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June 27, 2012
Salem State University Neighborhood Advisory Committee
June 27, 2012 – Minutes


Attendees:      Beth Bower, David Coleman, Maureen Call, Jack Hoar, Marcia Lambert, Adria Leach, Joseph O’Keefe, and Andrew Soll

Absent: Jason Doviak, Robert McCarthy, Jim Rose, Jason Silva, Josh Turiel, and John Walsh

Guests: Joe Berry (Lee Kennedy Co., Inc.) and Leif Lamoray (Leftfield, Inc.)

CONSTRUCTION UPDATE
  • Library/Learning Commons
  • Joe Berry provided an update on the construction schedule.
  • The contractor is continuing work on the exterior envelope.
  • The contractor will be on site Saturday, June 30, to work on air and vapor barrier and windows. There will be no work on July 4.
  • Mr. Berry reported that the contractor will undertake a storm drain cleaning and inspection project in the coming weeks.
  • The purpose of the cleaning and inspection is to determine if there is an obstruction or break in the line that is causing recent flooding in the Peabody lot.
  • Work will involve manholes in the Peabody lot and along Raymond Road and will take 4 to 7 days to complete.
  • The process involves trucks that jet and vacuum the drain line. The line will then be scoped and existing conditions will be recorded. The trucks make a constant noise while in operation.
  • The contractor is working with the city, and the university will keep neighbors notified prior to the start of the cleaning.
  • Mr. Berry stated that there have been issues with birds in the new building. The contractor has purchased a sonic bird deterrent that is geared to scare off birds. This is a deterrent for pigeons, starlings, sparrows and gulls and should be effective within a one acre area. The library and learning commons project covers 3 acres. Neighbors may notice the sound periodically from the site.
  • Mr. Berry reported that there have been several incidents of youth trespassing in the construction site after hours. This is an active construction site that poses great danger to unauthorized visitors who are not familiar with the site, especially in the darker hours of night. The library and learning commons construction site is locked and secured every evening when construction work concludes. The site is monitored by campus police and a private security team. The group was encouraged to advise their children against entering the site under any circumstances. The safety of neighbors and their children is of great concern to both the university and the contractor.
  • Phase II Demolition
  • Mr. Berry stated that bid documents for the demolition of the rest of the existing library building have not been issued yet but are nearing completion. There are no additional updates at this time. All updates on the demolition will be covered in regular SSUNAC meetings.
  • Rodent Issue – Mr. Tom Lapham reported that his parents experienced a rodent issue on Lussier Street in April and May of this year. They are concerned that the issue is related to the library and learning commons project. Joe Berry reported that there is a pest control plan in place for the project, and there has been no rodent activity reported on the construction site. The university will mail the claims process to the Lapham family.
  • Fitness & Recreation Center Addition
  • Leif Lamoray reported the dimension of the façade of the hockey rink that was requested at the May meeting. The height of rink is 36’ at the top of the concrete band where the roof structure begins.
  • Mr. Lamoray introduced Suffolk Construction, the construction manager for this project.
  • Mr. Lamoray reviewed the logistics for construction:
  • Schedule:
  • Construction Start – July 2012
  • Foundation – August through October 2012
  • Steel Erection – September through November 2012
  • Roof – October 2012 through January 2013
  • Concrete – November 2012
  • Recreation Center – Interior Work – December 2012 through July 2013
  • Façade – February 2013
  • Building Tight – February 2013
  • Atrium – Interior Work – February through July 2013
  • O’Keefe Renovations – Interior Work – May through August 2013
  • Commissioning – July 2013
  • Substantial Completion – August 2013
  • Certificate of Occupancy – August 2013
  • Pre-construction surveys – Surveys were offered to the owners of properties with structures within a 400’ radius.
  • There will be no blasting involved in this project. The foundation system will be similar to the Marsh Hall construction and will use Geopiers.
Fencing and laydown area are expected to use 40 to 50 parking spaces in the O’Keefe lot.
Truck traffic
  • Trucks will enter the site from Canal Street to Forest Avenue, turning right into the first entrance of the O’Keefe Center parking lot. They will exit left onto Lussier Street, left onto Forest Avenue, and out onto Canal Street.
  • A typical day will see between 4 and 5 deliveries
  • The project expects no more than 2 concrete placements with 20-30 concrete trucks per placement.
  • Mitigation efforts
  • Vibration monitoring will be implemented
  • Dust Control – Wheel wash rock system with street sweeping as needed and water truck
  • Pest Control – Same protocol as all university projects
  • Stormwater – Follow state-required pollution prevention efforts
ISSUES IN PROGRESS
  • HVAC System at Building 1 –
  • Adria Leach reported that the DX units have been removed from behind the Classroom Building on Central Campus (formerly known as Building One). No additional external HVAC is expected to be installed in its place. This issue is closed and will be removed from future agendas.
  • Neighborhood Disturbances
  • Adria Leach reported that there were no new updates on disturbances from the university’s perspective.
  • Alumni Field Lights
  • Andrew Soll reported that the facilities department was working this summer to determine what, if any, flexibility there is in the light usage. The university will keep the group updated as the summer progresses.
NEW BUSINESS
  • The new Chief of Campus Police, Gene Labonte, will be invited to attend the September meeting of SSUNAC.
DEFERRED ITEMS
  • Raymond Road Traffic Study; Dunkin Donuts Window Treatment Meier Hall; Off-Campus Parking Update; Tobacco Free Campus
MEETING SCHEDULE
  • The next meeting will be on Wednesday, July 18, at 6:00 p.m. in the Enterprise Center Training Room B located on Central Campus at 121 Loring Avenue.