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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-09-23 Appointment Committee - Permanent Building Committee MinutesOFR O� r m INCO to Town of Reading Meeting Minutes RECE M D CLERK ERK READING, MASS. Board - Committee - Commission - Council: Appointment Committee - Permanent Building Date: 2015 -09 -23 Building: Reading Town Hall Address: 16 Lowell Street Purpose: General Business Attendees: Members - Present: �uy� SLIP 28 P 1: 19 Time: 7:00 PM Location: Conference Room Session: General Session Town Moderator Alan Foulds, Selectmen Chairman Daniel Ensminger and School Committee Chairman Chuck Robinson Members - Not Present: Others Present: Town Manager Bob LeLacheur, Facilities Director Joe Huggins, Selectman Barry Berman, and Bylaw Committee Chairman Stephen Crook Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Secretary Topics of Discussion: The Town Manager called the first meeting of the Permanent Building Committee to order at 7:00 pm and asked for nominations for the position of Chair. Mr. Ensminger nominated Mr. Foulds, and there were no more nominations. On a motion by Mr. Ensminger seconded by Mr. Robinson nominations for Chair were closed by a vote of 3 -0 -0 On a motion by Mr. Ensminger seconded by Mr. Robinson, Mr. Foulds was appointed Chair by a vote of 3 -0 -0. Mr. Foulds turned to the list of applicants and began the interview process. Michael Bean Mr. Foulds asked Mr. Bean to describe his background and interest in the committee. Mr. Bean has been in commercial construction at Bond Brothers in Everett as a project manager for 15 years. A former CPDC member suggested he volunteer for the town, and this committee seemed like a good fit. Mr. Ensminger asked if he had any municipal clients, or could see any potential conflicts. Mr. Bean said it was unlikely, although they had done some work in the Wakefield school system in the past. Currently their focus is on universities and health care, but he understood that he might need to recuse himself in the event of a conflict. Mr. Ensminger outlined the five - member committee plus an additional two to four additional project- specific members. He mentioned the cemetery garage Warrant Article coming in front of November Town Meeting and first PBC meeting on October 6. Mr. Robinson asked if he would be comfortable presenting in front of Town Meeting and Mr. Bean said he would. Mr. Foulds asked if he were a Town Meeting member, and he is not. Mr. Ensminger asked if he had questions, and he did not. Mr. Ensminger asked if he had any interest in volunteer positions, and Mr. Bean indicated he would consider CPDC. Brad Congdon Mr. Foulds asked Mr. Congdon to describe his background and interest in the committee. Mr. Congdon is in construction management design /build primarily for smaller $1 - 4 million Page I 1 Permanent Building Committee Appointment Committee - September 23, 2015 - Aage 2 projects. Mr. Robinson asked if he had any municipal clients, and he does not and could not see any conflicts of interest. Mr. Ensminger asked about the time commitment and he replied that he was available as he works from home. He would consider becoming a Town Meeting member down the road. Mr. Foulds asked if he would be comfortable presenting to Town Meeting and he replied that he would, and he'd be comfortable in a leadership role eventually. Mr. Robinson asked if he had interest in other committees and there none specifically. Mr. Huggins asked about his design build work and Mr. Congdon described a fire suppression system for the Department of Defense as an example. John Coote Mr. Foulds asked Mr. Coote to describe his background and interest in the committee. Mr. Coote is a retired civil engineer by training and a structural engineer by trade. He has previously served on the ZBA and Housing Authority, and in the distant past on an ad hoc Landfill committee. Mr. Ensminger asked about the time commitment and he replied that he was available as he is retired. Mr. Robinson asked if he were a Town Meeting member and he is not. Mr. Foulds asked about speaking at Town Meeting and he is fine with that however he believes a leadership role should be passed to a younger member. Mr. LeLacheur asked if he had any conflicts, and he replied that he does consulting work as a forensic engineer to see why things went wrong, so he doesn't think so. Mr. Huggins mentioned the Reading fire station flooring work needed due to heavier equipment over the years, and asked about work on the Ipswich Fire station floor and he replied that was due to deterioration, but he had seen the equipment issue with the MBTA. Mr. Foulds asked if he had any questions and he asked about the scope of work of the PBC in terms of project management and liability. Mr. LeLacheur replied that the PBC would be covered by the town's Board liability insurance and for PBC projects the town would be hiring full -time project managers. Karen Goncalves -Dolan Not present Greg Stepler Mr. Foulds asked Mr. Stepler to describe his background and interest in the committee. Mr. Stepler is a construction manager at Turner Construction, and currently serves on the Reading Library Building Committee. His expertise is in mechanical - electrical - plumbing and he has worked on projects ranging from $0.5 million to $1 billion. Mr. Foulds asked about municipal work and he rarely does any so there should be no conflicts and he is now a Town Meeting member. Mr. Ensminger asked about the time commitment, and he replied that he has only missed a couple of LBC meetings in 1 -1/2 years so that should be fine. Mr. Robinson asked about his LBC experience and he replied that the project is being very well managed. He said it was good to use volunteer expertise, as the past projects in Reading have not always gone so well. Mr. Foulds asked if he had any questions, and he did not. Patrick Tompkins Mr. Foulds asked Mr. Tompkins to describe his background and interest in the committee. Mr. Tompkins owns CTA construction and for 15 years has been in the municipal building marketplace. His projects range from $0.5 million to $70 million, and he mentioned that he did bid on the Reading Library project. He is very familiar with the MSNA and Chapter 149A. His wife is a Town Meeting member, and she and his neighbor Barry Berman asked him to consider volunteering for the town. He would enjoy donating his time, and has a lot of experience and knowledge to offer. He knows many architects, owner's project managers, and other tradespeople in the area. He has been critical of some of the past Reading projects so by volunteering he is stepping up to help change that past. Mr. Foulds asked if he would consider being a Town Meeting member, and he replied that he considered it about ten years ago, but he decided against it. He would be willing to speak at Town Meeting and assume a leadership role if needed. Mr. Ensminger asked if he understood the time commitment of one or two meetings per month, and he replied that would not pose a problem. Mr. Ensminger asked about conflicts of interest, and Mr. Tompkins knew that both Page 1 2 Permanent Building Committee Appointment Committee - September 23 2015 -page 3 for a conflict and the appearance of a conflict he would need to step aside. He said they rarely bid on projects less than $10 million, and there seem to be no larger projects in the near term so that should not pose a problem. He assured everyone that he had no interest in any angle other than bettering the community by his service. Mr. Foulds asked if he had any questions, and he asked about upcoming work for the PDB. Mr. LeLacheur mentioned the $2 million cemetery garage and in the future a DPW facility. Mr. Ensminger also mentioned the responsibility that the PBC provide Town Meeting an inventory of building conditions and future needs. Nancy Twomey Mr. Foulds asked Ms. Twomey to describe her background and interest in the committee. Ms. Twomey replied that she was on the LBC currently and a Town Meeting member. Mr. Foulds said she was well known to all present, and did she have any questions? She asked what type of candidates they were looking for, and had applied to be considered. Mr. Foulds replied there were very strong applicants and Mr. Huggins concurred, with a wide mix of experience and backgrounds. Mr. Ensminger asked if she had any conflicts and she did not, her work as an architect is primarily residential. She would be willing to take a leadership role but might be time constrained because of the LBC through next summer. Mr. Ensminger moved to nominate Michael Bean, Bradford Congdon, John Coote, Gregory Stealer, Patrick Tompkins and Nancy Twomey for a three year term ending June 30, 2018, seconded by Mr. Robinson. All three PBC appointment committee members cast their two votes for Greg Stealer and Patrick Tompkins. Mr. Ensminger moved to nominate Michael Bean, Bradford Congdon, John Coote and Nancy Twomey for a two year term ending June 30, 2017, seconded by Mr. Robinson. All three PBC appointment committee members cast their two votes for John Coote and Nancy Twomey. Mr. Ensminger moved to nominate Michael Bean and Bradford Congdon for a one year term ending June 30, 2016, seconded by Mr. Robinson. All three PBC appointment committee members cast their vote for Bradford Congdon. Mr. Ensminger moved to nominate Michael Bean for an Associate membership with a two -year term ending June 30, 2017, seconded by Mr. Robinson, and approved by a 3 -0 -0 vote. Mr. Ensminger moved to adiourn at 8:45pm, seconded by Mr. Robinson, and approved by a 3 -0 -0 vote. Respectfully submitted, Secretary t y� Page 1 3