Building Committee Minutes
7:00 PM October 8, 2009
PRELIMINARY
Members present: Penny Betz, Dick Briere, Lou Grandpre, Sandy Holland, Harry Power, Amy Rokoszak, Alan Rumrill & David Vaillancourt
Absent: P.J. Lamothe
Attendees: Dick Betz
Dick Briere called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.
Harry Power presented information on municipal bonds obtained from Nancy Woods of the Municipal Bond Bank. A 10-year $350,000 bond at 5% interest (a bond would likely have a lower interest rate than 5% - right now the interest would be about 3.55%) would create a 19 cent per thousand tax burden. A $300,000 property would see a tax burden of $57 in the first year. That rate would decrease from 19 cents in the first year to 13 cents in the tenth year.
Rod Parsons from Baybutt Construction arrived at 7:15 to discuss the Committee’s vision of the work to be done. He thanked the Committee for selecting him and Baybutt to do this work, stating that he will be the Steward of the Building Committee, not a driver, and the Committee will have input every step of the way.
He has a number of questions and would like to bring structural and mechanical engineers to the site next Wednesday (October 14th) if that can be arranged and the weather is conducive. A number of Committee members expressed their desire to be present during such a meeting. Mr. Parsons will be in contact with the Committee Chair, and the Chair will communicate the schedule with the Committee.
Mr. Parsons asked if he could make arrangements to see everything the Town has on file in terms of plans, needs assessment, any significant work that has been done to the Town Hall, etc. It was noted that some information, such as the historical assessment prepared by Eric Lewtas of Dan Scully Architects and photographs, is available on the Town’s website. All other items will be made available.
Mr. Parsons stated that the first priority is to develop the existing conditions assessment. The work he is undertaking now to analyze existing conditions and bring together all the plans will take 10 to 12 weeks (12 weeks would be New Year’s Eve). A payment schedule of 25% of his total fee would be paid in three periods, with the final payment made when the Committee has determined his work is complete and satisfactory. This Agreement will be provided for the Selectmen’s review and signature.
If agreed upon, a Design/Build Agreement between Baybutt and the Town of
Mr. Parsons iterated his feeling that the Town Hall may be under-ventilated, that there may not be adequate space under the building to provide proper ventilation. This and other factors will be looked into when he returns with engineers. Harry Power noted that a contractual commitment to Glenn Webber has been made for repairs to the structural piers. Mr. Parsons indicated that there is no reason to abandon that work.
Mr. Parsons also noted that he will provide the Committee with materials and assistance for conducting informational meetings with the Townspeople, and for Town Meeting. Mr. Parsons left the meeting at 8:25 with tentative plans to return to a regular meeting on the 22nd of October.
Dick Briere informed the Committee that the plan made a week prior to use all the Gould House budget toward paying Baybutt was determined by the Department of Revenue Administration (DRA) to be unacceptable. The method available is to take $10,500 from the Town Hall appropriation and $2,000 from the Building Committee budget. Dick Briere moved that the Committee pursue that plan, Harry Power seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
The meeting scheduled for October 15 may be unnecessary depending on whether Mr. Parsons can arrange a site visit with his engineers next week. Meetings are scheduled for October 15, 22, and 29.
Harry Power moved to adjourn, Sandy Holland seconded, motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 8:35 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
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Sandy Holland