Facilities Steering Committee
Meeting minutes for 3/27/18
7:00 pm at town hall annex
Attending for the committee: Chris Conway, Karen Cruise, Steve Mirick, Larry Todd, Mary Jo Wojtusik
Attending for the town: BOS, Edith Morgan, Richard Bisk, Jon Fudeman
Town administrator, Nina Nazarian
Attending for the advisory committee: Judy Dino
There were also 6 members of the Princeton Fire Department present
Karen opened the meeting at 7:03pm
The minutes of 3/20 were approved.
Karen opened the meeting and addressed the fire department. The plan for a new building shown by JWA at the presentations is only conceptual and doesn’t represent an actual design. Steve pointed out the layout will come with an actual design once the project is approved for design and construction.
Chief John Bennett said the department needs a functional facility with adequate space for emergency vehicles and space for a command center for emergencies such as the ice storm some years ago. There are also standards a fire station needs to meet.
Chris commented there was a lot of communication between JWA and the fire department to understand their requirements and concerns.
The asst chief, Tim Kelly, expressed concern that the design didn’t meet their needs. The committee stressed the conceptual drawings are only that and those present need to pass this on to the rest of the department. The drawings showing 2 equipment bays and an office layout are only to show how the building might look and how it might be oriented on the Center School site.
Karen asked the fire department to support the committee and the articles at town meeting. We asked them to give us a brief, 1 page, written summary of the reasons a new public safety building is needed.
The group discussed the warrant articles. We need a handout showing the details of options A and B for each building.
Karen asked about using stabilization funds for the proposed repairs to public safety and the annex.
Edith said the BOS will need to discuss the use of existing funds.
Jon said there is $1.2 million in reserve and stabilization accounts. He felt we cannot finance the repairs to public safety and the annex long term because they are relatively small amounts, but we can finance work on Bagg Hall. He noted that if the town continues to put $300K into stabilization each year we could have close to $2 million in two years (assuming we don’t spend any of it).
The cost to borrow $1 million for 20 years was given as $61K per year.
Discussion of the warrant articles continued. There was concern raised that if articles 4 and 5 are passed (design articles), there is a chance only part of article 6 (construction) will actually take place. Why not combine design and build for public safety and for the Bagg Hall addition into two articles ?
Article 4 becomes design and build a new public safety building. Article 5 becomes design and build an addition to Bagg Hall. Article 6 is gone.
Jon said he would like to have town support for the projects before we design. In his view the need for community space has changed because additional space is available at post office place.
Edith said the Bagg Hall addition is still very important.
The committee commented that if the building proposals are accepted there will be a need for space during the process of design and construction which could extend over several years. The committee does not want the Bagg Hall addition put ahead of public safety.
Nina noted that if the articles fail it would be very important to get a clear view of what the community wants.
Further discussion of article 4 and article 5; article 4 is for $600K for design and up to $7 million for construction, article 5 is for $500K design and up to $5.6 million for construction. If article 5 passes the committee could speak at town meeting and state the amount can be reduced by $1 million if article 1 passed.
Some discussion about financing. The BOS determines if the funding is a debt exclusion. The committee passed a motion to request an election be scheduled within 21 days of the town meeting.
The JWA final report is not available yet but will be in a few days.
Chris made a video tour of the buildings but the committee hasn’t seen it. We discussed how the video can be used to inform the community.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:18
Submitted by Larry Todd, secretary
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