Committee members present:
Reed Leberman, Chair Jo
Anne Carpenter
Robert Demers Jeff
Hill
Kathleen Kelley Dennis
Pednault
Jean Tremblay
Central Office Staff present:
Pauline Plourde, Business Administrator
Public in attendance:
Keith Parent, Principal David
Goyette, Head Maintenance
1. Meeting called to order at
2. Jo Anne Carpenter moved to approve the minutes as amended to reflect the
estimated renovation budget as $11,000,000. Motion seconded by Jeff Hill. Two
abstained and the remaining approved the motion.
3. Pauline Plourde cautioned the committee members to present the information
to the public as the committee has recorded in the minutes. If a question
arises that a committee member cannot answer from the minutes, then they are to
refer the questioning party to
4. We have been meeting for almost six months and we need to prepare a report
for the
5. Pauline Plourde reported that Ed Murdock, State Department of Education
Building Aid, is warning all districts that the costs of building supplies have
increased substantially and will continue to do so probably at a rate of 8.9%
annually. So he suggested looking at what needs to be fixed versus what needs
to be repaired as we make a decision about how to proceed with our projects.
Such items as enhancing the fire safety systems, roofs, electrical work,
windows, and repointing the bricks require labor but
not much in materials.
6. Reed attended another
a. If a school has to be operated while renovations are on going it is
disruptive to the educational process.
b. High performance buildings do make financial sense
c. A good project has a “team” of experts working on it early on, incorporates
high performance standards early on, integrates all major building systems,
considers life cycle when specifying materials, considers utilities savings,
etc.
d. Commissioning the buildings ensures that the building functions as designed.
e. The project delivery system can determine project success, i.e. design/build
vs. construction management, etc.
f. There are additional resources to help a town build a high performance
building
g. The school planned renovations must be a part of the town’s overall capital
improvement plans.
h. We should consider using a website, newsletter, and news articles to not
only inform the public about what we are working on but also instruct them on
the science of building successful buildings.
i. Form needs assessment study group to explore the
ideas for the project within the written charge, and prioritizes the needs and
does feasibility study.
j. Use a master schedule to manage the project start to finish
k. Use decision making tools such as a decision quadrant to prioritize the
needs versus the wants and the important vs. the not important
l. Consider specifying the acoustics, materials emissions, indoor quality,
thermal comfort and other issues not immediately obvious.
m. Remember sometimes simple changes in the building will create energy savings
and provide better lighting
7. We discussed the lack of experience some area contractors have with high
performance buildings, yet the committee recognizes the need to keep the
construction project local. We will have to balance fresh air and day-lighting
with perceived extra costs over the short run.
8. We discussed how to set priorities in the GMHS building when so much of the
NEASC accreditation report is centered on many of the renovations identified.
The accreditation committee must see significant progress in five years and we
are in year two of that five-year period.
9. There were differences of opinion on how to proceed, because clearly the
high school has high priced pressing issues, but they are not as well defined.
The elementary school has issues that are better defined and less expensive.
10. We need design help to finish specifying the Ed Fenn renovations and so we
should ask for that in the budget for next year.
11. We need scoping and exploring option help to finish specifying the GMHS
solutions.
12. Kathleen Kelley motioned to form a subcommittee to develop a plan and scope
of work for renovating the Ed Fenn School so that the cost estimates can be
obtained through a design consultant. Jeff Hill seconded the motion. We then
discussed the intent is not to actually do the renovations to the Ed Fenn prior
to the GMHS project, but rather move the committee forward with a more defined
and manageable project. After discussion, the motion carried one against, six
for.
13. The next meeting will be October 26 at
Sincerely submitted,
Kathleen Kelley
98
603-466-5324 (o)
603-723-9734 (m)