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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-03-25 Board of Selectmen Minutes Joint Meeting of Board of Selectmen and —' Police Station Building Committee March 25, 1998 The meeting was convened at 7:40 p.m. at the Senior Center, 49 Pleasant Street, Reading, Massachusetts. Present from the Board of Selectmen were Chairman Camille Anthony, Vice Chairman Bruce MacDonald, Selectmen George Hines and Matt Nestor, Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner. Present from the Police Station Building Committee were Chairman Paul Dustin, members Jack Russell, Eric-Jason Smith, Bryan Irwin, Chief Edward Marchand, Police Officers James Cormier, Bob Cavagnaro, Bill Lavoie and FinCom Liaison Richard McDonald. Also in attendance were the following list of interested parties: Jackie Chipman, Bo Garrison, Linda Kenyon King, Donna Manhoney, Paul French, Allan Fiddes, Mary Ellen O'Neill, Virginia Adams, Phil Leblanc, Discussion/Action Items New Police Station - Brett Donham, Architect, reviewed a number of issues. With regard to landscaping, they will be proposing street trees and plantings in the plaza area. Also, plantings will be proposed along the building on Union Street. He feels that the models and the photographs tell a better story than the elevation of the building_ With respect to variations on the exterior, the budget calls for the building to be all brick with a detail of a water table at the base and variations in the window sills. Options include a cut stone base and a stone or concrete band and lintels. The cost of these will be an additional $20,000 - $40,000. With respect to the windows, the elevations shows windows that are"one over one." Options are to go with a "two over one" window which would add $2,000, and a "four over one" window like the Wellesley building which would add $4,000. With regard to brick colors, we will get. racks of bricks onsite prior to construction. Camille Anthony asked if, when the building is set on the sidewalk, whether the building looks higher. Donham noted that in some ways it does and in some ways it doesn't. With the building right next to the sidewalk, it looms higher but you also don't see the roof line. The view from the other side of Union Street would be very similar to the view of the Wellesley building from the sidewalk in front of it. Anthony also noted that the window on the west elevation in the Chief's office is too small and not attractive. Paul Dustin asked about small paned windows. He reflected Sally Hoyt's comments on the design. Donham noted that they don't want to do fake mullions. Small installed windows are expensive. If the money was available, he would recommend the "four over one" windows and the stone base. MacDonald agreed. Jackie Chipman noted that she thinks the trees look terrific. Eric-Jason Smith asked if the tree plantings could be continued around Middle Street as well as the foundation planting. Donham noted that we would try to do that—we have to be concerned about wire location. Linda King raised several issues about expansion possibilities, and Paul Dustin noted that the building had adequate expansion capability. Phil Leblanc asked about the cost per square feet. He noted that average construction cost according to documentation at the Boston Public Library is $117 per square foot. He's not comfortable with the overall cost. This is not Wellesley. Allan Fiddes from Daedalus Projects noted that the cost estimates are based on prevailing wage and are broken down in a great deal of detail. The cost estimates are reasonable and appropriate. The documentation that Leblanc used is worthless. Bryan Irwin agreed. The Means Construction Index is not valid for this kind of construction. Paul Dustin asked what their experience is with cost estimating. Allan Fiddes noted that they aimed to be estimating at the second low bid. The last two bids were within '/4 of 1% of each other and the Saugus project came in 4.5% under estimate. The second low bid was 3.5%under estimate. Virginia Adams expressed the concern that standing at Town Hall,a lot of the roof line would be seen. She would discourage the rolled roofing. She'd like us to consider artificial slate which would tie-in with the other municipal buildings. Brett Donham noted that the artificial slate is not reliable. She's concerned about the tower. She asked about the vent and it was noted that this is for ventilation of the elevator shaft. She said if we were trying to replicate a clock, then we should actually use a clock. She's concerned about the "mini eaves" and problems with pigeons. She felt that the tower is very vertical, and the edges could be broken with quoins or in some other manner. The Town Hall has indentations in the brick to break it up. She feels it is a very functional design and hopes that it can be tied into the other municipal buildings through windows, indentation of brick work, etc. Donham noted that the older buildings were much thicker brick and this is a brick veneer. Therefore, it is very difficult to do the indentations. Bo Garrison noted that he had voted for this site because he believes it is the best site for the project. He noted that the building is very large for this site. Is a sidewalk going to be built across the street? He feels it's worth some extra money to spend on the fagade and the "four over one" windows. He also thinks the window in the Chief's office needs to be enhanced. Mr. Garrison also noted that attention needs to be drawn to the front entrance. Mary Ellen O'Neill felt that the long wall on Union Street would draw attention. Can it have arches or other rounding effects? George Hines felt that there were some very good ideas and they will be taken into consideration. On motion by Hines seconded by MacDonald, the Board of Selectmen voted to adjourn at 9:30 p.m. After a break, the Police Station Building Committee continued their discussion. On motion by Marchand seconded by Cormier, the Police Station Building Committee unanimously voted to go with the "four over one" windows at a cost of$4,000 and the banding (but not the cut stone base) for an additional $20,000. It is hoped that this will still allow the project to come in within bid. Additionally, the Architect will work on better definition of the tower, and on the Chief's window area. The Police Station Building Committee is meeting on the 9th and will soon after that make a final presentation to the Board of Selectmen. On motion by Marchand seconded by Cormier, the Police Station Building Committee voted to adjourn at 9:55 p.m. The motion was approved unanimously. Respectfully submitted, Secretary