East Haddam School Building Committee

Special Meeting April 21, 2004

 

Attendance: Craig Parker, Melissa Ziobron, Denise Gable, Kerri Budzik, John Gibson, Dana Barnes, Marybeth Mordecai, Dave LaFemina (7:05), Wyley Peckham, Shirley Judge, Dave King (KBA)

Absent: Todd Moss

 

Meeting called to order at 7:01 by Vice-Chairman Dana Barnes. Mr. Barnes asked that due to time constraints of several members and janitorial staff that the meeting adjourn around 9:00 p.m.

 

Motion to table the minutes of April 14, 2004 made by John Gibson, second Melissa Ziobron. Motion carries unanimously

 

Audience of Citizens:

 

Wyley Peckham offered that the group known as Middle School First has offered to help in anyway they can and support the project. He also stated that he had written a letter of support and it appeared in several papers including the Hartford Courant.

 

Old Business:

 

KBA presented three options for the building configurations. There was a lot of discussion regarding each configuration. KBA then presented 2 schematic plans for preliminary planning of school location on the site. Discussion regarding both of these was lengthy. Mr. Barnes asked Mr. King if he had any comments regarding the possible change of citing location due to the possible different access option on Clark Gates Rd. Mr. King responded that it could still work and he was familiar with that area. Mr. Barnes then asked each Building Committee member to comment on presentation. Each member brought up several comments or concerns.

Discussion also took place regarding the criteria earlier voted on. Several members thought it was important that the criteria reflect also the pressing need of time, which in their opinion had always been part of the charge of the committee, but somehow did not get on the numbered list. After short discussion the following was offered: John Gibson moved that an additional criteria item should be: Our timeline is limited to bring a project to the town for approval by June 30, 2004. Second Kerri Budzik. Motion carries unanimously. Members all agreed that this was an inferred criteria that never made it on the list for whatever reason.

 

John Gibson then reviewed the site maps again and found doing more research that there could be an access from Clark Gates Rd. Parcel earlier identified as #19. There was lengthy discussion. Mr. Barnes will be calling the property owner for permission to walk the property. Mr. Barnes also asks Dave LaFemina to attend the Open Space Committee meeting on Monday, April 26, 2004. Mr. King further reported the test pits are on schedule for this week and the report should be ready for April 28, 2004.

 

Melissa Ziobron reported on the sub-committee meeting held on Sunday, April 18, 2004 at the home of Anita Ballek. Mrs. Ziobron distributed a flyer that was left on paper boxes (of the neighbors inviting them to the forums) by Marybeth Mordecai. The group, which includes Shirley Judge, Nancy Mackinnon, Melissa Ziobron, Denise Gable and Marybeth Mordecai, has two forums scheduled for Thursday, April 22 and Sunday, April 25. There was also a neighbor who attended that meeting. Mrs. Ziobron also reported that the group also held a organizational session prior to this meeting to go over their presentations.

 

A letter to the editor was discussed. Mr. Barnes asked for volunteers to draft a letter on behalf of the school building committee. Kerri Budzik offered to draft a letter for the next meeting. Also, Mrs. Mordecai offered that she would be writing a letter on her own to clarify her position of supporting the 4-8 school.

 

Discussion regarding the Public Hearing on May 5th was held. It was confirmed that the Middle School will be available. Members touched lightly on critical issues of their presentations. Discussion regarding talking points was lengthy. Also discussed was how important it is to have contact with the Board of Finance chairman before the next meeting.

 

Mrs. Ziobron moved that we enter into executive session (8:52 p.m.) to discuss contract negotiations. Second Mrs. Budzik. Motion carries unanimously.

 

Mrs. Ziobron motion to come out of executive session (9:05) Second Mrs. Budzik. Motion carries unanimously.

 

NO DECISIONS OR MOTIONS WERE MADE

 

Motion to adjourn at 9:07 p.m. Mrs. Ziobron. Second Mr. LaFemina. Motion carries unanimously.

 

 

 

Respectfully submitted.

Melissa Ziobron, member of the School Building Committee