East Haddam School
Building Committee Public Hearing
May 5th,
2004, 8:00 pm
Hale Ray Middle
School Cafeteria
Members present
Todd Moss Craig Parker
Kerri Willis Budzik Melissa Ziobron
Dana Barnes Mary Beth Mordecai
John Gibson -Alternate David Lafemina
Denise Gable-Alternate
The Public Meeting
started at 8:00 p.m. Selectman Brad
Parker thanked the audience for attending and introduced Todd Moss. After brief introductions, Mr. Moss
explained that although they would be discussing the site they may not have all
the complete answers and urged the audience to write their names on a sign in
sheet so that any unanswered questions could be addressed at a later time. He reviewed the meeting format and asked for
questions to be asked at the end of the meeting. Committee members introduced themselves to the audience. Approximately 55 people attended the
meeting.
Presentations were made by the following people:
Todd Moss
Explanation of Process / Charge
Feb. 17, 2004 Town Meeting Altered Charge of Previous Building Committee from PreK-2 School to 4-8 School.
Review and Select Site(s).
Coordinate Development of Preliminary Plans, and Estimate with Consultants during Pre-Referendum.
Coordinate with Town Commissions and Boards during Pre-Referendum.
Explanation of Process / Charge
Prepare Referendum Documentation.
Oversee Designers and Project Managers during Design and Pre-Construction.
Work with Town Commissions and Boards during Pre-Construction.
Oversee Project Manager during Construction.
Work with Town Commissions and Boards during Construction.
June 1999
The original grant application for a new elementary school in East Haddam.
Dr. Steve Durham
Four Previous Elementary School Referendums
Referendum #1: PK-2 - January 2002
Referendum #2: K-2 - June 2002
Referendum #3: K-2 - October 2002
Referendum #4: 3-5 - June 2003
Board of Education Activities following the Last
Referendum
in June 2003
Long Range Planning Committee met ten times between June 2003 and March 2004 to continue planning for another school building project.
July 2003
Board received a proposal from interested East Haddam citizens to expand the East Haddam Elementary School.
Discussed short-term and long-term interventions.
August 2003
Reviewed student enrollment and class size data.
Discussed feasibility of expanding East Haddam Elementary School and building new middle school.
Discussed renovating existing middle school per the recommendations contained in the Middle School Facilities Report.
Requested an engineering study of the elementary school site for sewage capacity.
September 2003
Milone & MacBroom Engineering report indicates that the elementary school site septic capacity can accommodate approximately 600 students.
October 2003
Discussed a K-3 school at EHES.
Grades 4 and 5 at the middle school combined with municipal use.
Build a new 6-8 school.
Debated the merits of a three vs. four school system.
November / December 2003
New school options were reviewed along with estimated construction costs.
Enrollment figures and student capacities for each school were reviewed.
January 2004
Presentation
by Center for Social Research
Superintendent presented a three-school proposal to BOE:
PK-3 (EHES)
4-8 (New Middle School)
9-12 (High School)
Board of Education votes to request change to ESBC charge to include middle grades.
BOE directs Superintendent to develop educational specification for 4-8 school.
Supporting Data
1997 - School Building Committee Report
2000 - Middle School Facilities Study
2002 - EH Community Survey of Registered Voters
2003 - Ad Hoc School Space Research Study Report
2003 - School Site Investigation Report
2003 - Joint Meeting of Rep. from all Town Boards
2003 - EHES Sewage Disposal Feasibility Report
Rationale for 4-8 School
Keeps district at three schools.
Project includes the middle grades.
Discontinues use of NHRMS as educational facility.
Alleviates overcrowding at both the elementary school and middle school.
Eliminates the need for an addition at EHES.
No interruptions to school programs for renovations.
Addresses all district needs with one project.
Serves the Towns educational needs into future.
February / March 2004
February 9 - Town meeting to amend charge to School Building Committee
February 10 - East Haddam Board of Education approves educational specifications for a new 4-8 school.
March 17 - Educational specifications conveyed to building committee.
Melissa Ziobron
Timeline
March 2004 School Building Committee (SBC) reviews 95 sites that are over 21 acres with Jim Ventres, Land Use Administrator SBC selects criteria for site selection process.
April 2004 SBC selects North Moodus Rd. site as best available in conjunction with criteria asks First Selectman to contact property owners for permission to access sites.
Timeline
SBC members participate in a site walk on North Moodus Road.
SBC discuss access options of site asks First Selectman to schedule perk testing.
SBC agrees that Shirley Judge and Nancy Mackinnon should organize and facilitate neighborhood forums to gather comments and concerns and bring those back to the SBC.
Timeline
SBC discovers another possible access besides Sillimanville Rd. to the site from an earlier discussed property off of Clark Gates Rd.
Tests pits conducted on North Moodus Rd.; Clark Gates Rd. property owner contacted for permission to access property for evaluation.
Timeline
May 2004 - Initial perk testing results sent to SBC. From the 19 different samples,only four show ledge present.
Upcoming Events
May 2004 - Look for another Public Hearing TBA on the entire 4-8 school building project.
May 24, 2004 - An informational meeting about the 4-8 school building project presented by Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Steve Durham and Dr. Rick Gannon, Principal of the Nathan Hale-Ray Middle School. Michael Rafferty, Principal of the award winning Blue Ribbon 4-8 Middle School in Old Saybrook will be available for questions.
June 2004 - School project goes to referendum.
David Lafemina
Site Selection Criteria
Close proximity to existing schools (~ 2.5 miles).
Easily accessible for traffic.
Prefer no eminent domain.
Large enough to accommodate future expansion.
Site Selection Criteria
Should not contain existing business or residences.
Favorable soil conditions for septic.
Able to be be acquired in a timely fashion. (Project to be presented to the town prior to June 30, 2004)
Minimal off-site work cost.
John Gibson
Map of Site
- Explanation
of parcels of land. A picture of the
map was viewed on screen and was also distributed to audience members.
Todd Moss
Possible Off-Site Improvements
Widen Sillimanville Road near intersection of North Moodus Road from 16 feet to 22 feet.
Improve curve near Church on North Moodus Road.
Improve sight lines at intersection of North Moodus Road and Route 149.
Possible traffic signal at intersection of North Moodus Road and Route 149.
Clark Gates Road Accessibility.
School Building Committee meets the 2nd and 4th Wednesday
of every month in the High School.
Questions and Answers
During the presentation an audience member questioned Mr. Gibson where the school would be placed on the site. He explained that there was not enough information to give an answer and that it would depend on the pending engineering report. Location of tests pits was also discussed by Mr. Gibson. Mr. Moss explained that all of the off site costs are important and that they would be addressed at the next Public Meeting and of the Committees commitment to distribute the information as it is received.
Mr. John Pointkowski voiced concern about the access length from Cark Gates Rd onto parcel E and the related costs involved. Nancy McSweeny discussed with the Committee the consideration of the historic value of North Moodus Road and the effect it would have to widen it on the homeowners in the area. She also questioned what happened to the Shady Brook site which had been considered in the last referendum. Mr. Moss explained that it did not meet criteria of having enough room for expansion.
Cindy Deming questioned the Committee if they intend on widening the whole North Moodus Rd for the proposed site. Mr. Moss responded no, just the necessary sections, based on the engineer report on the corner and where Sillimanville Road intersects North Moodus Road. She also inquired about the installation of sidewalks and Mr. Moss responded that the Building Committee had not discussed side walks. Mr. Bob Casner advised the Committee that parcel E was a good site for the new school because it would be close to route 149, not as much road improvements would be necessary and there would be less development. He also voiced positively of the town purchasing the extra parcels as open space provided that they are purchased at a reasonable cost. He requested that the Committee come to the next meeting with accurate numbers for the road improvements and stressed that if parcel E is not purchased initially it probably wont be available in the future. Mr. Moss responded that parcel E does alleviate widening of North Moodus Road at Sillimanville Road, would give better access and assured him that there would be costing done on both before the next public meeting.
Dean Pelletti questioned the Committee if parcel E had access to parcel B, if it would be a potential site and what the options were. The Committee informed him that they were working on appraisals and would have the costs available before the referendum. Open space discussions ensued. It was evident that Open Space as an option was desirable to the people living in the area of the proposed school site.
David Carpenter discussed with the committee that North Moodus Road is a historic Road and the only way to make it safe would be by widening the entire road. He voiced concern with safety issues on the Road and of potential development with a golf course and Banner lodge attributing to more traffic.
Rich Patenelli reiterated the improvements needed to the roads to accommodate all of the school traffic. Mrs. Deming questioned the Committee if they had considered other properties on the other side of town to shorten those childrens commute to school. Mrs. Ziobron addressed the question by reiterating it did not meet the criteria and Dr. Durham explained that a similar proposal for a school off Mt Parnasis had failed in the past.
An audience member voiced not being happy with the location and questioned as to whether another site was available. The criteria were restated and the Committee assured the audience that every possible site was considered and reviewed. The 2 ½ mile distance from the existing schools was restated as being important from a bussing and administrative perspective.
The Committee members explained that the proposed site is a beautiful area which they would like to preserve and urged the audience to get involved with other commissions. An audience member stated that the towns track record with the high school land and housing development has not helped give the voters confidence in voting for the new school as some trust has been diminished. Marybeth Mordicai reiterated the importance of the audience to attend other commission meetings to voice their concerns. It was stated that the Building Committee had attended an Open Space meeting in order to inform them and to ask for their support in purchasing the other parcels of land as Open Space.
Mr. Ventres was questioned if there was any other town property currently owned which the new school could be built on. He responded that every possible land site was reviewed and that no there was not. He stated that there was not enough land on the current high school and that the Tersek property had too much ledge to support a school with its current septic capacity. He reiterated that out of 95 sites looked at which would be large enough for a septic for 600 students, that this was the only site which would meet these requirements. He invited anyone interested to view the maps in his office. Mr. Moss reiterated the Committees frustration in not finding many build able lots in town. He stated that adjacent parcels were reviewed to be combined to make the required land for the school.
Shirley Judge commented that in the future there would be even less property to choose from and that the town needs to have a vision towards the future. She stated that it wont be easier in 10 15 years and of the importance to buy the extra land to keep as a buffer and as an investment for the future.
Bob Mather questioned if the Planning and Zoning Commission had gotten involved with the new school site and Mr. Ventres answered affirmatively. Mr. Moss stated that the state statue for a middle school allows reimbursement for 15 acres plus 1 for every 100 currently enrolled students, which would be 21 acres, anything larger would have to be paid by the town via Conservation, Open Space or Municipal Space. Mr. Piontkowski inquired about state reimbursement for a road on parcel E in order to build on parcel B. Mr. Moss answered that the cost of the road would be reimbursable if with in the 21 acres. It was stated that the parcels were currently being appraised and that the property costs would be included at the next public hearing. It was stated the Committees regular scheduled meetings are scheduled for the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of every month at 7 p.m. in room 117. Questions or concerns could be addressed to Todd Moss via email Tmoss@tcco.com and that the meeting minutes are posted on the internet at www.easthaddam.k12.ct.us\.
Chris Carlton voiced concern with site E as not being viable as the bussing schedule would be difficult with the intersection and wanted to know who would pay for the road improvements. It was stated that 2 trips of 13 full size busses and 6 vans would travel on the road each day as well as parents dropping off and picking up students. An audience member suggested that the towns current sewage treatment plant be used. He was told that it did not have enough capacity.
Nan Alexander voiced concern with children walking on the road with the traffic. Mrs. Ziobron agreed that the Committee is concerned for the childrens safety and that the same problems exist at the current middle school. She stated this was why it may be important to consider Parcel E to handle the additional traffic concerns. Access points were discussed. The Committee advised the audience that road improvement costs would be taken into consideration when choosing the site for the placement of the new school.
Selectman Parker explained the process in which the open space committee would include the additional land in the referendum. It was reiterated that concerned citizens who desire to have the additional parcels purchased as open space need to voice these concerns to the Open Space Committee. It was stated that this was the desire of the School Building Committee but that their charge is to build a school.
Nancy Mackinnon thanked the Committee for their efforts in making the Public Hearing informative and responsive to the attendees. She stated that they had identified the resources that were available to the people of the town and urged them not to repeat past mistakes. Mr. Barnes stated that the Committee had discussed having 2 questions on the referendum. First if the voter supports the school and second if yes would they support a school with the purchase of additional space as Open Space. It was stated that every effort was being made before the referendum to speak with the property owners about purchasing the land and that acquisition through eminent domain was undesirable. The Public Hearing ended at 10:00 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted;
E. Ruth Ziobron