Thursday, October 30, 2008
Wayland Town Building
School Committee Conference Room
Attendees
HSBC members: Lea Anderson, Dianne Bladon, Steve
Breit, Fred Knight, Jim Howard, David Lash, Mary Lentz, Joe Lewin, Eric
Sheffels
Absent: Josh Bekenstein, Brian Chase, Cindy
Lombardo, Jennifer Steel, Karen Talentino
HMFH Team: George Metzger
Ex Officio members: Gary Burton, Louis Jurist
Call to order Ð HSBC Chairman, Lea Anderson,
called the meeting to order at 7:43 p.m.
MSBA Update Ð Lea reported on the following
meetings that had taken place since the last HSBC meeting:
¯ Sept.
9 Ð Designer Selection review at MSBA
Ð George Metzger proposed the HMFH team to MSBA and reviewed the 2004
Preliminary Design work. Attending
from Wayland were Gary Burton and Dianne Bladon. George reported that HMFH is working on
another project that is progressing with MSBA, but that there has been no
approval in writing from MSBA.
Wayland has not heard back on HMFHÕs approval for the Wayland High
School project.
¯ Sept.
15 Ð Wayland School Committee meeting Ð Lea and Dianne informed the Wayland School Committee
of the HSBCÕs recommendation to continue with HMFH Architects. The WSC approved the request.
¯ Oct.
16 Ð Meeting at MSBA - Lea,
Joe, Eric, and Gary met with Mary Pichetti at MSBA to discuss a way forward
with the OPM selection.
Eric
reported on the discussions with Mary Pichetti. The contract has proved problematic for
many OPMs including the HSBCÕs first choice of Turner and second choice of
KVA. Turner has been very honest
with Wayland from the start that they have issues with the contract. A few OPMs have signed the contract for
the Feasibility phase, but no one has signed for the construction phase. The issues have to do with the MSBAÕs
desire to have a common contract for all OPMs and the non-traditional
allocation of responsibilities between the designer and the OPM. The contract is owner friendly, but not
OPM-friendly, especially in the area of warranting specs. Some OPMs are saying that OPM costs
could double if they are required to take on the risk allocation defined in the
contract.
The
state is aware that they have a problem and is working to resolve it. They have asked the AGC (Association of
General Contractors) to facilitate a conversation between OPMs and MSBA.
Eric
and Joe have offered their expertise to help MSBA and OPMs resolve this
problem.
The
Designer contract is just out. HMFH
is just beginning to look at it.
MSBA is a brand new agency with brand new contracts. None of this has been tested before.
Eric
feels that the best case for resolving the contract issues is 6 months. Some OPMs are willing to sign the
contract for the Feasibility phase, but will have to sign again for the
construction phase. Turner has
informed Eric that they cannot get
E & O (errors and omissions) insurance even for the feasibility
phase. TurnerÕs president has told
Wayland (and Belmont) that they should try to find another OPM so we do not
lose more time. Turner expects to
resolve these issues at some point and to be in the school building business,
but does not want to hold us up anymore.
Eric
recommends that we put Turner to the side and work down the list of
finalists. Specifically he asked
the HSBC for permission to (within the restraints of the procurement law and
working with Joy Buhler, our procurement officer):
1. Contact the other three firms on our
short list.
2. Allow Lea, Joe, and Eric to come back to
the HSBC with a recommendation.
3. Proceed with the Feasibility Study when
we find an OPM who meets our criteria and will sign the contract for that
phase.
Comments
from HSBC members were:
Updated MSBA Regulations - Lea informed the HSBC of a set of revisions to the
MSBA regulations regarding no state funds for:
á
athletic
fields, outdoor tracks, stadia, bleachers, concession stands
á
wastewater
treatment facilities, sewers and water lines
á
site
remediation and clean-up
Written
public comments will be accepted until Nov. 14th. Lea will work with the administration to
write a statement to MSBA expressing our concern with the change that states no
state reimbursement for, ÒAll costs associated with the design, construction,
improvements, or repair of water lines, sewer lines, pumping stations,
wastewater treatment plants or facilities, and septic systems.Ó
Enrollment Ð Lea informed the group that she
has sent the MSBA the new October 2008 Enrollment Report that Joy presented to
the School Committee a week ago.
She also requested a meeting with MSBA for Wayland to present its
enrollment information. Jeff
Dieffenbach has updated his presentation discussed at the Sept. 4th
meeting.
Dianne
Bladon presented an analysis of Wayland children attending private schools over
the past ten years. In January, 2005 voters did not approve a design project for
Wayland High School. The vote
occurred after the deadline for most private school admissions. Since that time, private school
enrollment has increased significantly.
Dianne reported that in 1998 Ð
2004, on average, 7.24% of high school students chose alternatives to Wayland
High School: private school,
Minuteman, or home schooling. In
2008, that figure was over 12%, a 66% increase. District-wide, across all grades, just
over 4% didnÕt choose Wayland Public Schools from 1998 - 2004. In 2008, that figure increased 92% to
just under 8%.
Enrollment at Wayland High
School peaked in 2006 and dropped in 2007 and 2008. However, if private school enrollment
levels had not spiked, enrollment would have climbed for two more years before
beginning to drop.
Enrollment at WHS would
increase by about 40 students if the percentage of students choosing other
schools went back down to where it was before the failed vote. Dianne suggested that this is another
factor that should be presented to MSBA in our discussion.
David Lash reviewed his
investigation of other systems that have come to agreement with MSBA on a
design number for enrollment. David
suggests that we shouldnÕt argue methodology with MSBA, but should talk more
about the needs of the program.
Lea reminded the committee that
their direction at the Sept. 4th meeting was to negotiate a number
between 930 and 1050 with MSBA. The
group did not change this direction.
Planning for Feasibility Study Ð The HSBC asked George if there are things we can proceed with
without an OPM. George suggested
that Frank Locker, a vision consultant, could help with strategic planning as a
way to get started again. HSBC
members commented as follows:
George was asked to put
together a proposal on the Feasibility phase for the committee, including the
financial implications of hiring Frank Locker to help with visioning. George asked the group to put together a
schedule of possible milestones tied to town elections and town meetings. November 13th will be held as
a possible meeting date and discussion with Frank Locker.
Other things Ð Eric informed the group that a
large piece of land in Framingham (Danforth Farms) is being foreclosed. He asked if there is any interest in
considering this for a WHS site. He
thinks that the complexity of the current WHS site adds costs to the
project. Might there be a way to
build for less without the phasing costs we will have at the current site?
Discussion ensued:
There did not appear to be much
interest around the table in pursuing this idea, but others who were not at the
meeting might have other thoughts.
Motion Ð A motion was made by Jim
Howard and seconded by Dave Lash to approve the minutes of the HSBC meeting #56
Sept. 4, 2008.
Vote Ð The motion was approved
unanimously Ð 9 in favor, 0 opposed.
Adjournment Ð The HSBC adjourned at 9:45 p.m.
Observers: Pat Abramson, Sam DiSavino, Harvey
Montague, Lisa Valone