Community Preservation Committee
January 27, 2014
Minutes
Members present: Anthony Patella (AP) , Kate McNulty-Vaughan, (KMV), Joe G. Strauch (JS), Eugene Chague (EC), Catherine May (CM), Channing Gibson (CG), Olga Weiss (OW) and Albert Harper (AH).
Members absent: Frederick Keator (FK)
Also in attendance: Mary Albertson (MA), Town Planner.
Albert Harper served as vice chairmen and called the meeting to order at 7:05 PM.
FY- 15 Project Presentations
Town of Lenox – Roche Reading Park Restoration
Jeff Vincent offered a brief presentation regarding the project. Sharon Hawkes, Library Director, also offered input regarding the project. Mr. Vincent said the proposal is to install a sidewalk that connects from the Main Street sidewalk to the parking lot behind the library. The proposal also includes minor grading and landscaping associated with the sidewalk. The sidewalk will be bituminous mix. Mr. Vincent said bituminous mix is the most economical and will match the current sidewalk located on the other side of library. He suggested that DPW will probably be able to do some of the site preparation work and he anticipates the concrete work will be completed by the company who is awarded the 2014 paving contract. The paving contract will be bid and awarded later this year.
Discussion ensued regarding the width of the sidewalk. Mr. Vincent suggested that the sidewalk be a minimum of six (6) feet so that it is wide enough to allow the DPW sidewalk plow to preform winter maintenance. KMV asked who does winter maintenance at the library. Ms. Hawkes said that the library staff does winter maintenance. Ms. Hawkes said she will welcome the sidewalk as described so that DPW can use the sidewalk plow for winter maintenance.
There was discussion regarding handicap parking. It was noted that there are designated handicap parking spaces on Main Street.
AP asked about the cost of pavers vs. bituminous mix. Mr. Vincent estimated that it would increase the cost by $8,000 to $10,000. OW suggested she likes the country look of bituminous mix. She feels pavers are more modern and less historic. JS asked if there is an historic bituminous mix. Mr. Vincent said there is a stone and oil mix but he would recommend against this because then the sidewalk cannot be maintained with the sidewalk plow.
Community Center Backyard Restoration and Town Beach Architectural Assessment
Kim Graham, Community Center Director, presented the Community Center applications. She explained that there are two proposals. The first proposal is for improvements to the backyard at the Community Center including drainage improvements and restoration of the basketball court. The second proposal is for architectural costs for improvements to the Town Beach.
Discussion ensued regarding the proposed work at the Community Center. The Committee had a number of questions regarding this proposal. There was discussion of the current drainage and runoff issues. Members asked about the proposed lighting and fencing. Ms. Graham stressed that the restoration work will improve the facility and provide a safe play area for the children. She stated that Mike Sullivan is the custodian and will maintain the facility once the restoration work is completed. She is very confident in his work and stressed that he will do a good job maintaining the restored basketball court.
CG said he frequents the facility and is impressed by the large number of people who are served by the Community Center. CM said she is also very impressed by the programs offered by the Community Center. She said her granddaughter participated in a summer program and she feels very strongly that the proposed project will improve the facility for the children.
There was discussion regarding the winter skating facility. Some members questioned if this would cause harm to the new basketball court or if this past practice harmed the current facility. She does not think the skating facility harms or will harm the basketball court. The restoration project will improve drainage and she feels this will only benefit the long term maintenance of the new facility.
JS questioned the cost estimates. Ms. Graham said she worked with Foresight Land Services and Mr. Vincent to establish the proposed construction estimate. Mr. Vincent confirmed that a rule of thumb is that engineering is approximately 12-14% of the project cost. Based on the Foresight estimate, Ms. Graham said she used 14% to estimate the construction costs.
AH is concerned that the Foresight report was put together hastily and he noted a couple errors in the report. AH is concerned about the quality of the Foresight report and is not clear on what he can expect as an engineering project or a construction project. Ms. Graham responded that Marc LeVasseur visited the site a few times and she is confident that he put together a complete report. AH and OW questioned the wisdom of funding engineering work and construction work in the same year. They offered the Church on the Hill Cemetery as a model for approaching projects that includes engineering and construction. Ms. Graham explained that if this project is approved, funds are not available until July 2014. If she does engineering only, the earliest construction will commence is July 2015. She feels that construction work is appropriate and should be completed in Fiscal Year (FY) 15.
AP stressed that as a community we should invest in projects that improve the quality of life for the children. Basketball programs are popular and many young people participate. He stressed that the proposed upgrades are important, necessary and important to the community.
Ms. Graham offered a brief description of the work proposed for the Town Beach. She said that she views this as a two stage project. In FY 15 she would like CPA funds to complete an architectural review of the Town Beach facility. Improvements to the Town Beach will improve recreational opportunities and address improvements for handicap accessibility. Discussion ensued regarding improvements to the Town Beach. Ms. Graham said she was comfortable with the proposed $8,000 for architectural review. She estimated $58,000 for restoration work.
The Lenox Fire Company- Antique Fire Apparatus Restoration
Jeff Lynch, Treasurer, Lenox Fire Company, Inc. offered an overview of the project. Ed Lane was also present to offer input regarding the restoration work. Mr. Lynch said that the Fire Company appreciates the funding they received last year to restore the 1932 Buffalo Stewart fire truck. This year the Fire Company requests $25,000 in CPA funds to restore the 1924 American LaFrance Pumper. The Fire Company estimates that the complete restoration of this fire truck will be $50,000. Mr. Lynch said the Fire Company plans to apply for CPA funds FY’16 and FY’17 to complete the project. The Fire Company believes the staggered funding will allow them to raise approximately $3,000 per year toward the restoration effort and allow members to donate the time and labor to assist with the
restoration effort. The restoration work will be completed primarily by Hal Fillinger III. Mr. Fillinger owns and operates a restoration business specializing in American LaFrance antique fire trucks.
Mr. Lynch explained that the Fire Company owns five fire vehicles that protected the citizens of Lenox at the turn of the 20th century and early 20th Century. During the CPA review process last year, the Fire Company estimated that they had raised $32,000 toward the restoration and preservation of the fire trucks. Members also donate time and labor to the restoration efforts. In 2013, the Fire Company raised approximately $3,000.
AH asked about the status of the Buffalo Stewart restoration project. Mr. Lane said the project was going well. The project should be completed in the current fiscal year and will be on budget.
Discussion ensued regarding storage facilities for the antique fire trucks. Mr. Lynch said that the Fire Company is very fortunate to have members of the community who contribute garage space to house the trucks. He said Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Cowhig and Ethan Berg contribute safe garage space to store the trucks.
Mr. Lynch explained that the American LaFrance Pumper restoration includes body, paint and mechanical work. KMV noted her concern about the mechanical work. Mr. Lane said that although the mechanical work includes repairing a cracked engine, he is confident that the work can be complete within the proposed budget.
OW questioned how the trucks would be maintained once they were restored. JS asked when the next generation of fire trucks would become antiques and also be in need of restoration work. Mr. Lynch explained that once the trucks are restored they are easier to maintain. He went on to explain that fire trucks changed significantly in the 1930’s post-war era. He suggested that the newer truck are much larger and are more sophisticated and cannot be maintained by volunteers. Mr. Lane concurred with Mr. Lynch.
AP thinks this is a good project and believes the trucks are an important part of the Town’s history. He appreciates that the Fire Company has displayed the trucks are recent town events and included information regarding CPA funding.
CG asked about the value of the trucks and insurance. Mr. Lynch said the trucks are valuable – especially the 1909 LaFrance. The trucks are insured to the greatest extent possible. CG asked if the Fire Company has ever considered selling the trucks. Mr. Lynch said the Fire Company has never considered selling the trucks. CG asked if there are antique fire truck shows and suggested this might be a good off-season event. Mr. Lynch said there are antique fire truck shows. The only local show that he is aware of is a yearly event at the Stockbridge Fire Station.
Lenox Historical Commission- Church on the Hill Cemetery
Lucy Kennedy, Historical Commission, offered a brief presentation regarding the project. She thanked the CPC for funding Phase 1 of the restoration project. Phase 1 funding included $75,000 in CPA funds and $25,000 in non-CPA Town funds. The Historical Commission worked with Jeff Vincent on the Request for Proposal (RFP). She said the project was awarded to a New Hampshire curator and he has completed more stones than originally anticipated. He completed 112 stones in the fall of 2013 and he anticipates completing an additional 120 stones in the spring of 2014. The Historical Commission is very pleased with this work but will arrange for an expert for the Massachusetts Historical Commission to review the work in the spring of 2014.
The Historical Commission seeks CPA funding in FY ’15 for additional headstone repair, minor landscaping work, education signage and a downloadable audio tour/map. Mr. Vincent confirmed that he must rebid the work to be completed in the spring of 2014 with existing funds.
AP asked if the DPW can do the minor landscape work. Mr. Vincent confirmed that the landscape work in question needs to be completed by tree removal expert. DPW can coordinate the work but cannot perform the work.
CM asked if the Historical Commission has applied for other grants or solicited private donations. Ms. Kennedy explained that she hopes to apply for a Mass. Historical grant next year. She said that she will work with the Historical Society to develop a potential donor list. Ms. Kennedy went on to explain that she is working with the Lenox Library to manage donations through Library’s 501C3 institutional infrastructure.
Discussion ensured regarding long term maintenance once the restoration work is completed.
Minutes
CG made a motion to approve the January 13, 2014 minutes. Seconded by JS and the Committee voted 7-0 -1 to approve the minutes. AP abstained because he did not attend the meeting.
Motion by OW and seconded by KMV to adjourn the meeting at 9:05 PM. The vote to adjourn was unanimous.
Respectfully Submitted
Mary Albertson, Town Planner
Approved: 2/24/14
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