Download Minutes - Chester Board of Selectmen Special Meeting – 5:00 pm

Minutes - Chester Board of Selectmen
Special Meeting – 5:00 pm
November 1, 2012
Conference Room A - Chester Town Hall
I.
Roll Call: Present First Selectman Ed Meehan, Selectmen Tom Englert and Larry Sypher.
II.
New Business – Town Hall Second Floor Renovations Design Option A-3 and Concept Design
for Storage at Chester Elementary School
Brian Humes of Jacunski Humes Architects was present to review the design plans and cost
estimates for the above two (2) projects.
The renovations for second floor of Town Hall will create a community meeting room with
flexible seating for 65 persons plus conference table seating of 8 to 12. New food pantry storage would
be created for 100 square feet and larger park and recreation storage space for 120 square feet. The
floor plan shows the relocation of the Development Office to the Assessor’s space and the assessor
moving into the enlarged former development office space. The preliminary cost estimate for these
renovations is $212,000.
Mr. Humes requested that a meeting with the project’s mechanical engineer and Town
representatives to verify required service changes for the larger community room space. Ed Meehan will
coordinate with John Divis and Kevin Foley, who has served the Town’s HVAC system for many years.
The consensus of the Selectmen was that the design plans for these renovations should be
prepared for bidding as soon as possible with the revisions necessary to accommodate required HVAC
changes.
The plans for a 750 square foot addition to the Chester Elementary School were reviewed. The
addition is designed as fire rated storage use, building materials will be structural steel, block and brick.
The total estimated cost, both construction and soft, is $227,000. Mr. Humes also noted the site work
would address the current drainage issues in this area.
The selectmen expressed concern that the costs of both projects, $439,000, exceeds remaining
cash value for insurance of $265,000 and the potential uncommitted depreciation amount of $171,691.
Mr. Humes advised that both projects need further refinement to the schematic plans and cost
estimates. The contract with Jacunski Humes includes professional cost estimates for a total project
budget prior to bidding. Mr. Humes recommended that each project be bid separately.
Mr. Meehan reported that the Park and Recreation Director is proposing expanding
programming at Cedar Lake to three days per week during the summer camp season and less use of the
Chester Elementary School site. The selectmen also noted that the school’s declining enrollment should
be considered when anticipating space needs. To spend a quarter of a million dollars for 750 square feet
of storage space when space within the existing building footprint could be used for Park and Recreation
needs is not a practical solution.
Mr. Meehan will review Park and Recreation storage option with Liz Netsch and share with
Town Hall staff the schematic design plans for Town Hall.
III.
Adjournment
Mr. Englert moved to adjourn, seconded by Mr. Sypher and approved at 6:21 pm.
Submitted,
Ed Meehan
First Selectman