BETHLEHEM AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT

BOARD FACILITIES COMMITTEE

MEETING MINUTES

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2005

 

Members of the Board Facilities Committee met on Monday, November 7, 2005, at 6:00 p.m. in the Superintendent’s Conference Room at the Education Center. Present were School Board Members William Heske, Charlene Koch, Diane Rowe, Margaret Williams, Dr. Craig Haytmanek, Loretta Leeson, Rosario Amato, and Julie Venanzi. Also present were Dr. Joseph A. Lewis, superintendent of schools, Robert Gross, assistant superintendent for human resources, Stanley Majewski, assistant to the superintendent for finance and administration, Scott Gilliland, director of facilities and operations, Arif Fazil, district engineer (D’Huy Engineering, Inc.), student representatives Laura Collins and Isaac Sharkin, and representatives from the press.

 

The meeting of the Board Facilities Committee was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Mr. Heske, chairman. The following items were discussed:

 

COURTESY OF THE FLOOR TO VISITORS –

 

Mr. Craig Evans of Montclair Avenue, Bethlehem, asked the board if any of the architectural submissions for Broughal Middle School incorporated the old building. The board responded by saying the building was beyond its serviceable life, as indicated by data contained in the district’s capital improvement analysis; and there were other parameters including size and phasing that substantiate building a new building.

 

Mrs. Ann Evans of Montclair Avenue, Bethlehem, also thanked the board and administration for working with the Broughal Community Advisory Committee and Lehigh University for endorsing a new Broughal Middle School plan.

 

OPEN FORUM –

 

No discussion

 

AGENDA ITEMS FOR NOVEMBER 21, 2005, REGULAR BOARD MEETING –

 

After discussion, the board committee unanimously agreed to bring the following agenda items to the November 21, 2005, Regular Board Meeting:

 

A.   Authorization to Expend Capital Reserve Funds – SPARK Early Childhood Center –
Construction – Change Order Deduct

 

B.    Quotations for the $4,000–$10,000 Cost Category

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS –

 

Projects in Construction Update – Mr. Fazil provided an update on the status of the projects:

A.  Freedom High School Additions

      -   HVAC Testing and Balancing proposals issued – Award to be made at the

           Regular Board Meeting in December.

      -   Project is on schedule.

 

B.  Liberty High School Additions and Renovations

      -   HVAC Testing and Balancing proposals issued – Award to be made at the

           Regular Board Meeting in December.

      -   Phase one is on schedule. Currently reviewing final phase completion dates

           which might be two months late; however, this last phase ends in 2008 and

           there are too many other parameters that might affect the completion date.

 

C.    November 2005 BASD Capital Plan Update. (Handout)

      -   Recommended 2006 Summer Projects. Mr. Fazil reviewed the Capital Plan

           book and contents. The board authorized proceeding with the Summer 2006

           projects.

 

DISCUSSION ITEMS –

 

A.  Broughal Middle School

      -   Design proposal review. (Handout)

 

Dr. Lewis reminded the board that they approved five architects and received four submissions. His recommendation to the board members was to choose two submissions each and then a more formal presentation would be offered at another time and meeting.

 

At approximately 6:45 p.m. Mr. Arif Fazil recused himself from the meeting because his firm, D’Huy Engineering, Inc., has a minority ownership in Architecture Furst (one of the firms offering a submission for Broughal Middle School) which was disclosed to the board in prior meetings. Mr. Fazil also offered to sell his interest in the company if the school board was uncomfortable with him overseeing a project by a firm of which he is part owner. He made it very clear that his business relationship with Bethlehem Area School District was more important personally and professionally than to be misconstrued as contradictory in any way. Board Directors Rosario Amato, Julie Venanzi, Diane Rowe, Charlene Koch, Bill Heske, and Dr. Lewis praised Mr. Fazil for his integrity, honesty, and continuous professionalism with this board. Mr. Amato asked him on behalf of the board to please not leave. “Who will I direct my questions to regarding these proposals, and I know this board will have questions?” Mr. Fazil thanked the board for allowing him to speak and differed all questions to Dr. Lewis and Mr. Gilliland for the remainder of the meeting. Mrs. Leeson also thanked Mr. Fazil after she conveyed to him that some residents shared concerns with her about a possible conflict of interest.

 

Dr. Lewis explained the four architectural designs submitted. Board members and student representatives were asked to choose the two they liked the most. Dr. Lewis then announced the choices of his Cabinet and the Broughal Community Advisory Committee, and then shared the identity of the architectural proposals.

 

            1. Spillman Farmer

            2. Architecture Furst

            3. Breslin Ridyard Fadero

            4. MKSD

 

Mrs. Leeson shared her delight in getting four proposals like this. She commented that “every plan has something good in it.” The board will invite three firms back to make a 30-minute final presentation on their designs.

 

B. Other

      - No discussion

 

 

The meeting was adjourned at approximately 8:05 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Minutes prepared by Secretary to the Director of Facilities and Operations Joanne Carraghan

 

 

 

 

Scott T. Gilliland, Director of Facilities and Operations