MINUTES OF THE

Facilities and Capital Improvement Committee

November 19, 2007

Present: From Bearsch Compeau Knudson: Rosanne Goff, Robert Costello, Ed Bernhauer, Dave Young (landscape architect); Jim Marean, John Gage, Don Gerlach, Dave Daniels, Gerald Abbey, Gerardo Tagliaferri, Mary Rader, Chris Miller, Jim Hull, Mark Bordeau.

* Mr. Abbey welcomes those present, distributes copies of minutes of November 5, 2007 meeting.

* Mr. Tagliaferri presents brief overview of first phase of 2007 district census – a 48% return rate on census forms mailed to residents; commends John Dancesia for work on project.

* Mr. Abbey opens floor for discussion on possible EXCEL and other work. There is extensive discussion on items including: the high school fuel oil tank, windows, roofing, electrical and communications systems, HVAC and security systems.

* Members of the committee offer thoughts on types of security upgrades that might be pursued. These include cameras, door timers, and access control devices including swipe cards. Mrs. Goff says SED has a grant program to help pay for cameras. Mr. Tagliaferri says business executive Brian Horton is looking into that grant program.

* There is further extensive discussion on additional project items including flooring and work related to accessibility. BCK recommends doing as much accessibility work as possible because it's difficult to guess what SED may focus on in approving projects.

* Group discusses at length scope of potential capital projects and schedule for promoting projects to taxpayers prior to a referendum. Members agree a long-term plan is needed far beyond what EXCEL funding will cover. There seems to be consensus among members to "go to the well just once" – meaning offering one large project at referendum rather than two or more smaller projects in separate votes.

* Mr. Abbey's EXCEL-only priorities lists at just the high school and middle school alone total base construction costs of $4,645,000 bare-minimum.

* Members discuss needs at elementary schools, transportation garage and technology building.

* BCK outlines drainage and lighting problems at high school and middle school and potential solutions that could be part of capital project, including installation of more light poles of a uniform height and brighter bulbs.

* BCK reminds members that any project, no matter how big, will be an EXCEL project if 75 percent of the work is eligible – so we shouldn't leave spreadsheet item off list because it alone is not EXCEL eligible.

* BCK outlines proposals for possible athletic field upgrades.

* Member of committee recommends identifying scope of project and committee's "comfort factor," renewing discussion on project scope and timetable. Mr. Marean recommends determining a cost range between the $4 million from EXCEL and the district's debt service ceiling. Mr. Tagliaferri is contacting financial advisors to pinpoint the debt service ceiling.

* Committee discusses possibility of BCK beginning to study and report on elementary school needs sooner than anticipated. BCK says it would be able to report on elementary school needs in spring '08 and recommends an enrollment study be done to determine if enrollment can justify building a new consolidated elementary school. Mr. Bordeau: the committee can continue to do a lot of work while BCK studies the elementary needs.

* Committee member: new energy efficiency standards will be promulgated by mid 2008 and group discusses whether energy efficiency is going to be a primary driver in any project and the pros and cons of waiting until those new standards are in place.

* BCK's revised numbers for work: $6.44 million (high school), $6.26 million (middle school)

* Committee consensus appears now to lean toward presenting one large project.

Next Facilities and Capital Improvement Committee meeting will be held jointly with Finance Committee December 10, 2007, 6:30 p.m.