Town of Stoddard, NH

Building Committee Minutes

7:30 PM February 3, 2010

Stoddard Town Hall

Members present:                         Penny Betz, Dick Briere, Lou GrandPré, Sandy Holland,                                                                                  P.J. Lamothe, Harry Power, David Vaillancourt

Absent:                   Amy Rokoszak, Alan Rumrill

Dick Briere called the meeting to order at 7:37 PM.

Dick Briere noted that during last week’s meeting, we had discussed developing a narrative for the presentation to be made at the Public Informational Meeting tentatively scheduled for February.  There were only five members present last week, so he has asked Sandy Holland and Harry Power to work with him to develop this narrative. 

Dick asked that another subcommittee form to visit with the library, fire house, police station, etc.  The intent is to get a report on each town-owned building to go forward with into the upcoming informational meeting and Town Meeting. We need an update on the funds needed for necessary work to each building.  Dick and Harry are meeting at the fire station Saturday, February 6^th at 9:00 AM.  Dick asked David Vaillancourt if there is anything different that he would need at the police station.  David replied that in its present location, there is nothing.

Speaking to P.J. Lamothe, Dick said that on Saturday morning, she could point out general repairs or other items, and asked if there was anything that she would want to address at the upcoming Public Informational Meeting.  P.J. said that she didn’t think so.

Addressing Penny Betz, Dick said that she and Amy (Rokoszak) had a lot to do with the library at the time of getting the KSC plans and asked if they could provide any information to the town on the two design scenarios that we were given, etc.  Penny noted that she will be away from February 21^st through March 8^th, but noted that the plans KSC drew up do not necessarily represent what they really want for the library.  Penny added that a number of repairs have cropped up over the last few months, and their priorities at this point are just to replace the heating system and install plumbing.

Harry said that he needs better numbers to work with the Municipal Bond Bank.  Even though we cannot ask for a bond without an audit, we will want to be discussing some accurate numbers at both the informational meeting and Town Meeting.

Dick said that Catamount Environmental had visited the Town Hall and the Gould House today and took away a large number of samples to test for lead and asbestos. 

The Committee discussed what might be the best date for a Public Informational Meeting.  It was decided that two meetings might be most advantageous, give us an opportunity to reach more people.  The dates chosen were Friday evening, February 26^th, and Saturday mid-morning, February 27^th.  We also need to think about doing a dry run at some point prior to the Meeting.  The narrative needs to be available to Baybutt within a week so that they have adequate time to embed it in the presentation.  Dick said that after the subcommittee develops it, he would get it to them early next week. 

Harry Power noted that he thinks the work for the Town Hall seems to be less controversial than the Gould House renovations and iterated that we should be looking at the roof, siding, heat, cupola and trim, removing the chimneys and structures attached to the building.  He wants to make sure that the contractor doing the siding back primes it.  He suggested that the front entry and handicap ramp be delayed at least another year. 

There was some discussion that we do not have a lot of information to present on construction of a new building on the Cahill property.  Sandy Holland noted that every time Baybutt said anything about a new building, some committee members criticized them, saying that they were only interested in new construction, not in historical preservation or renovations.  Lou GrandPré stated for the second time that he was not interested in putting another dime into that building next door.  He asked if it would be acceptable for him to talk to Rod Parsons about specifics for a new building.  Dick responded that we do have numbers on a square foot estimate, plus parking lot, some landscaping, etc.  The estimated cost for new construction is $200 per square foot.  It is $75 - $100 per square foot for renovation.  Dick said that if Lou has a specific question and would get it to him, he would take it to Baybutt.  It was agreed early on that individual Committee members would not go on their own to Baybutt. 

The Committee will meet on the 11^th, 18^th and 25^th of February.  Following the Public Informational Meetings on the 26^th and 27^th, the Committee hopes to be able to resume meeting just every other Thursday.

The meeting adjourned at 8:35 PM.

Respectfully submitted,