SOMERS SCHOOL BUILDING CONSTRUCTION COMMITTEE

February 28, 2002

Members Present: P.Roland, J.Butler, G.Hilton, J.Formeister, J.Persano,

H.Broer,

D. Pinney

Ex-Officio: K.Klein, J.MacFeat, A.Maneggia, B.Boutwell

Guest: T.Jefferson

Citizens: G.Crandall (8:30)

The meeting was called to order at 7:06 p.m. by Chairman Roland.

The newly-hired superintendent of the Somers school district, Thomas

Jefferson, was welcomed and introduced to committee members.

Minutes of the 1/24, 2/13, and 2/14/2002 minutes were approved as presented

(Broer, Butler).

The order of the agenda was amended (Persano, Formeister). Andy Maneggia

presented modifications to the "Planning the Future" document. MBA needs an

office created for an assistant principal (reconfigure space). SHS needs a

second science lab and storage space in place of the proposed choral room,

access to the courtyard for maintenance equipment, and expansion of the Media

Center into the existing hallway space, with lockers moved to a new wall.

SES---no expansion of the cafeteria is recommended at this point, but if

enrollment is expected to increase significantly this will need to be

reconsidered. All-day kindergarten has not been adopted by the Board of Ed.

(except one section for children with developmental delays and special needs)

so this concept should be removed from construction discussions. New

enrollment projections from the state were distributed, showing a huge change

at SES from the projections of the prior year. This along with the

possibility of smaller class sizes would necessitate building additional

classrooms. As the BOE discusses the new figures and consults with Greg Pac

again, the Building Committee will be kept informed.

Opinions and comments about the four architectural firms interviewed were

given by each committee member, and their rankings and pre-referendum fees

were discussed. Tom Jefferson was asked to comment on his experience with

the Longmeadow BOE and its recent construction project. Written comments

will be kept on public record. A few especially important items are:

pre-ref.support, school construction experience/working with the

state/connections with the state, experience with renovations and containment

issues, ability to work with us if other projects are simultaneously

undertaken, breadth of experience, creativity, relationship with Somers and

building committee, and a firm's "want to" work for us. A motion was made

(Broer, Hilton) and approved to narrow the field to two firms; Kaestle Boos

and S/L/A/M were removed, and Jeter Cook Jepson and Moser Pilon Nelson were

unanimously favored (Pinney, Persano). The chairman will contact the firms

and inform them. Tentative plans were made to do site visits of projects on

March 16 and 23 at 8:00a.m., probably in Enfield and Ellington.

Jeter and Moser will be invited to visit our district and walk through the

buildings. They will be asked to attend the March 28 meeting for a final

interview. The March 14 meeting will be canceled. We will discuss the new

enrollment projections on April 11.

A motion was made and approved unanimously (Persano, Butler) to pay bills for

refreshments to Horizons Café $75.00 and Joan Formeister $44.00.

Motion to adjourn at 8:53 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Joan Formeister, Secretary