Public Building Commission Mtg Minutes 1.21.2015

                         SPECIAL MEETING                                   

                                               PUBLIC BUILDING COMMISSION                                                WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

A Special Meeting of the Public Building Commission was held on Wednesday, January 21, 2015 at the East Hartford Board of Education Administrative Offices, 1110 Main Street, East Hartford, CT.  The meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM by Chairman Daniel DePietro.

PRESENT                 Daniel DePietro, Chairman, Public Building Commission

                             Hank Pawlowski, Jr.,  Member, Public Building Commission

                             Richard Domler, Jr., Member, Public Building Commission

                             Marylee Hickey, Member, Public Building Commission

                             Richard Kehoe, Chairman, Town Council, Member, Public Building Commission

                             Tom Rup, Member, Public Building Commission and BOE

                             Jeffrey Currey, Chairman, BOE, Member Public Building Commission         

ABSENT                     Travis Justin Simpson, Member, Public Building Commission

                                Anita Morrison, Member, Public Building Commission

ALSO PRESENT            Al Costa, Director of  Facilities, David Holmes, Capital Studio Architects

Approval of Previous Minutes (May 28, 2014

MOTION                   By Hank Pawlowski, Jr.

                               Seconded by Richard Domler, Jr.

                               To approve the Minutes of May 28, 2014

                               Motion carried. 

Public Participation  - None

Middle School Window Wall Project:

Review Recommendation to award Bid # 1705-14 – Window and Curtain Wall Replacement at EHMS

Mr. Costa gave a PowerPoint presentation of the project.  This project was bid on November 3, 2014.  On November 12, 2014, there were nine contractors present at the pre-bid conference. The bid opened on January 5, 2015 with only two bidders.  Due to the lack of bids, there was concern that bids were not competitive and higher than expected.  If the current bids are accepted it would require $1.2 million of additional local share and we would only be able to do a portion of the project based on the lowest bidder.  Mr. Costa noted we have had many challenges with this project.  Two most notable obstacles were (1) concerns with status of eligibility for grant reimbursement for the project and (2) space standards analysis, which calculates reimbursements related to enrollment vs. actual building square footage.  After several meetings with the State’s Office of School Facilities and the Commissioner of DAS, it was determined legislative language would be required by the school district.  With the aide of our local Legislators a no-withstanding bill was passed to allow the project to qualify for the reimbursement rate of 76.79 percent and to allow the space standards analysis to be waived.

Mr. Costa and Architect David Holmes explained some of the project challenges with regard to concept budget from 2010 through actual known conditions following completed design.  Issues related to Hazmat costs and higher than expected construction were discussed.  To that end, it was explained that the Architect reached out to a known Project Management firm, to review our bids and design to determine if current bids are competitive and if there is an alternate method to construct the project for cost savings.  The project management firm has offered to perform the analysis pro bono.  Administration should have more information by the end of January.  Moving forward, it was agreed that we would hold on a decision with the bids, explore alternate design solutions and reconvene the Committee to discuss options. 

MOTION                   By Richard Domler, Jr.

                                    Seconded by Richard Kehoe

                                    To table awarding of the bid.

                                    Motion unanimously carried.

Another PBC Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, February 11, 2015, 7:00 P.M. at the Administrative Building.

OLD BUSINESS  - None

NEW BUSINESS

Motion to Pay Clerk

MOTION                   By Marylee Hickey

                               Seconded by Hank Pawlowski, Jr.

                               To authorize payment to the Clerk for January 21, 2015 PBC meeting

                               Motion unanimously carried.

MOTION                   By Richard Domler, Jr.

                               Seconded by Richard Kehoe

                               To adjourn the meeting of the Public Building Commission (8:25 P.M.)

                               Motion unanimously carried.

Recorded by:

Donna Fitzgerald