BETHLEHEM AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT
BOARD FACILITIES COMMITTEE
MEETING MINUTES
MONDAY, JANUARY 8, 2007
Mr. Rosario Amato, chairman, called the meeting of the Board Facilities Committee to order at 6:50 p.m. on Monday, January 8, 2007, in the Dining Room at the Education Center. Present were School Board Members Charlene Koch, Diane Rowe, Margaret Williams, Dr. Craig Haytmanek, Loretta Leeson, Judith Dexter, William Heske, and Rosario Amato. Also present were Dr. Joseph A. Lewis, superintendent of schools, Stanley J. Majewski Jr., assistant to the superintendent for finance and administration; Robert R. Gross III, assistant superintendent for human resources; Arif Fazil, district engineer (DHuy Engineering, Inc.); Robert Furst, principal architect, Architecture Furst; Michael Spadafora, project manager (DHuy Engineering, Inc.), and representatives from the press.
The following items were discussed:
COURTESY OF THE FLOOR TO VISITORS
The board extended the
courtesy of the floor to hear all of the public input.
Interest in Broughal Middle School
Mr. Bruce Wilson, 1801 Elliott Avenue, Bethlehem
*Mr. Roger Hudak, 1256 East 5th Street, Bethlehem
Mrs. Magdalena Szabo, 3114 East Blvd, Bethlehem
*Mr. Carmelo Huertas, 1187 East 4th Street, Bethlehem
Ms. Mary Pongracz, 3321 West 4th Street, Bethlehem
Mr. William Sheier, 1800 Eaton Avenue, Bethlehem
Ms. Amy Zsilavetz, 1615 Calypso Avenue, Bethlehem
Mr. Jason Slipp, 624 Lechauwecki Avenue, Bethlehem
Ms. Annie Prince, 1801 Elliott Avenue, Bethlehem
Mr. Stephen Antalics, 757 Ridge Street, Bethlehem
Mr. Peter Crownfield, 569 Brighton Street, Bethlehem
Mrs. Jean Belinski, 406 East Washington Avenue, Bethlehem
*Commented positively on the Broughal Middle School project. All other speakers comments were to preserve the building.
AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE JANUARY 22, 2007, REGULAR BOARD MEETING
After discussion, the board committee agreed to bring the following agenda items to the January 22, 2007, Regular Board Meeting:
A. Liberty High
School Additions and Renovations Construction Project
PlanCon Part I Approval
B. St. Peters Lutheran Church Parking Agreement and Easement Agreement Broughal Middle School
C. Offsite Staging Agreement Broughal Middle School
D. UGI Natural Gas Extension Costs and Relocation Costs Broughal Middle School
E. New Broughal Middle School PlanCon Parts D and E Submittals
Facilities Meeting Minutes
January 8, 2007
Page 2
Mr. Amato on behalf of the board thanked the citizens for their input on Broughal Middle School and reminded everyone that this has been discussed for approximately 12 years when former Superintendent Thomas Doluisio was in charge, and the project is now passed on to Dr. Joseph Lewis. Discussions with numerous community groups and historical societies have been conducted. Mr. Amato indicated that this board has checked every option possible. Lehigh University offered one viable option and that was the Mountaintop Campus which was not the option the community wanted. Mr. Amato offered the floor to Dr. Lewis.
Dr. Lewis shared with the board members that Mr. Scott Gilliland, director of facilities and operations was extremely ill and that was why he was not in attendance tonight.
Dr. Lewis wanted the public to know on December 31, 2006, he had a conversation with Mr. J. Tanenbaum, chairman of the Board of Trustees from Lehigh University. Dr. Lewis stated that Mr. Tanenbaum was polite and direct and stated any decision Lehigh University makes will be in the best interest of Lehigh, and that all opportunities are exhausted. Dr. Lewis reported that Mr. Tanenbaum stated that this is a dead issue and informed Dr. Lewis that some people think if Lehigh University got the building, they would save it. That was not automatically the case. Dr. Lewis nonetheless scheduled a January 19, 2007, meeting with President Dr. Gast of Lehigh University to have a common voice regarding this issue. Dr. Lewis has also spoken to Dale Kochard of Lehigh and confirmed that all viable options are exhausted. Being a realist and being involved in over 12 projects and traveling over 11 sites with this board, which voted 5-4 to keep a facility in the neighborhood; the options in Dr. Lewiss estimation are exhausted.
Dr. Lewis went on to say we stopped the masonry investigative work at Broughal Middle School because the artifacts were crumbling, not because we did not have a permit. Unequivocally, there was no violation; we did nothing out of the ordinary. We were trying to confirm whether the six specific artifacts were sound, how they were connected, and how they could be designed into the new building scheduled to be bid in March 2007. He knows there is emotion connected to this project. Dr. Lewis stated that he had a letter from Mr. Craig Hynes, chief code official from the City of Bethlehem, confirming that no permit was required for the work. Dr. Lewis also noted Mr. James Vogel from the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) spoke to him and confirmed that nothing was done in violation of public school law or PDE requirements. Dr. Lewis said that Mr. Vogel also informed him that we went beyond what was required by bidding the masonry investigative work since it could have been done as a professional service. A letter will be forthcoming from PDE.
Mr. Amato asked Mr. Majewski what we have spent so far on this project. Mr. Majewski replied between $1.8 and $2 million.
Facilities Meeting Minutes
January 8, 2007
Page 3
Mr. Fazil supported Dr. Lewiss comments, and added if we do not know what we are dealing with, then it is difficult to document the work for the bid documents. This is no different than test borings, camera inspections of utility lines, and other investigative work.
Mr. Antalics asked why the work was done during the week of Christmas 2006.
Dr. Lewis responded by saying there were no students during that time, the work was noisy and affected the front entrance and safety if students were around.
Mr. Fazil went over the Capital Improvement Plan Update and explained recommendations on proposed projects for the summer of 2007 from tab 10 pages 1 and 2 of the Bethlehem Area School District Capital Improvement Plan, and also reviewed the 10-year plan with Nitschmann Middle School being the next major project that the board should consider. If the board was in agreement with the summer projects, PDE Self Certification forms would be submitted for approval.
Mrs. Leeson asked why some of the Freedom recommendations were not under the Freedom project or presented as a change order.
Mr. Fazil explained the Freedom project was bid almost three years ago, and the work listed has nothing to do with the current project and should be bid.
Mr. Majewski supported that comment. He said it would still come out of the same 2007 bond funds, that there is no advantage to doing the work as a change order, and the projects were not part of the original work bid.
Mrs. Dexter asked Mr. Fazil to explain the breakdown of fees and contingency 20 percent from the handout. What part are fees?
Mr. Fazil replied approximately 6.5 percent is fees for design, bidding, and construction administration depending on the project. The rest is contingency for permits and for the project.
Mrs. Leeson asked when the discussion of Nitschmann Middle School would be coming up.
Mr. Majewski stated the reason it is in the Capital Improvement Plan is because it is also used as a tracking tool, and it has been on the plan for the last few years.
Dr. Lewis responded in all probability within the next 30 days some options will be presented for the boards consideration.
Facilities Meeting Minutes
January 8, 2007
Page 4
Mr. Fazil then discussed Freedom and Liberty project updates. Freedom High School gymnasium is complete and is turned back over to the school. The cafeteria is currently under construction.
Liberty High School is progressing with the subgrade work at the Student Activities Center. Mr. Fazil said everyone will be glad when the foundation work is completed. The upper floors of the Commons Building will be turned over in June, and the Klein Classroom Center work will begin this summer.
Dr. Lewis shared with the board that the Act 34 Hearing discussion transcription on Broughal Middle School would be available from the web by late Tuesday, January 9, 2007.
Mrs. Leeson and Mrs. Dexter asked when the board voted to demolish Broughal Middle School.
Mr. Fazil reported that all plans and submissions to date indicate that the existing building will be demolished after the new building is completed. He also said one of the public comments reported that in the Act 34 Hearing book we had answered no to question 11 on page 28. Mr. Fazil informed the board that question 10 was answered yes, confirming that the existing building is over 50 years old and question 11 was answered no with an explanation. Also, in the PlanCon Part E documents handed out with the agenda, Page E13, question 57, confirms that there is a building that is over 50 years old scheduled to be demolished.
Mr. Craig stated that all the drawings, site work, and documents indicated we were moving forward with everything and that includes demolition.
Mr. Amato indicated again we are moving forward.
Mrs. Leeson asked the board to listen to residents who want to use the building for other purposes such as a community center, due to the lack of recreation on the south side.
Mr. Craig said he
understands the importance of Broughal Middle School. He taught at that
building. He mentioned we must provide for the students at Broughal just like
East Hills, Nitschmann and Northeast. It is not just about a football field or
a softball field, it will double as a physical education field also. He brought
up the fact that the new school will have two gymnasiums. We are not interested
in hurting the graduates of that school. He mentioned Lehigh University and the
City of Bethlehem did not help, and the point is we have to provide for the
kids. Mr. Craig said they are getting one basic field which will double for
baseball, also it is not a collegiate field and that reporting it as such is
not
accurate. Mr. Craig also complimented Mr. Fazil for the professionalism and
thorough approach in addressing the masonry investigation.
Facilities Meeting Minutes
January 8, 2007
Page 5
Dr. Haytmanek said that he believes the whole face of the south side will change with the casino being built. He believes health care and education will need to be changed, and the district must move forward with creating a school for the future. He also feels that the architecture of the existing building is subject to individual tastes, and we will not be able to satisfy everyone. The south side deserves nothing less than a great school for the students, and we should not be talking about preserving a building.
Mrs. Leeson mentioned she did not think any of the members were talking about comparing children to buildings. She did mention maybe we could go to the Bethlehem City Council for help. We still have two years.
Mrs. Williams said that she remembers that Broughal was scheduled to be addressed before Northeast and Liberty on the Capital Plan, and here we are, we must move ahead. She also asked Mr. Fazil if there were storm water issues to contend with if the existing building was to remain.
Mr. Fazil agreed with Mrs. Williams. The plan is based on the existing building area being converted to grass which is impervious cover. The plans have also been approved by a number of agencies including the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission, City of Bethlehem and PDE. The plan is also pending approval from the conservation district. Mr. Fazil said the plans would have to be redone and new approvals would have to be applied for, including PDE approval for two buildings. All of this would require investigation.
Mr. Heske mentioned that when you start changing around the process, we will not be on time or on budget for this project. So far we have been on time and below budget. We cannot please everyone, there is no way.
Mrs. Dexter asked if the masonry contractor performing the Broughal investigative work felt that the work was stopped in accordance with the contract terms, and what the final cost was. She also asked if the work done was beyond what was in the contract documents.
Mr. Fazil reported that the masonry contractor was properly notified and his payment will be calculated based on the schedule of values in the contract, and the work performed through the stoppage. Mr. Fazil went on to report that the board reviewed the artifacts list as early as June, and the only items that were scheduled to be investigated were the six complicated pieces on the front faade. He said Mr. Hynes of the City of Bethlehem did confirm that he had determined that no permit was required based on a prior inquiry by Mr. Fazil, and he had re-affirmed this in a letter. Mr. Fazil said that as reported by Dr. Lewis, PDE also felt the work was appropriate and the only reason we bid the work was to get the best price for the district and also to make sure that everyone knew up front the complexity of the task and the cost. We even set up alternates for the work, and the work performed was exactly what was in the documents approved by the board.
Facilities Meeting Minutes
January 8, 2007
Page 6
Mrs. Koch stated she felt the new auditorium concept was a little cold, and she would like to see it improved. She was hoping to see the wrap around balcony similar to the current auditorium at Broughal.
Mr. Furst said that to accommodate the 780 seats, and considering the code exit requirements, adjacent streets and the ability to separate the auditorium into three separate spaces creates a number of competing components. He said he would take another look at the auditorium but felt that based on all the restraints and the current code requirements, the balcony wrap around is not feasible.
Mrs. Dexter posed the question of classroom lighting to Mr. Furst, and wondered if it was true that as stated by someone during the public comment that 80 percent of the classrooms did not have natural lighting.
Mr. Furst explained that only 2 out of 31 classrooms do not have direct daylight and some areas borrow daylight from the Atrium of the building. On the lower level, some strategic rooms, like consumer science and the two technical education classrooms, do not have daylight. Mr. Furst said the design does have a lot of daylight and has been refined based on the daylight analysis done as part of the LEED process.
Mrs. Williams reminded the board that they were informed that it was not feasible to achieve 100 percent natural lighting due to the site and program. Architecture Fursts design had more natural lighting than the other designs as she recalled. She also stated the board was made aware that if the brownstone crumbled, the removal of artifacts would cease. She said the accusations were wrong and people jump the gun and try to make it look like we are not doing things right. Maybe the Broughal building is not in such great shape after all based on the condition of the brownstone.
Mr. Spadafora confirmed that significant water damage has been revealed. The brownstone is deteriorating and replicating will need to be considered.
The board and Dr. Lewis confirmed that no additional masonry investigation will be performed since the pieces are crumbling. The design will incorporate some replication where feasible.
Minutes prepared by:
_____________________________________________
Joanne Carraghan, Secretary to the Director of Facilities and Operations