SOMERS SCHOOL BUILDING CONSTRUCTION COMMITTEE

September 16, 2002

Members Present: J.Butler, J.Formeister, P.Roland, D.Pinney (left at

9:15 to attend BOF meeting), T.Cowles, H.Broer

Ex-Officio: B.Boutwell, T.Jefferson

Guests: D.Moser

The meeting was called to order at 8:48pm (after the BOF meeting) by

Chairman Roland.

Minutes of the August 22, 2002 meeting were approved unanimously as

presented (Cowles, Butler).

Meeting with Planning Commission---P.Roland presented our plans to date

to the commission and answered questions. D.Moser will meet this week

with the Town Planner, Fire Marshall, Building Inspector, chairmen of

land use boards.

Operating costs---D.Pinney, B.Boutwell, T.Jefferson, J.Persano, and Town

Treasurer Ed Sullivan met to discuss how BOE operating costs will

increase during the period of construction and after. Explanations were

given as to increased enrollment, need for teachers and other staff,

utilities, etc. and the fact that the number of teachers will be

determined by the number of students, not the number of additional

classrooms.

Finance comments---the BOF has not yet given us a figure to work with,

but it seems it may be in the area of $17.2 million.

Building plans---where does the committee want to make cuts? This will

be the main discussion at our 9/26 meeting. D.Moser will get us a price

for a storage building if it is not done through the school bonding but

out of the town budget (CIP). The additional new classrooms at MBA are

causing questions; the advantage to permanent space vs temporary

classrooms was again addressed and must be explained further to the

public.

Public support group---a Town Meeting will be held on 9/23 to vote on

re-wording of the motion from the 6/28/01 Town Meeting. It is important

that citizens attend so the work we are presently doing can be continued

till referendum. After that meeting we will try to do a

brochure/mailing focusing on the "why" of the building project

proposals.

Public activities---input from A Somers Day, school open houses, etc.

has been very positive. A list is being completed of civic groups and

meeting times; we should be ready to begin visits by mid-October. It is

important that all committee members try to do some of the

presentations.

Old business---B.Boutwell was told by the state that since we received

the Grant Commitment Notification dated 6/30/02 that we do have bonding

approval. After approval at referendum, Moser Pilon Nelson will prepare

SHS plans to show the state by September, 2003. It will take an

additional 4 months for state approval and hiring a contractor.

Bills---a motion was made (Butler), seconded (Cowles), passed

unanimously, to approve and forward for payment to the Board of Finance

Invoice # 0012754 for $12,400.43 from MPN, 8/30/02 (Phase 1 Study, MBA,

misc.), and Invoice # 40595 for $1890.00 from Hungerfords/CT Water,

8/30/02 (installation water meter).

Motion to adjourn at 9:55pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Joan Formeister, Secretary