Present: All members, J. Flis (School Board liaison), S. Isabelle (Business Administrator), and J. DiGeronimo (Track Architect)

S. Heinrich called the meeting to order at 7:30 P.M.

Track & Parking Update

Summary of changes/clarifications requested:

1. General: Has Chip Chesley been contacted to learn what the town can do and at what cost. Further define the areas of all fields that will be re-seeded. Spell Mastricola correctly. Update each field with specific details regarding irrigation, backstop and fencing. Use the term "licensed" surveyor instead of "competent" surveyor. Indicate priorities for completion of the various fields to guarantee Mastricola Elementary field will be completed first. All fields will be "graded to drain." There were questions about the need for a penalty or bonus clause. Contractors may bid on just parking, just fields or both parking and fields. It is hoped that, if one contractor does both, there will be a cost savings. D. Miller expressed concern that the final drawings needed to be larger and contain additional detailing.
2. Parking: Further define the size of the parking lots. Quantitatively identify the old and new paved areas. Provide accurate maps of the parking areas. It was noted that the grade change in the lot is not great enough to need to be leveled, and the asphalt will be continuous with no islands. Indicate areas will be used for July 4 festivities and whatever work is started should not create hazards or problems for this. Concerns were raised regarding impact of parking lot construction on the summer school program which is held at the high school. Concrete vs. wooden poles were discussed. There will be standard metal guard rails of some type to limit access and egress of walkers. There should be a concrete pad for motorcycle parking.
3. Mastricola Elementary field: There will be an 8-foot fence with some type of netting 20 feet in front to the current wooden fence. This will also protect the electrical wires. (It was suggested that at some time in the future, the district investigate putting the power lines underground.) Approximately 13 large pine trees will remain after area is cleared. The P.A.T.T. benches will remain in their current location. Protection for windows at the school is not part of the bid. S.Isabelle is investigating Plexiglass and is still discussing options with the fire marshall.
4. Lower field: There were concerns about cutting into the hill - slope requirements, soil erosion, installation of a retaining wall. A serpentine walk from upper field to lower field is suggested. Hydrant issues need to be resolved before work can commence. There is no electricity planned for lower field. In the past there was some discussion about having PSNH drop a line for lights somewhere near the turnpike end of the field.
5. Mastricola Middle School fields: The current backstop will be moved closer to home plate. The infield will be treated and the edges repaired to improve the transition from infield to outfield. The infield of the softball field will need to be carved out. This will require the removal of two sprinkler heads. A backstop will be added. New, higher chain link fences will be installed.

Preparations for meeting with School Board

D. Miller agreed and requested J. Flis respond.

M. Morrison told the committee he felt that they were not doing what the School Board wanted the committee to do. He felt the School Board was looking for a needs assessment to define the space problem. He did not feel the School Board wanted the committee to define a solution.

W. Morrison noted that the committee is independently elected and can decide to go beyond the School Board charge. He felt the charge was short sighted.

T. Koenig felt that the committee had been asked to do an assessment of the current situation. He wanted the committee to decide how they were going to accomplish this and suggested a serious look at demographics. Further, he felt that the School Board wasn't asking for a plan, just an idea of how big the problem was.

S. Heinrich stated that the committee has gotten information and now needs to do the job right.

M. Morrison wants a written plan of the steps the committee expects to take in order to complete the task.

J. Flis noted that the committee accepted the charge which included a June 1 deadline. He felt that the committee could go beyond the charge as long as they met the June 1 deadline.

Discussion centered on whether the committee could come up with a one word answer. By consensus, they agreed the problem cannot be defined in one word and they need to address the problem. In reviewing the charge, it was noted that the committee was charged with conducting a preliminary study of space needs at Merrimack High School taking into consideration instructional space, curriculum, and enrollment issues. Several members felt communication between the committee and the School Board was needed to clarify many questions.

The committee turned to drafting the preliminary report. B. Triolo requested that the report contain a time line to show the meetings with high school administrators; the materials reviewed: space utilization report, master schedule, updated high school space needs report, space needs committee final report, accreditation reports, current state standards; Mrs. Marcel's presentation; public comments; and the high school tour. He noted that the committee had touched upon demographics but had not reviewed them in any depth.

T. Koenig asked if the committee really needed a meeting with the School Board. W. Morrison answered yes if only to find out what a preliminary report is.

Discussion continued about the content of the preliminary report. M. Morrison noted that the committee can point out areas that have space needs, but cannot at this time answer how many classrooms and what type of classrooms. W. Morrison noted that the problem is more than just classrooms and more time is needed to give a comprehensive report. He felt that committee must look at immediate, medium range and long range goals. T. Koenig noted that more time is needed to study properly and evaluate demographics. The committee agreed that there were space issues in the following areas: Classrooms, Special Needs, Offices, Nurses Suite, Conference Rooms, and storage issues in classrooms, P.E., maintenance and library.

The committee noted other issues that they should include in the final report: vocational studies issues, courtyard, district media offices, M.E.E.P., safety issues and the effect of special education on how high school space is currently being used. The committee wants to be sure to commend Rick Walker for his time, dedication and knowledge of the high school spaces.

B. Triolo suggested that public awareness of the issues should take a pro-active approach. He felt that the public needs to tour the building somehow to appreciate the space issues.

There was some discussion about the purpose of the School Board liaison to the committee and how to make the liaison more effective.

The agenda for the meeting with the School Board was set as follows:

      Ground Rules
      Committee Purpose and Procedure
      Synopsis of What Accomplished
      Discussion: Specifics of the Charge
                         Relationship between School Board and Committee.

It was decided to suggest that, in the future, all charges from the School Board be written and presented at a Committee meeting by at least one member of the School Board.

Approval of Minutes

On a motion from B. Triolo, seconded by M. Morrison, the minutes of April 21, 1998 were unanimously approved with the following amendments: In Room E-120, the eye wash in the photo lab was inoperable, "nowhere" is one word and in Room E-115, it should read "eye wash and D-con station."

On a motion from D. Miller, seconded by M. Morrison, the minutes of April 28 were unanimously approved with the following changes: Pg. 2 - M. Morrison stated that the School Board has asked the committee to define the problem, not come up with solutions. Pg. 2 - W. Morrison suggested that the committee break the problem up into parts and present a phased approach to each solution. Pg. 3 - T. Koenig suggested noted that moving some of the programs D. Miller suggested might gain a net of five to eight classrooms. Pg. 3 - M. Morrison said . . . He wants to be sure that the committee will not be looking at a space problem again in a few years. He wants to see the committee come up with a long term solution, at least a five-year plan. . . .W. Morrison wanted to be sure that, if the committee presents a five-year plan, it will be five years from when the solution is done.

On a motion from M. Morrison, seconded by B. Triolo the committee unanimously voted to adjourn at 10:45 P.M.

Last Updated: August 08, 1998 by Wayne Morrison