Plainfield School District
Facilities Committee Meeting
12.21.06
Present: Mike Higgins (Chair), Elizabeth Church, Doug Cogan, Bill Fleming, Bill Knight, Bill Taylor.
The meeting was called to order at 7:10 pm.
Minutes from Nov. 16 meeting were approved without changes.
Mike Higgins has agreed to serve as chair of the Facilities Committee, replacing Bill Taylor. The Facilities Committee is searching for one additional member to fill a vacancy.
§ Superintendent Collins is due to receive an Engineer’s Report on Dec. 22, with specifications to respond to a Fire & Life Safety Inspection that took place on Nov. 7, 2006.
§ Collins will circulate the Fire & Life Safety Inspection Report and the Engineer’s Report to each member of the Facility Committee.
§ The Plainfield School District is due to submit a plan of action to State Investigator Max Schultz by Jan. 26, 2007. Collins has indicated to the Plainfield School Board that the installation could occur in the summer of 2008 (as long as progress is made on design specifications in 2007).
§ Members of the Facility Committee asked if any alternatives could be discussed with state officials, such as installing smoke detectors instead of a sprinkler system. Cogan noted that the first requirement of the Fire & Safety Inspection Report requires the school to install an “NFPA 13 compliant sprinkler system.” However, Collins could contact state officials to see if there might be any further exploration of alternatives.
§ No one has been found to take on this project. The cost estimate for this project is $18 - $20,000. It has two separate tasks: carpentry work to provide proper ventilation (estimated at $$7,300 to $9,300) and laying new insulation (estimated at $10,600). The committee wants to proceed with the carpentry work now and lay the new insulation in the spring. Higgins will prepare a scope of work for the carpentry work and Knight will contact potential contractors.
§ $6,400 has been expended for installation of an 8-foot extension to the chimney.
§ $2,000 has been expended for installation of new gymnasium doors.
§ $307 has been expended on electrical work.
§ The Building Maintenance Budget for the current fiscal year is $30,000. This leaves approximately $21,293 to complete the Roof Insulation Project (assuming there are no other maintenance expenses this year).
§ Other maintenance projects identified by the Facility Committee include:
o Upgrade of gym ventilation units (estimated cost: $8,000)
o Exterior painting and repair of T-111 sheathing siding ($3,500)
o Replace lobby carpeting ($3,500)
o Interior painting done over a five-year cycle ($3,500 per year)
§ The Facility Committee holds the unanimous view that a bond should not be submitted to the town for a vote at the 2007 School District Meeting. Many capital projects that could be included in such a bond do not have the final engineering specifications or cost estimates to present in time for a town hearing that must be held by Feb. 20, 2007.
§ If the Plainfield School Board decides that some projects must proceed with bond funding in 2007, it will need to give further instructions to the Facility Committee about the projects.
§ Collins will prepare a report for the state by Dec. 29, 2006, of projects that could be included in a bond, for which state-funding assistance might be available. These include (with preliminary cost estimates and Facility Committee project coordinator):
o Sprinkler system, fire retardant painting and removal of lighting boxes ($200,000; Higgins)
o Parking lot improvement and expansion ($70,500; Taylor)
o Redesign and renovate gym lockers/showers/bathrooms ($65,000; Church)
o Replace original building windows and flat panels below ($44,000; Knight)
o Upgrade lighting quality and energy efficiency ($24,000; Knight. Note: National Grid may supply gymnasium lighting equipment at no charge)
o Add clapboard siding to 1989 addition ($20,000; Higgins)
o 7th & 8th grade pod redesign ($20,000; Church)
o Room for one on one space ($8,000; Church)
o Record file & storage ($4,000)
With a 10 percent contingency fee, the estimated grand total of these projects comes to $502,150.
Meeting adjourned: 8:35 pm.
§ Next meeting: Jan. 18, 2007 at 7pm