
Present:
Chairman Robert Lavigne, Anthony Renzoni, James Jumonville,
Kenneth Lipka, Kenneth O’Brien (arrived 7:41PM)
Others Present:
Nancy Galkowski, Town Manager
Jacquie Kelly, Assistant Town Manager
Jim Robinson, Light Department Manager
Thomas Pandiscio, School District Superintendent
Alan Berg, Finance Committee
Rick Bates, Finance Committee
Karl Makela, Finance Committee
Jim Dunn, Chairman, Finance Committee
Don Mancini, Finance Committee
Chris Lucchesi, Chairman Public Safety Building Committee
David White, Public Safety Building Committee
Peter Liddy, Public Safety Building Committee
Police Chief George Sherrill
Fire Chief Jack Chandler
Gary Kaczmarek, Project Manager, Public Safety Building
Elizabeth Helder, Recording Secretary
Chairman Lavigne opened the meeting at 7PM. The Board participated in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Mountview School Design Enrollment Certification
The Manager said that the Mountview School Building Committee (MSBC) has been working with the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) for the past year toward a Feasibility Study for renovation/replacement of the Mountview Middle School. The Committee is currently at the stage in the study process where the intended design enrollment for the building needs to be agreed upon and approved by the MSBA, School Committee and Board of Selectmen. After review of projected enrollments and potential growth patterns, it was determined that the design enrollment for Mountview Middle School should be 800 students. The School Committee and the MSBC have both voted to support the recommended design enrollment figure. The Manager recommended that the Selectmen support the enrollment figure and authorize the Chairman to sign the
certificate on behalf of the Board.
Sel. Renzoni and Sel. Lavigne said it was important to plan for the future growth in enrollment at the school. Eventually, the housing market will pick up again, bringing with it families with children.
Dr. Pandiscio explained that he had a good comfort level that the design was one for the future. The school currently has 21 multi-purpose classrooms and the design enrollment of 800 students will qualify the building for 28 multi-purpose classrooms. He said the potential building with a design enrollment of 800 students would comfortably educate 900 students. Additionally, the cafeteria will be enlarged by 30%. To date, the committee has not determined whether to renovate or build a new school.
Motion by Sel. Renzoni, seconded by Sel. Lipka, it was VOTED 4-0 THAT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ANALYSIS PREPARED BY THE MASSACHUSETTS SCHOOL BUILDING AUTHORITY, THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN ACKOWLEDGES AND AGREES TO A DESIGN ENROLLMENT FOR THE MOUNTVIEW MIDDLE SCHOOL BASED ON NO MORE THAN 800 STUDENTS AND, FURTHER, THAT THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN IS AUTHORIZED TO SIGN THE DESIGN ENROLLMENT CERTIFICATION ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD.
Dr. Pandiscio left the meeting at 7:10PM.
Energy Analysis Report – Public Safety Building
Mr. Jim Robinson, Light Department Manager, introduced Mr. Matthew Siska with GDS Associates the engineering firm that conducted the analysis. Mr. Robinson said GDS conducted the analysis on behalf of the Holden Municipal Light Department. Mr. Siska presented a Power Point presentation of an energy analysis of the new Public Safety Building. Mr. Siska said the review process was comprised of three major activities: 1. A review of historical energy usage for the old police and fire stations; 2. A cursory review of building systems, energy end uses and operating procedures; and 3. A comparison of energy intensity for the PSB compared with other similar buildings throughout the county.
The conclusion of the study determined that the PSB is well designed and operated, and is very energy efficient compared to other buildings of similar use and size. In fact, the building is operating in the top 10% of similar buildings across the country. Additionally, the building is well maintained and operated.
The goal of the analysis was to measure the energy intensity and compare it to other facilities.
Sel. O’Brien joined the meeting at 7:41PM.
Chairman Jim Dunn, Finance Committee, asked how the Town could have missed budgeting for operating costs that are so enormous? Had the building been heated with gas and oil, it would have been significantly cheaper and in his mind makes the return on the geothermal system suspect. He said it would be important in the future to remain dollar and well as energy efficient.
Chairman Lucchesi said the building was built to be as efficient as it was designed to be. The costs for running the building, are in line with what the Committee anticipated them to be. Of course the operating costs are higher than operating the old buildings and the Committee advocated that the Town budget for these additional costs. The building is using significantly less fossil fuel and is operating in the top 10% of buildings of its type in the country. Within 8 years, the geothermal system will have paid for itself.
Alan Berg said he did not feel that the payback calculation on the geothermal was accurate and said he was disturbed by the costs to operate the building.
Sel. Renzoni declared that while he was not an engineer, he said he felt the report was fair and accurate.
He said that while it might cost more to run the new building, the Town more than doubled the size of the building, and improved the air quality and working conditions for its employees. Additionally, there was no air cooling system in the old buildings and that cost needs to be factored into the analysis. He said he was satisfied that the building was running efficiently.
Mr. Robinson reviewed a graph to outline the energy costs of the Public Safety Building on a monthly basis.
Mr. Siska said the that the life expectancy of a geothermal system was 50-years vs. other mechanical heating and cooling systems that would need to be replaced multiple times during that 50-year period.
It takes three and one half times the fossil fuel to get the same heating/cooling results from the geothermal.
Sel. O’Brien said he was encouraged that the building was running efficiently and that the Town should make sure that the building runs its self as efficiently as possible. He said it was important to acknowledge that the building had doubled in size and that its energy costs should have increased.
3. Adjournment
Motion by Sel. Renzoni, seconded by Sel. O’Brien, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO ADJOURN NOVEMBER 2, 2011 MEETING AT 8PM.
APPROVED: December 5, 2011
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