East Haddam School Building Committee Meeting

 

Special Meeting Minutes

May 6, 2004

Call to Order         

 

The meeting was called to order by Todd Moss at 7:02 p.m. at the Nathan Hale High School – Room 117.

 

 

Roll Call  

 

Attendance

 

Members present

            Todd Moss                            Craig Parker 

            Melissa Ziobron                        Dana Barnes                         

Mary Beth Mordecai                         Kerri Willis Budzik- absent

            John Gibson -Alternate            Denise Gable-Alternate

David Lafemina-Arrived  7:36 p.m.

 

Others present:

 

Richard E. Ostop, Newfield Construction

Robert Carroll, Central Office, Board of Education Business Manager

Pamela Gourlie, Board of Education

Wyley Peckham

 Dr. Steve Durham, Superintendent of Schools

Suzette Gaudet

Valarie Bergeron

Kathlene F. Bengtson

Elizabeth K Dillon

Approval of Minutes

 

 

Motion by Melissa Ziobron to table the minutes of the April 28th, 2004 meeting until the next meeting, seconded by MaryBeth Mordicai and carried by unanimous vote

     

Audience of Citizens

 

 

Wyley Peckham commented upon his observations of the public hearing held May 5th, 2004.  He stated that when he signed in, he noted the phone numbers and there were no 526 (Hadlyme), 434 (North Lyme) or  537(Lake Hayward) and that it was a concern of his. He stated that he understood it not unusual for the underlying area’s people not to attend a public hearing, but that he was concerned because they are also voters.  He stated that he believed it critical that they believe that the new school is a good proposal for a positive voting outcome.    He voiced concern with the site and with questions that would be asked if there are other sites available.  He recalled Bogel Road as being a dead end and un-passable.  He stated that he reviewed a geological map and it showed it as being passable and that on his way to the meeting he drove it and that the first 3rd of it was paved and the remaining a trail which appeared to be able to be driven by a 4 wheel drive.  He urged the Committee not to discount this site because it shows a perception of inadequate evaluation of alternate sites.  He stated that the same level of evaluation on one alternate site is needed in order to convince the rest of the public that the site they have picked the best site.  He stated that he was not convinced that Bogel Road as being the best site, but he was using it as an example of the thought process which the voters would be using.  He stated that the Bogel Road improvements would be 1 / 2 the money.  He reiterated the traffic concern from the public hearing.  He advised the Committee that Bogel Road had good access for the new school and that the voter’s perception is important.  In conclusion he stated that the North Moodus site was made long before the Committee was formed and that although it is the best site, people need to believe it is the best option based on a formal evaluation of Bogel Road. He stated that the public is not going to believe one member of Planning and Zoning, Inland Wetlands, or Land Use Administrator and that the Committee needed something in writing and have test pits dug on Bogel Road to dispel any disbelief.  He questioned for a formal evaluation.  It was stated that the Committee would be sending a letter which would be published on the website in reference to Mr. Peckham’s concerns that would dispel the perceptions in which he was speaking of as well.   

            Valarie Bergtson questioned the Committee if the owners of the sites had been contacted and if purchase of the land had been discussed with them.  It was stated that Selectman Brad Parker had been in contact with them, test holes had been dug and that a permission slip to walk the sight had been signed.  Mr. Moss reiterated the letter being written which would be published that would answer a lot of her questions.  He thanked her for voicing her concerns.   

            Suzette Gaudet stated that she opposed the new school sight and would like to review maps and other proposals of other available properties and the placement of the school on the sites.  The Committee stated that this would be answered at the current meeting as it was part of the agenda.  It was also stated that the Planning and Zoning office had all 95 maps for reference. 

            Elizabeth K. Dillon stated that she lived on North Moodus Road and had an appreciation of what Mr. Peckham had said.  She requested that there be more details on where the site is. She stated that it seemed as though a lot had taken place and that everyone knows about the site except the people who live near it.  She advised the Committee that she tries to be an informed citizen by reading the paper, but felt uninformed by the Committee.  Mrs. Ziobron informed her that the Committee had performed a huge outreach to the people in her area with 2 forums.  She stated that a real effort was made to call all of the people in the area to attend as well as mailers.  Mrs. Dillon stated that she did not have a mailbox but that she had received a phone call but could not attend the forum.  Mrs. Ziobron stated that this was the first time a forum had been performed for referendum and that she had a list of all of the people who had attended so that Mrs. Dillon could contact her neighbors to receive any additional information.   She was also referred to the website which contains all of the amended minutes and pertinent information in regards to the new school, www.easthaddam.k12.ct.us/.  The Committee members thanked her for attending the meeting to voice her concerns. 

 

            Old Business

 

                        Milone & MacBroom Update

 

            John Gibson reviewed with the Committee the findings from Milone & MacBroom.  He stated that there were 19 test holes.  No ledge was found on site A.  Two of the six holes on site B had ledge and on parcel C, all but 2 test pits had ledge.  It was stated that sites C and D had too much ledge for any type of development. 

            Dana Barnes briefly discussed the Public Hearing.  He stated that based on the Committee Member’s emails that everything went well.  He commended the speaker and Committee members for a job well done. He stated that he had issue with some of John Gibson’s responses to the audience.               

 

                        School Configuration – Prepared by KBA

 

The Committee reviewed preliminary school configuration maps prepared by KBA.  It was stated that KBA needed the Committee to decide on which parcels to build on so that they could have a direction of placement of the new school. The Committee agreed that they liked a front facing building, facing down hill on the scheme 4 foot print.  It was discussed to have revised schemes separating 4 and 5.  It was agreed to keep the new school traditional which allows for team teaching as well as shared facilities in the center area of the school which would allow for 2 separate doors for drop off and pick up of students.  It was agreed to have the bus loops separated as well as the teacher parking and parent drop off.  Having 1 loop with one entrance and exit was discussed.   

 

New Business

 

Motion by Mr. Barnes to alter the order of the agenda and proceed with items Determination of School Placement on Site, Determination of Site, seconded by Melissa Ziobron and unanimously passed. 

 

The Committee members deliberated to determine the placement of the new school.  Mrs. Ziobron informed the Committee that June Brahn a neighbor of the land sites had called her.  She advised Mrs. Ziobron that she would rather see a school than a development of new houses.  She questioned that they consider developing on parcel A as a buffer, driving through parcel E.  It was reiterated of the importance of choosing a site which would allow future expansion to the school.  The Committee agreed that based on the Public Hearing there appeared to be a lot of support of the entrance off of Clark Gates Rd.   Determining all off site road improvement costs were discussed as being crucial for a positive referendum.  Open Space and community involvement in relationship to eliminating the over development of non-school parcels was reiterated.    It was stated that it was very important to pick a site in order for Newfield Construction to meet the referendum timeline with building costs.  Richard Ostop from Newfield Construction stated that the selection of site could make a difference in cost based on site improvements.        

 

Motion by Mr. Barnes for Newfield Construction and KBA  to make 3 different site options: The first parcel B with access on Sillimanville Road, second parcel B with access on site E Clark Gates Rd and secondary access onto Sillimanville Road and 3 on C with access onto Clark Gates and a secondary access from Sillimanville Road as an alternate, seconded by Melissa Ziobron and unanimously passed.

 

                        Sub-Committee Update

 

The Committee agreed to have Mr. Moss type a letter from the Committee members to be sent to the attendees of the Public hearing thanking them for attending. 

 

The Committee discussed the suggestion of neighbors to the sites to get a petition to the open space commission.

 

Motion by Mr. Barnes to appoint Mrs. Ziobron as liaison to the Open Space Committee, seconded by Mrs. Mordicai

 

FAVOR:  Moss, Ziobron, Mordecai, Barnes, Gable, Lafemina

OPPOSED:  Parker

 

Motion carried.

 

 

                        Determination of Next Meeting

           

The next scheduled meeting will be May 12, 2004, Hale Ray High School, Media Center, second floor.

 

            Other Discussion

 

Mr. Gibson distributed and discussed a document titled Site/Subdivision Plan Review for Compatibility with Woodstock Plan of Open Space and Conservation.

 

Motion at 9:45 p.m. by Mrs. Ziobron to go into executive session for the purpose of appraisal discussion, seconded by Mr. Barnes and unanimously passed.

 

Motion at 10:15 p.m. to come out of executive session by Ms. Mordecai, seconded by Mr. Gibson and unanimously passed.

 

No motions of decisions were made in executive session.

 

            The Committee discussed how to reply to a letter received from Ms. Abkemeier addressing the Bogel Road site.  Mr. Moss agreed to draft a letter that the Committee will look at and respond to via email by Monday, May 10th.  Mrs. Ziobron brought forward the idea to continue the neighborhood forum in the Lake Hayward, Millington Green and Hadlyme areas of town.  All agreed further outreach in outlying areas of town would be helpful.

 

Motion by Mr. Gibson for Mr. Barnes to obtain 1 or 2 appraisals on the five North Moodus Road parcels to be completed by May 18, 2004 for a total cost not to exceed $4,950 each, seconded by Mr. Lafemina and unanimously passed.

 

Motion to adjourn at 10:44 p.m. by Mr. Barnes, seconded by Mr. Gibson and unanimously passed.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

E. Ruth Ziobron

 

Filed at Selectman’s office  

 

Attendance

Document titled Site/Subdivision Plan Review for Compatibility with Woodstock Plan of Open Space and Conservation

 

Project Summary

Scheme 4 East Haddam 4 – 8 Middle School by KBA