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Merrimack School District
Planning & Building Committee

Minutes of the June 30, 1998 Meeting





Present: Committee Members - S. Heinrich, D. Miller, W. Morrison, M. Morrison, T. Koenig, B. Triolo; Business Administrator S. Isabelle; Maintenance Director S. Lemay; Meridian Associates: G. Gagne and B. Davidson.

The meeting was called to order at 7 P.M. by S. Heinrich. He announced that the meeting would adjourn by 10 P.M.

Update on Parking and Fields

S. Isabelle explained that the School Board had hired Meridian to oversee the parking and field projects. He told the committee that representatives from Meridian had used the prior design work and recommendations and put together a set of preliminary drawings to present to the committee for input. He also explained that, due to time constraints, the project time line would be changed. The lower field, the middle school field and the parking projects would be done during Summer, 1998 and the elementary school field would be done in conjunction with the track during Summer, 1999. During the discussion that followed several issues were raised:
  1. PSNH approval for development in the easement
  2. Drainage at all fields and parking lots
  3. Water line/hydrant from the Merrimack Village District
  4. Possible encroachment of SERESC addition on School District property
  5. O'Neil field should be called Mastricola Elementary Field
  6. Include MES benches in all drawings
  7. Potential small retaining wall and grade of lower field
  8. Access road drainage problems
  9. Location of varsity baseball field
  10. Location of track in easement, away from field slope
  11. Need to include MES and MMS additions in drawings
  12. Metal guard rail on both sides of O'Gara Drive
  13. Sidewalks
  14. Relocation of PSNH and district owned poles
  15. Parking lot project will take 45 days
  16. Stands/Press Box/Concessions/Rest rooms and donation/grant possibilities
  17. Potential high school addition impact on road/parking lot at high school
  18. Cement pad for parking 6-12 motorcycles
  19. Sufficient handicapped parking spaces
  20. Potential for PSNH to drop a line near lower field
  21. Serpentine walk from upper to lower field
  22. Dugouts
  23. Window protection, additional fencing and screening

D. Miller raised several concerns about the parking lot. He asked if the new lot would be level or slightly graded keeping existing paved areas. He wants a study done to quantify how much if any of the existing pavement can just receive an overlay coat. He also wanted it clear that there were to be no islands. He expressed concern that extending parking to the turnpike access road and leveling the grade in the main lot may cost more than is currently budgeted.

S. Heinrich thanked Meridian for their presentation and asked that the committee be updated when the final drawings and bid specifications were complete.

Capital Improvement Plan (C.I.P.)

S. Isabelle told the committee he would be presenting a revised C.I.P. to the School Board on July 20, 1998 and wanted some input from the committee on suggested changes and inclusions. He told the committee the C.I.P. should include expenditures over $100,000 that would have a useful life of over seven years. He explained that Technology has been placed in the plan with an * because it may not last for the required seven years. He also noted that operating expenses appear for planning purposes and only until item is funded.

The committee went through the C.A.P. line by line and on a motion from S. Heinrich, seconded by D. Miller unanimously voted to recommend the following:

  1. Land - $1,000,000 in 2000-2001
  2. Kindergarten - $1,300,000 in 2001-2002
  3. MHS addition - $3,500,000 in 1999-2000
  4. TFS Sewer - $120,000 in 1999-2000, from surplus? (figure may change)
  5. MHS Windows (Sec. F) - $120,000 in 1999-2000, include in MHS addition bond?
  6. Maintenance Shop - $200,000 in 2000-2001
  7. SAU Vault/Office Space - $100,000 in 2001-2002
  8. MES, MMS, TFS Parking - $100,000 in 1999-2000 (Phase II of PBC plan)
  9. MHS Field Amenities - $200,000 in 2000-2001 (bleachers, press box, lighting, concession, restrooms - partial funding by donations and grants?)

High School Space Needs

D. Miller presented the committee with a proposal for an alternate placement for additions at the high school. It contained same square footage as "Alt. A" as suggested by the architects but came out from Guidance offices toward the Superintendent's Office. He noted it could be expanded to include space for District Media and Superintendent's offices.

Discussion centered on two issues: quantifying the number and type of classrooms any proposed addition could include and whether to propose a new auditorium.

W. Morrison wants the committee to quantify the space needed first.

M. Morrison agreed and suggested a method of determining how many and what type of classrooms by using current usage student numbers.

D. Miller is concerned about the configuration of the addition.

B. Triolo wants to be sure that the committee proposes what it feels the district really needs, even if that is different than what the School Board wants to hear because the School Board will make whatever changes it feels necessary. He wants the committee to suggest an auditorium be proposed and put on the warrant as a separate article.

S. Heinrich wants to define what additional space is needed and what space will need to be renovated.

B. Triolo offered the following estimates: He likes 23,500 square foot, but does not like putting it across the front of the existing building. He feels the addition should include 16 classrooms, 2 science labs, and space for special education and guidance for a total of "20 classrooms."

W. Morrison suggested the following estimates for classroom/space needs. Art: 2-3 additional, Science: 2-4 additional, Music: 1-2 additional, Social Studies: 1 additional, Special Education: 2-3 additional, "regular" classrooms: 1-2 additional, Storage: 1-2 additional, Physical Education: 1-2 additional, Student Activities: 1-2 additional, Theater, Home Economics/IA: 2 additional for storage. These resulted in totals of 14 -23 "classrooms."

B. Triolo offered additional clarifications. His estimates were based meeting immediate needs only. He delineated the needs as follows: Two additional "rooms" for Art, Science, Guidance/Office, Health, Special Education. One additional "room" for Business, English, Library, Music and Social Studies. This resulted in a need of 15 additional "classrooms."

It was noted that actual square footage required for each "classroom" varied according to state standard based on usage.

The committee noted the lateness of the hour and decided to continue working on "the numbers" at their next meeting on July 7, 1998.

On a motion from T. Koenig, seconded by B. Triolo, the committee unanimously voted to adjourn at 10:15 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,


Planning & Building Committee
Merrimack School District

Last Updated: August 30, 1998 by Wayne Morrison