Merrimack School District
Planning & Building Committee

Minutes of the August 19, 1997 Meeting

Present: M. Morrison, W. Morrison, D. Miller, J. Flis, T. Koenig and S. Heinrich

The meeting was called to order at 7:49 by S. Heinrich.

Approval of Minutes

The minutes of July 8, 1997 were approved 4-0-2 with the following correction: M. Morrison was excused.

Old Business: Field Update

J. Flis will contact Scott Isabelle to obtain copies of the plans and drawings which have been proposed by DiGeronimo.

John Weaver, student representative to the School Board, was present to ask for information about the proposed track and parking lot improvements at the high school. The committee provided him with an overview of the details and history of the two projects. Additionally, the committee noted the need to remember to locate electrical outlets in the "new" parking lot at the high school. During the discussion, the question was raised whether the two projects would be presented in the same warrant article. The consensus of the committee was that from a planning point of view, the two projects should be considered jointly. However, they should be voted on as two separate warrant articles. Some of the reasons for this: simplify the warrant articles, the fact that two different capital reserve/trust funds are involved and that the parking reconstruction may be fully covered by funds already in a capital reserve fund. J. Flis will convey this concern to the School Board.

In response to a question regarding the new fence at Mastricola Middle School, it was noted that the fence was being replaced as part of an insurance settlement for damage caused by an accident and since a ten foot fence cost approximately the same as a fence of the original height, the higher fence was put in.

The clerk gave each member reduced copies of the 1994 survey of the "main campus". The copies showed all three schools, adjacent roads and all fields except the lower field at the high school. It did not include any of the various additions.

New Business: School Board Charge Re: Kindergarten

Mr. O'Neil will be providing the committee with a written charge and other additional information. The clerk will photo-copy pertinent pages from the "Manual for Planning and Construction of School Buildings, 1975" to be given to each committee member at the next meeting. By consensus, the committee decided to wait until more details about the charge were available before deciding how to proceed.

Discussion: 1997-1998 Goals and Objectives

T. Koenig asked for an update on the status of the 1997-1998 Capital Improvement Plan. W. Morrison noted that it had been passed with some corrections. The committee requested copies of this document. W. Morrison asked to include the kindergarten issue in the goals and objectives. It was suggested that a D4 be added to read: The committee will work on charges approved by the School Board in regard to future district development. On a motion from J. Flis, seconded by W. Morrison, the 1997-1998 Goals and Objectives were approved with the addition of D4.

Other

J. Flis told the committee that after due consideration, he was resigning as an active PBC member. He noted that he would still attend committee meetings as the School Board liaison but he felt that the committee would benefit from the participation of an additional active member. Motion was made by T. Koenig to accept with regret the resignation of J. Flis. Second: D. Miller. The vote was 5-0-1. S. Heinrich thanked J. Flis for his past contributions to the committee. He requested that notices of the vacancy go to area papers asking people interested in filling the vacancy until the next election to send a letter of interest to the committee by September 8, 1997 care of the Superintendent's office. The committee will conduct interviews of interested candidates at a meeting on September 23, 1997.

W. Morrison asked for information on surveys on the ten acre parcel at Thorntons Ferry on the other side of the bypass, the entire Timmins property and the rest of the Buker site. He suggested that the committee may want to request immediate funding for this in conjunction with the completion of the kindergarten project. S. Heinrich noted that the survey of the Thorntons Ferry parcel was supposed to have been part of the package with the state when the bypass was completed. He indicated that he did not know if this had been done or if surveys of each school had been updated to include the additions.

On a motion from J. Flis, seconded by D. Miller, it was unanimously voted to adjourn the meeting at 9:30 P.M. The next meeting will be held on September 9, 1997 at the high school.

Respectfully submitted,

Planning & Building Committee

Merrimack School District

Last Updated: February 2, 1998 by Wayne Morrison