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Merrimack School District
Planning & Building Committee

Minutes of the December 11, 1997 Meeting





Present: All Members, MMS Principal T. Levesque, MES Principal K. Custer, Maintenance Director S. Lemay, Architect J. DiGeronimo, Business Administrator S. Isabelle and P.A.T.T. representative John Shaw

S. Heinrich called the meeting to order at 7:35 P.M. He and S. Isabelle explained the main focus of the meeting would be further explanation, discussion and refinement of the proposed parking and athletic field improvements before J. DiGeronimo presented the plan to the School Board. S. Isabelle provided various handouts as written back up to the plans as being presented.

J. DiGeronimo brought up several points for discussion including moving O'Gara Drive, locating the varsity baseball field on O'Neil field, parking in front and behind MES, the proposed bus loop at MMS, the access road to the lower field at MHS, synthetic turf versus natural grass, and irrigation of all fields.

Traffic/Parking Proposal

There is approximately $226,000 in the Capital Reserve Fund for paving. One hundred and forty additional parking spaces at Merrimack High School at a cost of $50,000 was suggested. The middle school bus loop would cost $28,000 at $2.50 @ square foot. The parking lot improvements there would cost $16,000 at $2 @ square foot. Fifteen thousand dollars is included for sidewalk and utility pole movement. It was also suggested that moving O'Gara Drive was not necessary. The total proposal with changes came to $344,000. There were requests for additional break down of the information given.

The group discussed several alternatives for the parking proposal:

  1. Two year proposal: Do MHS first year; MES and MMS second year
  2. Two year proposal: Do MES, MMS and one side of O'Gara Drive first year; MHS parking lot second year
  3. One year proposal for whole thing.

B. Triolo left the meeting during the discussion. The consensus of the group was to propose the plan be done in one year. The committee discussed this further and on a motion from S. Heinrich, seconded by W. Morrison, voted 4-1 to recommend spending $350,000 to do entire plan in one year, not move O'Gara, add 100 spaces at MHS and expand the MES back lot.

Athletic Facilities

The track proposed would be a "broken back" track encircling a football/soccer field. The lower field would be improved to include drainage and the access road would be paved including drainage improvements. It was suggested that the cost of relocating the current bleachers was more that the cost of purchasing new bleachers. The middle school field was in the best shape of all fields and would only need upgrading. The field at Mastricola Elementary in currently in the worst shape of the fields involved. It was suggested that any proposal should include a contingency amount. The total proposal with changes came to $812,000. There is approximately $129,000 in the Capital Expendable Trust Fund for athletic fields at the high school.

The group discussed several alternatives to the athletic field proposals.

  1. Two warrant articles: one for the track and one for other improvements.
  2. Lower field, MMS and MES first year ($207,000) and MHS/track second year ($550,000).
  3. Entire package paid for in one year, scheduled to lessen the impact to the school district educational and athletic programs.
  4. Two warrant articles with a contingency that if field improvements don=t pass, track article would be void.

The group was split on the best alternative. On a motion from S. Heinrich, seconded by W. Morrison, the committee voted 5-0 to recommend doing the lower field, MMS and MES this year at a cost of $207,000 with a 10% contingency and using the $129,000 currently in the capital trust fund.

S. Isabelle noted that it would be important to have as many committee members as possible at the School Board meeting for help and input during the discussion on these proposals. On a motion from T. Koenig, seconded by M. Morrison, the committee voted unanimously to have M. Morrison be key spokesperson for the PBC at the School Board meeting during the parking/athletic field proposal discussions.

Other

S. Isabelle noted that the School Board was planning to put articles on the warrant to fund various capital reserve/trust funds from surplus and there would be no need for the PBC to petition them.

S. Heinrich noted that he had spoken with two local surveyors regarding information about proposals and costs and they had wanted more time to look into the current situation and would get back to him. He told the committee that this was the reason for the cancellation of the meeting which had been scheduled for November 25, 1997.

On a motion from D. Miller, seconded by W. Morrison, it was unanimously voted to adjourn at 11:40 P.M.


Planning & Building Committee
Merrimack School District

Last Updated: February 3, 1998 by Wayne Morrison