MINUTES OF THE

Facilities and Capital Improvement Committee

November 5, 2007

Present: From Bearsch Compeau Knudson: Rosanne Goff, Robert Costello, Bill Sands and Ed Bernhauer; Don Gerlach, Janice Young, Mark Bordeau, John Gage, Cindy Manchester, Dr. Renee Stalma, Gerald Abbey, Gerardo Tagliaferri, Roland Doig, Mary Rader, Joe Kolanda and Jim Hull.

* Mr. Abbey opened the meeting by reintroducing members of the Bearsch Compeau Knudson team including Mr. Bernhauer, who was not present at the October 22 meeting.

* Census data to be reviewed at November 19 meeting.

* Copies of minutes from October 22, 2007 meeting distributed.

* Mr. Costello reviewed BCK's "charge"

o Walk-throughs were conducted last week, with BCK staff accompanied by mechanical and plumbing engineers - tonight will review walk-throughs and items on the secondary campus.

* Mr. Tagliaferri summarizes for those who were not present the information presented by BCK at the October 22 meeting.

* Mr. Costello distributes copies of line item spreadsheet for proposed EXCEL projects in Susquehanna Valley High School.

o Cost comparisons are made between 2005 and 2007 facilities plans. Line items prompt discussions on such items as upgrades to athletic facilities, replacement of windows and roof, upgrade of system that runs public address system, phones and clocks, reconfiguration of athletic locker room/bathroom facilities.

* BCK says "hard construction" cost is $5.2 million at high school. Mrs. Goff explains additional costs for design, drawings, contingencies, a recently negotiated 6% increase in labor costs, incidental costs and inflation may add more than $2 million to projected base construction costs.

* Mr. Costello distributes copies of line item spreadsheet for proposed EXCEL projects at Richard T. Stank Middle School.

o Line items prompt discussion on items including doors and windows, HVAC work and reconfiguration of bathrooms, locker rooms and lockers.

* BCK says "hard construction" cost is $4.7 million at RTS Middle School, subject to the same Cost Magnitude factors previously described.

* Mr. Costello says spreadsheets will be updated and addressed at November 19 meeting – suggests committee establish project priorities and look to deciding the scope of the EXCEL project.

* The project is subject to public referendum – EXCEL aid covers approximately $6 million of work at middle school and high school out of minimum approximately $10 million; group has discussed the possibility of putting EXCEL up for public vote in spring 2008.

* Group discusses timing and method of presenting projects for public referendum.

* Members encourage getting as much information out to the public as possible on what the committee is doing.

* BCK, as part of its charge, is also studying long term needs at elementary schools and will report in the future.

* Mr. Tagliaferri says public needs to be aware there will have to be a bigger project in the near future beyond EXCEL.

* Members reminded to look through spreadsheets to begin identifying priorities. Recommendations need to include long term plans involving all buildings and the possibility of multiple referenda.

Next meeting of the Facilities and Capital Improvement Committee is November 19, 2007 at 6:30 p.m. in the board of education meeting room.