School Building Committee (2020)

School Building Committee (2020) Regular Meeting City Hall, R00m 335 100 Broadway, Norwich, CT And via ZOOM Tuesday, May 21, 2024 6:30 PM Committee Members Present: Chairman Mark Bettencourt, President Pro Tem Joe DeLucia, Alderwoman Stacy Gould, William Hull, Shiela Hayes (ZOOM), Gregory Carabine, Christine DiStasio (ZOOM) and Mark Kulos. Committee Members Absent: Peter Gauthier, Gregory Ballassi and Cindy Beauregard. Ex-Officio Members Present: Mayor Peter Nystrom, Matthew Brown (ZOOM) and Attorney Michael Driscoll (ZOOM). Consultants Present: James Barrett and Greg Smolley from DRA; Chip Natsis and Jeff Andersen (ZOOM) from Downes Construction; 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. Chairman Bettencourt made a note that the agenda would be amended to add the approval of the last meeting minutes. II.Approval of Previous Meeting Minutes: William Hull made a motion to approve the April 16, 2024 regular meeting minutes. Alderwoman Stacy Gould seconded. The chairman called the roll of members present and all were in favor, aside from Gregory Carabine who abstained. The motion passed. III.Public Comment: None. IV.Report from CSG: Mike Faenza reported that the project team continued to work on design developments for the Greeneville School project and meetings to support that effort have been held as needed. Mike Faenza stated that the deadline for the commissioning agent RFP had passed and costs had been received from NPU for the project. Mike Faenza stated that the $233,125 cost he received for the sewer connection fees was less than he originally thought. Chairman Bettencourt noted that the cost savings for those fees included an action from the city council to create Enterprise Zones for the schools. Mike Faenza responded he did not include an enterprise zone in cost for Stanton, but it was included in his report. Mike Faenza reported that drawing packages were submitted to the building department for special permit and inland wetlands review, and that the permits had been paid. Mike Faenz stated that the Wetlands Commission would be reviewing the wetlands application at their June 6, 2024 meeting. Mike Faenza reported that additional subsurface exploration work had commenced on-site and thanked various city agencies for their assistance in supporting the effort. Mike Faenza stated that the design development drawing package was due on June 6, 2024 and once received the design development estimate would be prepared by Downes Construction and DRA estimating consultant Tarbell Construction, and then reconciled. Mike Faenza stated that following the June 6th wetlands meeting the special permit application would be on the agenda of the special Commission on City Planning June 25, 2024 meeting. Mike Faenza stated that in terms of budget updates, the construction amount for Greeneville was still based on the original amount, but the bond interest fee cost had been reduced.  Mark Kulos arrived 6:38 Mike Faenza continued that the miscellaneous utility charges line item was dropped to reflect the new value provided by NPU. Mike Faenza stated that the updates for the Stanton School project were very similar. Mike Faenza reported that the utility connection cost for Stanton provided by NPU came in at $332,500, which was without the discount for the enterprise zone, as he was unaware where things had stood for that. Mike Faenza stated that agreement packages were pending City approval. Mike Faenza stated that the Wetlands and CCP updates for the Stanton project were the same as those applications would be reviewed at the same meetings previously referenced. Mike Faenza reported that the utility charges were dropped from the Stanton budgets, and that he needed to review the bonding fees, just as with the Greeneville project. Mike Faenza stated that a SCG-053 Site Analysis for a School Building Project form had been completed for the Moriarty School project and a signed copy was received from Norwich Public Schools administration. Mike Faenza reported that the education specifications for the Moriarty project were updated in coordination with NPS administration, and then presented and approved at the May 14, 2024 Board of Education meeting. Mike Faenza stated CSG was working with their estimator to determine the grant application estimate values and they are expecting to receive a preliminary estimate the week of May 27th. Chairman Bettencourt stated that he asked Senator Cathy Osten for clarification regarding the priority list. Chairman Bettencourt stated that Senator Osten put legislation for the entire project of all five new schools and the central office building on the priority list, so the committee could apply for the next grant without any issues. Discussion ensued. Mike Faenza reported that the resolution for the grant application for the Uncas School project was approved at the May 6, 2024 Norwich city council meeting. Mike Faenza stated the SCG- 053 Site Analysis for a School Building Project form had been completed for the Uncas project, and a sign copy was received from NPS administration. Mike Faenza stated that the educational specifications for Uncas were updated in coordination with NPS administration, and were presented and approved at the May 14, 2024 Board of Education meeting. V.Report from DRA: James Barrett reported the DRA had worked exclusively on the design development package over the last few weeks. James Barrett stated the geotechnical exploration was ongoing and they received a lot of help from the city with getting the boring rig onto the site. James DRA stated they expected to be on site for three weeks to take readings of the site conditions for the cost estimators. James Barrett showed the Greeneville kitchen design development on screen for all to view. James Barrett stated that DRA was approaching the layout piece-by-piece in terms of storage, preparation and serving areas. James Barrett stated they were designing the kitchen to accommodate appropriate clearances and ADA requirements. James Barrett stated that after conversation with the director of the food services program within the city they were able to modify the plan to better suit their needs for specific deliveries. James Barrett reported that DRA was beginning to develop a schedule as kitchens affect HVAC and structural design, and a timeline would help guide the MEP team for understanding needed connections, delivery and samplings required for recesses for refrigeration units, freezers, etc. James Barrett stated the same approach was done for the Stanton project, and showed a sample of the Stanton kitchen layout on screen for all to view. James Barrett stated the plan was reviewed in detail earlier that day and a handful of modifications were requested by the food service working group. James Barrett reported that the Letter of Map Amendment request for the Stanton site was submitted with about 30 days remaining in the 60 day response window. James Barrett stated  that once that letter was in hand the Flood Map Correction could be submitted. James Barrett stated the Inlands Wetlands review was due to the Conservation Commission on June 6, 2024. James Barrett stated the planning and zoning review with the Commission on City Planning would be on June 25, 2024. Jim Guliano asked James Barrett if the size constraints for the kitchen found during the SD phase were worked through. James Barrett stated that initially each of the cafeteria spaces were programmed with physically built platform areas. James Barrett stated DRA proposed a demountable platform system that would primarily reside in the gym and could be stored away and taken throughout the building as needed. James Barrett stated that the agreement arrived at and with that adjustment the kitchens were allowed slightly more pace for programming. Discussion ensued. VI.Report from Downes: Chip Natsis reported Downes was working with their trade partners to develop numbers as they go through the process and have those lined up and on the queue as they get along with their DDS. Chip Natsis stated that Downes has spoken to CSG and DRA internally regarding scheduling and other items. VII.Executive Session: Discussion of RFP results for Commissioning Agent: Alderwoman Stacy Gould made a motion to enter executive session 7:01PM. Gregory Carabine seconded. All voted in favor. The motion passed unanimously. The committee exited the executive session at 7:16PM and no votes were taken during that time. VIII.Regular session: Selection of Commissioning Agent: Alderwoman Stacy Gould made a motion to hire Innovative Engineering Services as the commissioning agent for the Greeneville and Stanton school projects. Mark Kulos seconded. All voted in favor. The motion passed unanimously. IX.Invoices: ● CSG - Greeneville #14- $10,680.02 Stanton #14- $10,555.46 William Hull made a motion to approve CSG Invoice #14 for $10,680.02 for Professional Services Rendered for April 1, 2024 - April 30, 2024 in regards to the Greeneville Elementary School project. Alderwoman Stacy Gould seconded. The chairman called the roll of members present and all were in favor. The motion passed unanimously. William Hull made a motion to approve CSG Invoice #14 for $10,555.46 for Professional Services Rendered for April 1, 2024 - April 30, 2024 in regards to the Stanton Elementary School project. Alderwoman Stacy Gould seconded. The chairman called the roll of members present and all were in favor. The motion passed unanimously. ● DRA - Greeneville #7 - $119,887.46 Stanton #7 - $127,967.55 William Hull made a motion to approve DRA Invoice #7 for $119,887.46 for Professional Services Rendered for April 1, 2024 - April 30, 2024 in regards to the Greeneville Elementary School project. Alderwoman Stacy Gould seconded. The chairman called the roll of members present and all were in favor. The motion passed unanimously.  William Hull made a motion to approve DRA Invoice #7 for $127,967.55 for Professional Services Rendered for April 1, 2024 - April 30, 2024 in regards to the Stanton Elementary School project. Alderwoman Stacy Gould seconded. The chairman called the roll of members present and all were in favor. The motion passed unanimously. X.Anything else to be brought before the committee: Chairman Bettencourt stated that he would speak to city purchasing agent Bob Castronova regarding hiring a project manager for the Uncas project and an architect for both the Moriarty and Uncas projects. XI.Adjournment: Alderwoman Stacy Gould made a motion to adjourn at 7:22 PM. William Hull seconded. The chairman called the roll of members present and all were in favor. The motion passed unanimously. Respectfully Submitted, Katherine Rose