East Haddam School Building Committee Meeting

 

Regular Meeting Minutes

May 12, 2004

Adopted 5/19/04

 

            Call to Order

 

The meeting was called to order by Todd Moss at 7:00 p.m. at the Nathan Hale High School Media Center.

 

            Roll Call

 

            Attendance

 

Members present:

 

            Todd Moss                            Craig Parker

            Mary Beth Mordecai             Dana Barnes

            Kerri Willis Budzik                David Lafemina

            Melissa Ziobron                        John Gibson-Alternate

            Denise Gable-Alternate

 

Others present:

 

Robert Carroll, Central Office, Committee of Education Business Manager

David King, KBA

Shirley Judge

Wyley Peckham

Nancy Mackinnon

 

            Approval of Minutes

 

Motion by Melissa Ziobron to approve the minutes of April 28th, 2004 meeting amended as follows:

 

·        5th page, strike the words “Mrs. Mordecai distributed the following document and replace with “Kerri Willis Budzik distributed the following document:”

·        5th page, first paragraph, 5th line strike the words “Mr. Parker asked the Committee to reiterate Mr. Fortier’s” and replace with “The Committee had a general discussion in regards ”

 

 

Seconded by Mary Beth Mordecai and carried by unanimous vote. 

 

Motion by Mrs. Mordecai to approve the minutes of May 5th, 2004 Public Hearing amended as follows:

 

·        5th page, strike the word “Demi” and replace with “Deming”.

·        6th page, last paragraph, strike “but not the land” and replace with “if with in the 21 acres”.

·        7th page, last paragraph, 4th line, strike “Moss” and replace with “Barnes”.

·        7th page,3rd paragraph, strike ”Mr.” and replace with “Selectman”.

 

Seconded by Dana Barnes and carried by unanimous vote.

 

Motion by Mrs. Ziobron to approve the minutes of May 6th, 2004 Special Meeting amended as follows:

 

·        5th page, first motion, insert “each” after $4,950.

·        5th page, first paragraph, 4th line, insert “Millington Green”.

·        Correct spelling of “Sillimanville” throughout.

·        4th page, second motion strike “unanimously passed” and replace with FAVOR: Moss, Ziobron, Mordecai, Barnes, Gable, Lafemina.  OPPOSED:  Parker.  Motion carried.

·        3rd page, under New Business, strike “welcome’s the new school in her backyard and would rather see a school than a development of new houses” and replace with “would rather see a school than a development of new houses”.

·        3rd page, under Old Business delete “It was decided that this would be a topic in executive session”.    

·        3rd page, last paragraph, delete “It was determined that parcel C could not support the needed septic”.

 

Seconded by David Lafemina and carried by unanimous vote.

 

            Audience of Citizens

 

Wyley Peckham stated that the Middle School first group would be joining the East Haddam 4-8 PAC and that Shirley Judge would be the spokesperson.  He offered his personal support.

 

Mrs. Judge distributed and discussed the following documentation:

 

 

 

She advised the Committee that help by financial donations was needed.  There were discussions of outreach to parents with young children, getting voters to the polls, Veterans and the Lions and Rotary clubs. 

 

Motion by Mr. Barnes to alter the order of the agenda and proceed with the items Old Business, KBA Update, seconded by Mrs. Ziobron and passed unanimously.

           

Old Business

 

            KBA Update

 

David King distributed and discussed the following documentation to the Committee:

 

1)      Schematic Plan, Grades 4-8 Middle School East Haddam, Connecticut.

2)      Program of Educational Spaces Scheme 4, East Haddam 4-8 Middle School.

3)      Scheme 4 East Haddam 4-8 Middle School.

4)      Scheme 4b East Haddam 4-8 Middle School.

 

He reviewed with the Committee members a revised site plans, scheme 4 and scheme 4b,  with the school and ball fields confined to parcels a and b and maintaining entrance off Clark Gates Road with a secondary entrance.  Milone & MacBroom’s test pit locations and placement of septic are indicated on the Schematic Plan.  Scheme 4 and 4b indicate two separate drop-off points, first for bus drop off and second for students/ parents.  It also indicates a service road behind the school as well as Baseball, softball and soccer as identified on the Educational Specs.  The layout of the school remained the same.  Wetlands were identified on the maps.  Mrs. Ziobron questioned if the Committee were to walk the site and find no wetlands if it would change the placement of the school and decrease the building costs.  Mr. King stated that the construction manager would be better equipped to answer this question.  He stated that road configuration could be redrawn based on which parcels would be used for the new school.  Mr. King replied that further engineering testing would be required in order to determine if the school would fit in site B.  Mr. Barnes re-read the motion from the 5/6/04 special meeting which pertained to the different site options.  He requested that KBA use these 3 options for placement of the new school for the Committee. The Committee deliberated the Educational Specs in order to accommodate the best reimbursement.  Discussion ensued about the design of the school, tournament size gymnasium and a one story verses a two story design.  Mr. King recommended a scramble cafeteria design which would allow students to go to specific stations in order to expedite service, allowing more time for eating and less for waiting in line.   The Committee decided to have a member speak with KBA and Newfield construction on a daily basis in order to meet the referendum deadline. 

 

            Old Business

 

                        Sub Committee/Liaison Reports

 

The Committee discussed neighborhood outreach.  Homeowners at Lake Hayward expressed interest in having a forum in their home or possibly in the pavilion.  Cindy Deming offered to have another forum in her home.  Mrs. Ziobron informed the Committee that she had been in contact with Linda Orange who in turn had been in touch with the DEP and she had received an application to apply for an Open Space grant with an expiration date of June 10th.  She informed the Committee that the application would have to be filed through the First Selectman’s office.  The Committee discussed the importance of Selectman Parker’s presence at the next meeting and the importance of having Open Space on the other parcels adjacent to the school site.  The Committee discussed senior club sponsoring a forum. 

 

                        Milone & MacBroom Update

 

Mr. Moss informed the Committee that he had spoken with Vincent McDermitt, Vice President of Milone & MacBroom about a driving and site access report of Andrews and Clark Gates Road.  Mr. McDermitt informed him that he had a report which would be available at the next meeting.  He informed Mr. Moss of the findings on the phone, explaining that site improvements would be necessary along 149 where Andrews intersects due to a tree.  He also advised the widening in a few places on Clark Gates Road as well as possibly the Clark Gates triangle where it splits with Andrews would need improvements.  Mr. Moss stated that this was less improvement than using the North Moodus Rd for access. 

 

                        Appraisal Update

 

Mr. Barnes distributed and discussed the following document:

 

·    Correspondence from Norman C Caine & Associates to Mr. Dana Barnes in regards to Real Estate Appraisals.

 

The Committee discussed using Norman C Caine & Associates for appraisal work

 

  

Motion by Mr. Barnes to add discussions with Selectman Parker be added to the agenda, seconded by Mrs. Ziobron and passed unanimously.

 

Discussions with Selectman Parker

 

Mr. Moss informed the Committee of a meeting which he had with Selectman Parker Monday morning.  He advised them that they had tried to call all 3 property owners of the proposed sites.  He informed them that they spoke with the wife of the owners of parcels E and that she advised them that she would like to wait for appraisal values before discussing her property’s sale values.  Mr. Moss informed the Committee that they were unable to contact the other property owners.  The Committee members discussed possible easement rights on parcel E.  Lafemina voiced concern with having only 1 appraisal. 

 

            New Business

 

School Referendum Budget Review- Required Costs and Responsibilities

 

Mr. Moss informed the Committee that this topic would be moved to the next meeting.

 

                        Schedule Update and Review

 

Committee members reviewed schedule C from the Education Specs and determined that they were off schedule by 1 week.  It was determined that the next Public Hearing would be scheduled around June 3rd, the Town Meeting June 8th and a Referendum date of around June 17th.  It was determined that all costs were needed to be completed by May 26th.  The Committee members also discussed contacting Planning and Zoning to have the Building Committee on their agenda’s next meeting.   

                      

            Determination of Next Meeting

 

Motion by Mrs. Mordecia to have a Special Meeting on May 19th, 2004 at 7p.m.  Seconded by Mr. Barnes and passed unanimously.

 

            Other Discussion

 

The Committee reiterated the importance of inviting Selectman Parker to the next meeting.  Mr. Gibson agreed to contact the veterans at the Legion Hall in a Public Relations effort. 

 

The following documents were distributed and discussed by the Committee.

 

·    Correspondence from Nancy J. McSweeney to the Building Committee dated May 10th, 2004.

·    Correspondence from Shirley Judge to First Selectman, Brad Parker.

·    Provisions of General Application from the Freedom of Information Act explaining reasons for Committee members to go into executive session.

 

Mrs. McSweeney’s letter was read into the record expressing displeasure with the site of the proposed new school and is attached to these minutes and filed at the First Selectman’s office.

 

                        Adjournment

 

Motion to adjourn at 9:13 p.m. by Mr. Moss.  Seconded by Mr. Barnes and passed unanimously.

 

Respectfully submitted;

 

E. Ruth Ziobron

 

Filed at Selectman’s Office

Attendance

Letter to the Editor from Shirley Judge

Letter from Shirley Judge to Brad Parker

Schematic Plan for Grades 4-8 Middle School from KBA

Program of Educational Spaces for Scheme 4

Scheme 4 map from KBA

Scheme 4b map from KBA

Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition Grant Program, Grant Questionnaire

Correspondence to Mr. Dana Barnes from Norman C. Caine & Associates in regards to real estate appraisals

Correspondence from Nancy McSweeney dated May 10th to the Building Committee

Provisions of General Application from the Freedom of Information Act