School Building Committee (2020)

School Building Committee (2020) Regular Meeting Lower Level, 23 Union Street, Norwich, CT And via ZOOM Tuesday, November 21, 2023 6:30 PM Committee Members Present: Chairman Mark Bettencourt, President Pro Tem Joe DeLucia (ZOOM), Stacy Gould, William Hull (ZOOM), Gregory Ballassi (ZOOM, Cindy Beauregard (ZOOM), Sheila Hayes, Mark Kulos (ZOOM) and Peter Gauthier. Committee Members Absent: Christine DiStasio and Gregory Carabine. Ex-Officio Members Present: Superintendent Susan Lessaard (ZOOM), Chris LaRose (ZOOM), Mayor Peter Nystrom (ZOOM), Greg Smolley and Jim Barrett from DRA and Jim Guiliano and Mike Faenza from CSG. Citizens Present: None. I. Call to Order and Quorum: Chairman Mark Bettencourt called the meeting to order at 6:31 PM. II. Approval of Previous Meeting Minutes: Sheila Hayes made a motion to approve the October 17, October 24 and November 1, 2023 meeting minutes as written. Stacy Gould seconded. The chairman called the roll of members present and all were in favor. The motion passed unanimously. III. Public Comment: None. IV. Report from CSG: Mike Faenza reported that CSG had been participating in weekly design meetings with the stakeholders from school administration. Mike Faenza stated he would be setting up a meeting with NPS Facilities Operations regarding MEP design. Mike Faenza added there were also weekly working group meetings each Thursday at 4:00PM via ZOOM for any interested in attending. Chairman Mark Bettencourt asked that NPU be included in those meetings. Mike Faenza explained the MEP meetings were more in regards to what HVAC system would be used for the buildings and things of that nature. Mike Faenza continued that the day after Downes Construction was interviewed they attended the first design working group meeting. Mike Faenza stated that CSG had reviewed their contract and was awaiting comments from the city purchasing department. Mike Faenza stated he reached out to the superintendent’s office to see if a grant commitment was received from the state, to which he had not received a response. Discussion ensued. Mike Faenza stated that once that number was received CSG would begin making payment requests to the state. Mike Faenza stated the budget for each project was approximately $150,000 after the invoices being received later in the agenda, and that he would begin bringing full budget updates to each monthly meeting. V. Report from DRA: Jim Barrett reported that DRA was meeting with CSG every other Thursday as a working group and was utilizing the month of December to complete SD to be then turned over to cost estimating, and to use the month of January to begin DD. Jim Barrett stated that the topography of the Greeneville site was presenting to be an issue, with the main level being a solid 30 feet to the mid level space. Jim Barrett stated that the existing topography lended towards the stacking of three floors and believed that they were in agreement in regards to planning with the school administration. Jim Barrett discussed the grade delta between the tiers of the proposed building options. Jim Barrett showed on screen  for all to view a first cut of an overall proposed three-story site plan for the Greeneville School. Jim Barett noted the suggested parent-visitor drop-off was located to the right-hand of the site, with Pre-K, Kindergarten and First Grade elements located on the first floor. Jim Barrett stated that DRA was looking for a connection out onto Boswell Avenue, which would also allow for additional parking. Jim Barrett showed the first-floor plan blocking diagram for the three-story option on screen for all to see, as well as the second and third floor plan. Jim Barrett noted there would need to be special consideration to the art learning commons in terms of egress, but that would be worked through moving forward. Jim Barrett noted the top levels of the three-story structure would hold the upper grades. Jim Barrett showed a 3D mapping of masses of the proposed structure on screen for all to view. Jim Barrett also showed the overall site plan with the cut and fill analysis from the site architects and noted some significant elevation issues. Jim Barrett stated there would be approximately 3,600 square feet of wetland disturbance below the edge of the bus turnaround loop. Jim Barrett stated there were some storm water retention challenges that may call for maintenance every three-to-five years in uncertain spots. Jim Barrett questioned the statues of the empty lot adjacent to the property and if it was a city-owned property. Greg Smolley stated he believed that it was and was available for incorporation into the site plan. Mark Kulos agreed. Jim Barrett noted that overall for the Greeneville site there would be a lot of cut and fill needed to level out the area. Mark Kulos asked where the gas main was located on the site. Jim Barrett noted the location on the site diagram. Chris LaRose noted the gas main on the property was coated steel from 1952 and that NPU would be able to relocate the line across the property if there were construction in that area. Jim Barrett showed the overall site plan for a two-story approach on screen for all to view, and stated that DRA wanted to test out the option. Jim Barrett stated that DRA attempted to open up the flat buildable area of the site as much as possible. Jim Barrett noted the two level option had parking heavily placed on the upper level and less on the lower level, which was not ideal. Jim Barrett showed variations between the first floor two-story options versus the first floor three-story option on screen for all to view. Mike Faenza stated that administration within the working group was not opposed to either option. Jim Barrette showed the buildable zone for the Stanton school site on screen for all to view. Jim Barrett showed on screen for all to view the test fit studies to determine if 80,000 square feet would fit within the footprint of the existing building. Jim Barrett discussed two story options for the site and showed plans on screen for all to view. Jim Barrett showcased a secondary two-story option with common elements placed towards the rear, with academic elements to the north and west. Jim Barret showcased the initial space layout and test designs on screen for all to view. Jim Barrett noted that one of the key modules within the building was the classroom layout, so DRA wanted to test how the 950 square footage in the program statement would lay out for Pre-K/Kindergarten. Jim Barrett stated DRA would work through the program statement and go through space by space to come to a final agreement. VI. Invoices: ● CSG - Greeneville #8 - $10,680.02 Stanton #8 - $10,555.46 Stacy Gould made a motion to approve CSG Invoice #8 for $10,680.02 for Professional Services rendered October 1, 2023 - October 31, 2023 in regards to the Greeneville Elementary School project. Sheila Hayes seconded. The chairman called the roll of members present and all were in favor. The motion passed unanimously. Stacy Gould made a motion to approve CSG Invoice #8 for $10,555.46 for Professional Services rendered October 1, 2023 - October 31, 2023 in regards to the Stanton Elementary School project. Sheila Hayes seconded. The chairman called the roll of  members present and all were in favor. The motion passed unanimously. ● DRA - Stanton #1– $158,425.31 Greeneville #1 - $144,379.50 Stacy Gould made a motion to approve DRA Invoice #1 for $144,379.50 for Professional Services rendered October 1, 2023 - October 31, 2023 in regards to the Greeneville Elementary School project. Sheila Hayes seconded. The chairman called the roll of members present and all were in favor. The motion passed unanimously. Stacy Gould made a motion to approve DRA Invoice #1 for $158,425.31 for Professional Services rendered October 1, 2023 - October 31, 2023 in regards to the Stanton Elementary School project. Sheila Hayes seconded. The chairman called the roll of members present and all were in favor. The motion passed unanimously. VII. Meeting schedule: Chairman Mark Bettencourt stated that the 2024 meeting schedule would continue with the third Tuesday of the month at 6:30 PM, but noted that the January, February and October meetings had been rescheduled to the fourth Tuesday due to holiday conflicts. VIII. Adjournment: Stacy Gould made a motion to adjourn at 7:33 PM. Sheila Hayes seconded. The chairman called the roll of members present and all were in favor. The motion passed unanimously. Respectfully Submitted, Katherine Rose