SPORTS COMPLEX

1. Tertiary treatment plant completed and working...when;
2. Availability of fields for sports teams to practice and play, in Weston, this coming school year;
3. Will the whole project stay "on budget" and "on quality" (and, by the way, "on time")?
4. Since there will be banging and clanging at the high school for a few years, year-round, it is imperative that "swing space" be available (in the new 3-4-5 building) to handle emergencies, ie overflow for escaping noise and fumes, etc., if that turns out to be necessary.
5. Also, please note that Middle School projects have slipped and redesign will most likely be needed for the new auditorium for that facility.  Early estimates by F-T for building the design were double the amount in the Referendum for this building project.
6.  What about the Sports Complex?

• Invoices/most approved - need for double-check with Parks and Rec on one...
• Cost Reports/format for tracking progress of projects, filing already paid invoices in the proper slots still a work in progress.
• Mechanical/Electrical systems/put off for another time
• Dates for estimates extended to two days:  Dec. 4 new 3-4-5 school;  Dec. 11 now date for high school additions and site work for all of School Road.

• Minutes approval/done, OK
• Owner's Rep report/report on subjects for meeting to be held with W.W.H.D.(second well?), fire safety discussions with Fire Marshal office
• Discussion/approval Technology Consultant Proposals/evaluation of technology consultant responses to RFP (take two lowest) by Owner's Rep and others, if needed--decide on selection for the School Building Committee.
• Continuation of design workshops on 3-4-5 and high school/done
• Vote taken to approve site plan for campus ("About Town" assumes that this is for the purpose of submissions to Conservation and Army Corps @end of year into early '03), dated map presented at this meeting, plus understanding that footprint of W.M.S. auditorium might get smaller.

1. Minutes of September 25, 2002: approved;
2. Owner's Rep report--bills, etc. (borings, add cost of airconditioning; discussion of WWHD reminder on second well for Town-School use) - to be paid; report on office space in Jarvis project;
3. Hurlbutt part of Bond items changed to $362,810, (down from @$1 million):  this revision has removed new drive at School Road, we think, added more parking, turned bus loop/queuing into snake shaped road close to softball field (with possibility of double+ queue in Bus Garage area) - approved 5-1-1 (five in favor, one opposed, one abstention);
4. Preliminary Grading Plan: more detailed drawing shown, not finished yet--main thrust is to minimize intrusion into wetlands.  Neighbor comments on overly close school building and lack of response, in his opinion, to request to move 3-4-5 building as far as possible from his property line;
5. High School Design Workshop continues;
6. "About Town" left (after 10pm) prior to completion of the last mentioned item (or "Any other business...").

On an additional item ("any other business?"), Town Administrator and "Owner's Rep" propose to BUILDING COMMITTEE members improvements to the second floor of the Jarvis Military Academy for use as offices for Owner's Rep and the Conservation Planner, at a cost of $28,988.  Building Committee makes suggestions re:  heating/airconditioning approach, we think ("About Town" not known for construction hands-on prowess).

• approval of minutes done;
• Chair. announces that "Owner's Representative" will come on board next week (according to discussion with First Selectman);
• middle school pump, roof drains (John Conte gave report - Superintendent reported that everything was impressively done, thanks to Town of Weston and Town Engineer);
• detailed review of project architectural and construction schedule - still a draft, but Construction Manager's (O&G) only warning is decision must be made by end of September on what is going to happen with Middle School Auditorium - O&G reports on this and the major items in the schedule.
• Discussion of where we stand on presentation to Army Corps, DEP And Conservation
• P.S. notice how much it is raining lately?  As Martha would say, this is a GOOD THING. 

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School Building Committee - Wednesday, August 14, 2002 at 7:30pm-@9pm, Commission Room:
AGENDA/what was accomplished:

• "Set time for future meetings";/not done until summer vacationers return.
• report on East House and South House window replacements;/bills reviewed
• revised cost summary for the high school;/done - go-ahead given for next stage ("Design Development") by 5-1 vote.
• revised cost summary for the 3-4-5 school;/school moved further from Sports Complex as high school gym gets a tad smaller.
• partial "VE" items for the middle school (what does "VE" stand for? VALUE ENGINEERING!!!)
• any other business that should properly come before the committee./discussion of overall assessment of who is responsible for what;  question from Parks and Recreation Commission about status of fields and playing courts' share of bonding budget--have there been revisions?

• review of site plan for alternate field location on "school campus road" - alternate selected that keeps best separation from Parade Ground Court (on all sides) while preserving green space between new 3-4-5 School and Weston High School
• Middle School cost reductions - commitment by Board of Education waits for full discussion at that Board, but big overage demands that something be done
• 3-4-5 school and High School development - detailed drawing continuing, savings being found as closer design efforts make calculated and intelligent choices. 

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1. Feasible and prudent alternatives for constructed or conventional septic fields on the designated site or other sites were not adequately examined.
2. The application was incomplete because the applicant did not present a public health certificate for the constructed septic system and did not adequately explain why it was not available.
3. The application was also incomplete because it did not adequately address protection of a Class A river and associated wetlands from water and effluent runoff and the use and effects of fertilizers and pesticides by providing examples of working systems (constructed septic field, ball fields and parking lot) under similar environmental conditions.

Referendum estimate:$79,435,000 - at the July 10 School Building Committee, attended by First Selectman, Selectman, Chair of the Board of Education, and 10 of 11 members of the Committee, recriminations for Conservation and DEP problems surface;  architect and construction manager soldier on;  next week the meeting will be a discussion of reconciled estimates

Fletcher-Thompson  estimator says total cost is $81,247,057
O&G estimator says total cost is $89,728,379

• Approval of minutes of June 12/done
• Discussion of proposal to move the bus garage/interesting to see how creative solutions to School projects may coordinate with a better plan
• Discussion of lighting and drapery contract, WHS auditorium/second bid received, first bid better for Town - vote to send along this news to contractor and School Administration and staff and proceed -
• South House roof report - nothing new
• Bisceglie Park report, Parks and Recreation Commission - this discussion took place first, and became a far-reaching discussion of how Item #1 from the Referendum might end up shifting funds within the original
• High School Facade update - Fletcher-Thompson - not done
• 3-4-5 school site plan report - Fletcher-Thompson - not done 

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This meeting took from 7:30pm until around 10:30pm.  Held in the "Stacks" at Weston Library on a busy night for meetings, First Selectman Woody Bliss and Town Administrator Tom Landry dropped in to consult about WHS sound system issue - report next week on what happened after Town Attorney was consulted about need for competitive bidding on this project.

ACTION:
Invoices for design work were approved totally $253,700.50 (for work done between March 16 and April 30) - please see official minutes for which items are what % complete, as well as who moved and who seconded this motion.

MEETING SUMMARY (unofficial, of course):
WHS plans were reviewed.  For the whole School Road series of projects, July 10 will be when Design Development starts.  There are overages on consultant fees and $$ for owners representative.  Discussion took place about "ED SPECS" and which were funded in the Referendum and which had to be revised to meet the $79 million total in the Referendum cost estimate.  The new 3-4-5 lower middle school was presented along with studies of how to move the building, the bus lane and turnaround and then the parking for alternate 'B' and 'C' to satisfy both the neighbors on Parade Grount Court as well as keeping a "Greensward" and not a parking lot, as the view out of school rooms.

The Weston High School Auditorium issue then arose.  As noted above, there is more to come on this next week.  The Weston Middle School Auditorium budget has been scaled back in size approximately 4000 sq ft (fewer seats) and the extra music-associated rooms and other related renovations put in the first Referendum item's budget (we think) in order to reduce the large overage estimated for this project.  This project in its new form will have estimated made now by O%G. 

It is the opinion of this WEBpage that the turning point came when the Chair. of the School Building Committee and the Board of Education member on that body spoke clearly and eloquently in favor of the purchase.  One of the particular details of this Town Meeting was the introduction of a League of Women Voters idea to call for a secret ballot (made at this meeting by, we think, a PTO "SCOOP" representative).

There were two (2) votes taken, however.  The first, the traditional way, was for the issue to be decided on a "standing count" on the item before the meeting related to 16 Parade Ground Court (or, in more archaic terminology, "I call for a division of the house").  The first vote required Town Meeting to stand and vote "yes" or "no" on whether to have a "standing count" on the main question or not.  It failed by a 78 ("NO")-53 ("YES") vote.

The meeting proceded to take a secret ballot on the main question ("yes" was in favor of purchase of 16 Parade Grount Court and to take the funds from the already approved $80 million Bond Issue).  After sending the Town Meeting voters to three (3) different locations in the Weston Middle School cafeteria by street in alphabetical divisions, a simple "yes" or "no" sheet was filled out or checked off and given to the Registrars and Special Assisitant Registrars at the three locations by the voters inserting the small piece of paper in a wooden box.  After this took place, many people left, not waiting for the results tobe tallied!!!  But the results came promptly, before 10pm.  They were:  81 "YES" and 64 "NO" - the main motion passed.

NOTE: What this tells "About Town" is that those at Town Meeting were present to show support for their neighbors in public, but to vote in favor of the school project and thus against their neighbors on a secret ballot.  And there are other reasons as well.

Fourteen (14) people did not vote on the first motion who voted on the main motion by secret ballot...who were these voters?  They did not want to stand up and be counted voting against the administration or PTO (i.e. had the first count passed, and a standing vote had been taken - and the main motion had failed, it is presumed that a motion for reconsideration and a secret ballot would have been made anyway.  And that vote would have  been "YES" on the main motion.)

Design Workshop
Middle School Auditorium and additions
3-4-5 School--this item deleted and replaced by discussion of "campus site plan" 9am Tuesday.  Meeting ended at 10:05pm.

For more about "Design Workshop" on 3-4-5 and High School, click HERE.

At the School Building Committee on April 3, it was revealed that the acquisition of 16 Parade Ground Court was going to happen;  MEETING, MARCH 21, 2002, TOWN HALL COMMISSION ROOM...COINCIDED WITH BOARD OF SELECTMEN'S MEETING--CONSTRUCTION MANAGER SELECTED BY SCHOOL BUILDING COMMITTEE...confirmed at April 4 Selectmen's meeting...

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PRIOR TO DESIGN WORKSHOP AT 7:30PM (IN COMMISSION ROOM) EXECUTIVE SESSION TUESDAY, Feb. 27, 7pm to 7:30pm - "Contract Negotiations" (for Construction Manager??? or for something else???). 

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From what we could see through the windows of the Commission Room, Construction Management firms were being interviewed by the School Building Committee (in executive session) Wednesday evening, Feb. 20...
School Building Committee Wednesday, February 20, 2002 7pm Executive Session with, it is reported now, the Board of Selectmen;  7:30pm Construction Manager Interviews, Town Hall Commission Room...does the public have a right to know about more than they are being told?  Frankly, it is better not to know sometimes...then the only people who can be blamed for mistakes made later are the people who made sure that no one else knew what was going on in the first place!

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AGENDA: Actually a discussion not on the agenda (poorly explained on the official notice) of how the Town Engineer is dealing with pump problem at Middle School;  bids reported on re:  plumbing fixtures.  Votes to be taken at meeting of the 20th--isn't it only in executive session???  Too much going on at once--but of course, "About Town" has been saying this long enough to be mistaken for a broken record...and finally, the only item on the agenda came up--discussion of "Project Scheduling." This meant that the Building Committee (not "school" building committee?) had to schedule its own projects--10 of them--to be supervised IN ADDITION TO BOND ISSUE SCHOOL PROJECTS by the same individuals.  The attendance at this meeting was not good--only a bare quorum of the Building Committee (4).  There were three (3) members of the School Building Committee in attendance...these are the ten (10) projects and assignments (first names only for privacy):

1. South House Windows - Joe and Frank
2. East House Windows - Joe and Frank
3. Septic Treatment - Don and Mike
4. Bisceglie Park - Dave and Allen
5. Morehouse Farm Park - John and Doug
6. Revson Field - Don and Mike
7. Hurlbutt - Allen and Ellen
8. Toilet Fixture (campus) - Doug and Dave
9. Ejector Pump - Town Engineer
10. Middle School Roof and Floor Drains - Town Engineer 

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School Building Committee Design Workshop, Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2002, 7:30pm, Town Hall Meeting Room
Design workshop with School Building Committee, Board of Education, and Parks and Recreation, and Fletcher-Thompson - great meeting:  read about details of it HERE.

• Minutes of the Dec. 5 and 19 meetings approved
• Approval of RFP for Construction Manager - sent to Town Attorney
• Ed Specs for High School O.K.'d
• Capital Plan Projects discussion - timing of these with fixtures work at three schools
• Discussion of RFP for School Fixtures.  RFP for all schools in progress.
• Update by Don Gary on septic - need to get a few months of use of low-flow fixtures for D.E.P.
• Update by Bob Uzenoff on fields and parks - tennis courts back to School Road; all fields at Bisceglie w/o tennis.
• Any other business that should properly come before the committee:  Weston Sports Complex report, dated January 2, 2002 submitted by steering group:  click HERE for viewing sample sports complex (in Ridgefield), scanned from "Weston Sports Complex 2003."

An RFP for Construction Management for the school projects was presented by the School Building Committee member assigned this task, and it was approved for use in soliciting submissions by (O&G and Turner).  The problem of shifting personnel in a long-term (4 years) effort was discussed.

East House final invoice was approved-with-holding $400 until evidence of growing grass was clearly visible.

A Sports Complex, funded up to $2.4 million by contributions (not yet garnered) was proposed by a citizen.  This would provide an artificial football field to go with the artificial track--and be ready sooner than the plan approved by the voters at Referendum.  A new Booster Barn and soccer field may be able to be included.  The Building Committee gave its unanimous approval to the idea of forwarding the process so long as the main goal of school, septic construction would not be interfered with.  This meeting ended with the commitment of the Regular Building Committee (which meets twice a month--next on January 9) to meet on the alternated Wednesday evenings for "Design Workshops" to make sure Weston gets the best architectural solution possible within budget.  The meeting adjourned at 10:30pm approx.

Discussion with the Board of Education Executive Committee took place.  The "Ed Specs" are being revised by the Board of Education to reflect Dr. Prowda's lowering of projected maximum student population eight years out.  Specifically, the new 3-4-5 school is anticipated now to be topping out at 669 in 2008, rather than 750.  The Chair. of the School Building Committee needs the numbers in December so that work on design, etc. can begin--to keep to the schedule.  It was remarked that time lost in the beginning of projects, or the converse, loomed most significant as work progressed later on.

Discussion with Don Gary, Septic Committee Chair., then took place.  The new news is that DEP has not officially given its OK to septic fields and their capacity at Revson.  Conservative planning would thus require septic fields at Bisceglie be developed and connected to the School Road facilities.  Conservation measures, low flow devices and design of a tertiary treatment plant (behind the Middle School, near the Town Garage) are next on the docket for the Select Committee...

Discussion with Robert Uzenoff, Parks and Recreation Commission and staff revealed that coordination in some of the approved projects from Referendum will be required to get the whole school upgrade underway (in the opinion of this WEBsite).  Playingfields for school activities, including tennis courts replacing the Town Courts next to the existing football field, would be provided at Bisceglie--if that part of the whole plan is begun early enough...coordination of site work, to save money, would be advantageous, as well.

Discussion RFP for Construction Manager as well as note to discuss the charge and mission of the design subcommittee will take place at a future meeting.  The Building Committee/School Building Committee meets the first and third Wednesday of the month (the first in the Weston Library Community Room, the third in the Town Hall Commission Room).  We did not pick up which room the Design Subcommittee would use on the second and fourth.  Special Meetings are posted and located as required.

SPECIAL BUILDING COMMITTEE MEETING OCT. 25
Present:  Dave Coprio, John Cunningham, Ellen Uzenoff, Richard Wolf, Michael Greenberg
The meeting began at 7:34pm in the Commission Room at Town Hall.  In reviewing the text of the draft flyer to be sent out to all households, members of the Building Committee felt that more could be said in support of the proposal for $80 million dollar bond issue.  As noted by members of the School Building Committee, at "coffees" around town (at least one referred to specifically) attended by members of the Board of Education and the recently discontinued "Select Team" for school planning, attendance has been slight, but generally misinformed until the "coffee" presentation.  For possibly approving a rewriting of the flyer, it was suggested that another meeting on Monday next (must be posted by Friday at 4:30pm) be held.  NOTE:  This last event may or may not take place (only this observer's impression).  Adjourned at approximately 8:30pm plus or minus a few minutes.

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Building Committee Agenda, October 17, 2001:
Town Hall Commission Room, 7:30pm
AGENDA
1.  Discussion of close-out work on Septic Fields/tabled
2.  "               "      "          "      "   East House Roof/discussed
3.  "               "  time-frame and procedure to south House Roof Project/discussed
4.  "               "      "            "         "        for replacement of South House windows/discussed
5.  Any other business...discussion of approval of text for referendum.

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At the Board of Finance on Thursday, October 11...
Building Committee Chair. supports First Selectman and proposals while reminding assembled multitude that more work than is included in the 3 resolutions proposed to the Board of Finance, now to go to Town Meeting and Referendum, must be done (in his Committee's professional opinion) to Hurlbutt.  No one was listening--or wanted to hear it.

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School Building Committee, September 19, 2001
At this brief meeting, a bill was approved and another proposal on roof design was tabled.

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Special School Building Committee meeting on Wednesday, August 15...waiting for final word that will eliminate off-site building location (preK-2 at Bisceglie). NOTE:  first surveyor attacked by yellow jackets in the midst of taking measurements at Bisceglie--job  awarded to second surveyor.  Results of second survey not available until August 28 Select Team meeting.  NOTE:  not ready then, either.  Otherwise, School Building Committee endorsed latest revisions plus relocated School Road (one "no" vote on this part of the program).  There will be an early meeting prior to the Special Selectmen's Meeting Tuesday, August 21 (in Town Hall at 7:30pm--we think this is the right time, etc.).

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REVISION #9 discussed at Select Team--to be voted upon, perhaps, by School Building Committee Wednesday, August 15, 2001 at its 7:30pm meeting in Town Hall Commission Room.  Bisceglie option for preK-2 may be laid to rest as well as definition of final budget figure for whole project...or maybe not.

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Board of Finance (August 9) OK's funds to continue consultant on school plan (for preparation for next Town Meeting) - up to $45,000...discussion of timeline made with expected vote between Election Day and Thanksgiving.  Big meeting coming up August 21 (at Board of Selectmen) with decision having to be made by September 1 in order to meet above end date for vote on school project.

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Informal School Building Committee meeting July 25 at 7:30pm:
Indications are (to this WEBpage, at least) that a 3-4-5 school and renovations to the high school (totally @$60million) will be what we end up with...wasn't that what O,R&L suggested?

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AFTERMATH OF ADJOURNED TOWN MEETING MACHINE VOTE:
What happens now that Item #4 was defeated at Machine Vote...what will the Board of Selectmen do to keep the architect working over the summer...design sub-committee of the School Building Committee cancelled July 5th 7pm meeting...School Building Committee to meet Wednesday, July 11, 2001, 7:30pm in Weston Library.

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No meetings of this group since Adjourned Town Meeting said "NO" by 15 votes...
Special Meeting of Sub-Committee on Design, Monday, June 18, 2001 at 7:30pm in the Commission Room at Town Hall began early, and then had to move to the Meeting Room (Planning and Zoning Commission had reserved it for its regular meeting at the beginning of the year).  Fletcher-Thompson team represented by five staff members plus landscape design/traffic planner (we think that is who he was)--this a really big project, with two major buildings involved (new 3-4-5 school plus High School renovations).  Discussion of:

massing and location of new building (3-4-5),

circulation within Weston High School,

consultants on civil engineering and traffic planning,

Ed Specs dated May 7 - "About Town" to attempt to get a copy of these - and how to best meet these standards while still making consistent architectural statement.

Road location and possible need to have emphasis on circulation within the superblock of School Road Complex.

Four members of School Building Committee present plus another architect who lives in Town.  "About Town" attended from @7:15pm to 9:30pm.

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School Building Committee gets OK from Selectmen...
Special Building Committee Meeting, Monday, June 11, 2001 at 7:30pm in Weston Library "stacks" recommends moving forward this summer on "sketch planning" for 3-4-5 school and renovations to Weston High School ($754,600 to the architect)...to go to Special Town Meeting June 21, 2001 at 8pm in W.H.S. Auditorium

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Special Building Committee Meeting,Tuesday, June 5, 2001
AGENDA
1.  Review Fletcher-Thompson's fee and contract proposal for the designing of a new grades 3,4,5 school/no report from F-T or representative to Select Team recommending an option
2.  Review Select Team's recommendation for school expansion project/see above
3.  Review contract for East House Roof/done partially
4.  Review South House window bid documents/done
5.  Review of replacement fields for South House and East House septic fields/more work explaining this needed. 

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Building Committee Meeting on May 9, 2001 at 7:30pm lasted until 10:30pm - this meeting had been posted as well by the Select Team...Board of Education also co-sponsoring;  standing room only; architects/construction managers presented costs for Scenario #1b and Scenario#3 and noted ALL the possible alternatives to these and possible areas to cut had backup but would not be presented at this meeting unless requested. 

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SCHOOL BUILDING COMMITTEE, 4-11-01
Sequestered in the stacks of Weston Library, the School Building Committee members heard from O&G/AP, the construction managers, that the cost of the alternatives being considered would be...bigger than a breadbox (no numbers being allowed to be mentioned before they are REALLY sure...presumably so that the Board of Selectmen, who will make the decision about which alternative flies, will not be sandbagged).  Also, no one wants to say the number until analysis can be done that revises some aspected of the plan to a workable figure). 

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SCHOOL BUILDING COMMITTEE SELECTED CONSTRUCTION MANAGER ON 4-1 VOTE...Board of Selectmen 4-5-01 at Special Meeting approves contract and meet construction managers from O&G and AP.

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How about the comment at Wednesday's Select Team meeting, from Fletcher-Thompson, that the footprint for the 3-4-5 school shown on O,R&L Plan was not the right size for a school building of this type!  This puts the first choice site for a 3-4-5 by the Building Committee in doubt...is this correct?  If so, why didn't any other Board or the Building Committee itself notice?

THE FOUR ALTERNATIVES:
Click HERE for Fletcher-Thompson four alternatives..."outline" only...
Feb. 21 meeting of Building Committee produced sheaf of papers, a copy of which is available at the Town ClerK's Office.  "About Town" attended the meeting and received all documents.  NOTE: among the six separate memoranda is a major document "Various Scenarios-Proposed Matrix."

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Fletcher-Thompson speaks at community meeting on Saturday, March 3--no drawings yet, but indications given that:  the size of the "Field House" in previous plan twice as large as other neighboring communities' (if lockers are revamped at the existing building) and two story addition above existing classrooms not workable.  NOTE:  Tai Soo Kim had suggested addition at W.H.S. at front of building (rather than a second story), expressing design considerations for distinct use of space as new unit (maybe air-conditioned--my idea). 

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FOR THE RECORD: Building Committee interviewed architects and made choice (Fletcher-Thompson; Jim Beaudin) to recommend to Board of Selectmen;  all three firms were excellent, and the members of the Building Committee were appreciative of their patience and cooperation in this convoluted process.

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About Weston skips Selectmen's discussion of insurance policies, attends instead...
BOARD OF EDUCATION SPECIAL MEETING JUNE 22, 2000:
What was particularly interesting about this Special Board of Education meeting called to deal with "Handling Enrollment Growth" was the emergence of pre-school parents (very angry at the Board of Education) who were concerned about the possible loss of their entitlement of modified full day kindergarten. They and others spoke during "Public Comment."  Points made were:

Select Committee should not be given more than 90 days to come up with sewage disposal alternative

No one will be happy with the outcome

Three speakers pro-new high school

One "forget about it"

Year-round school with air-conditioning and siblings "tracked" to assure that vacation schedules meld; re-negotiate teachers contract; field house with underground parking garage (this person said he has 10 month old and 6 year old)

1/2 day kindergarten OK as interim--but remember Claire Gold's report!  Also, the "new high school" is actually what O,R&L proposed making out of the old high school;  put what is going to pass on the ballot

Consider kindergarten at churches;  use Library Community Room for art/music;  St. Francis parking lot a good site for portables?  Re-negotiate teachers contract--maybe teachers could have lunch in their classroom with their class?  Be more creative.

When will 2000-2001 decision re: kindergarten be made?  (No answer--this was discussed later)

Portables for kindergarteners not good

select lesser of evils (i.e. long enough day as opposed to 1/2 day just to stay on campus[?])

Breezing through the agenda, "Dr. T" (Dr. Len Tomassello, Hurlbutt) then addressed the Board regarding solutions he and his team had found.  In summary:

The assumptions made were that modified full day was still the best--cited Claire Gold report re: early intervention.  Link here to conclusions of the report:Conclusions printed here.
 

DR. T'S TEAM'S ASSUMPTIONS:

1. there will not be more than this year's 5 new portables (in place at the Weston Middle School) allowed
2. current level of service for all grades
3. IF level of service to children must be curtailed, THEN only 4th grade would be exempt.
PERSONNEL:  Kindergarten teachers must not be forced to teach two sections of 24 children each in the same day
FACILITIES:  East House for Kindergarten and first grade only;  South and North House should mix grades 1-2-3- and 4. NOTE:  if the Westport-Weston Health District could be prevailed upon to permit more portables on the Hurlbutt site, a place for 5 more portables between the Library/North House and East House and/or South House would make life easier for the school children...because without more new space in 2001-2002 school year alternative OPTIONS will have to be considered.

OPTIONS MUSIC:

1. Talent on Tap impacted if music room taken--music in South House Cafeteria (the cafeteria situation is very serious; many comments)
2. reduce music to lower grade(s) to serve 4th grade; concerts affected
3. maybe use East House cafeteria for music
OPTIONS ART:
1. art on a cart--reduce level of art service because of lack of adequate space
PHYSICAL EDUCATION (P.E.):
1. not enough space
2. classes double booked in South House cafeteria
COMPUTER LAB:
1. reduce k-3 computer use--no computer for k
2. satelite stations for music
3. computers moved to classrooms
LIBRARY:
1. flexible access to library eliminated (because of 46 minute period for 4th grade)
QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD:
1. can we go back to WWHD to get more portables? (no answer)
2. we are at a crossroads (self-evident)
3. educators want to move ahead with improving education (good luck)
4. what do we do next year? (same drill as this year)
5. will we look off-campus for kindergarten solution? (already on it)
6. modular construction k-2 at Heady site?
7. is it reasonable to assume that Heady can be used?
8. could we place a lot more pressure on other Boards?
9. we should have had contingency plans (in retrospect)...hard choices
Departing school board member remarked that political decisions are made in crisis...there are no new ideas...Board of Education has no power to make its plans come to fruition because it never considers the cost of anything...no one wants to share a high school...the best thing that has happened recently is hiring Dr. Shaner, who will lead.  Financial decisions and the septic problems will over-shadow others.

Meeting ran from 7:45pm to 9:30pm.

NEXT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING JULY 17 at 7:30pm.

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CTDEP SPEAKS...
The other shoe drops...found on the Weston Board of Education WEBpage is commentary from the Superintendent indicating that via a telephone call the day after the May 25 PUBLIC HEARING, the CTDEP representative is quoted as having said "...things 'aren't that drastic yet'" regarding limiting the number of students at Hurlbutt.  CTDEP goes on to say that we need to decide by September a temporary solution to the septic issue (i.e. pump and haul).  "About Town" would like to know whether the CTDEP indicated which September they were planning to act...
1. Master Schedule changed...Selectmen appointed Ad Hoc "Select Committee" for 90 day+ stint to come up with new ideas, using data collected by Fuss&O'Neill as well as other Town studies, thus reworking plans for Septic/Sewer already presented;  Planning and Zoning, Conservation, Board of Education and Building Committee plus five citizens were named June 15...worked during summer vacation...link here to information about progress and re-appointment of Select Committee: SEWAGE TREATMENT COMMITTEE.
2.THE FINAL SCHOOL FACILITIES PLAN (now on hold) TEXT AND DETAILS...
3. FROM ULTIMATELY SELECTED OPTION OF CJN ASSOCIATES' MAP OF 100+ ACRE CAMPUS FOUND HERE!

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Building Committee June 8, 2000 at 7:30 in Town Hall:

Five members of the Building Committee (two others absent) plus two members additional making up the School Building Committee (Superintendent of Schools and member of the Board of Education) met to discuss trips upcoming to architects' (Jeter, Cook and Jepsen; Tai Soo Kim and Fletcher-Thompson) offices and school buildings they had designed.

Another item on the agenda was a discussion of sewer/septic issue and the Building Committee's role in the future on this topic.  The Chair. was appointed to sit on the new "Select Committee…" that will be studying sewer options over the next 90 days.  A spirited discussion took place about what the impact of a tiny sewer line to just the Schools and Town Hall would be--and if indeed the implications for development density would be almost nil, as some members of the Building Committee purported.  Members of the Building Committee believe that "a tiny sewer line bringing only 60,000+ gallons of effluent from Weston to the Norwalk treatment plant" (as described in Fuss&O'Neill report) thus setting a limit on development) would permit Weston to then say no to affordable housing applications along the route of the sewer.

Members of the public were invited to participate in this meeting, and it was also discussed whether inviting AVALON, affordable housing construction company, to propose an example of how an affordable housing scheme might work for Weston would be a good idea.


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Selectmen OK $765,000 for architects' conceptual drawings;  school construction projects still alive...architect interviews continuing?  It is a puzzlement, but we are apparently interviewing architects if and when we figure out what we want/need/can actually follow through with...

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SELECT COMMITTEE ON SEWAGE TREATMENT now appointed and first meeting took place Monday, June 19, 2000 at 7:30pm in Town Hall;  tent. next two meetings:  June 28 and July 6., 7:30pm in Town Hall...

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SCHOOL BUILDING COMMITTEE INTERVIEWS, MAY 8 and 9, 2000,TOWN HALL MEETING ROOM

Town Hall Meeting Room, May 8, 2000, 7pm to 9:45pm;  May 9, 2000 report from indirect sources;  NOTE: as of June 14, 2000, this process is rolling along, with final three firms being visited plus site visits to examples of their work.

NOTE:  it is the intention of the Building Committee to check out references and projects by these architects;  they may invite firms back for more questions; need to visit examples of work and offices.


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Selectmen OK ED SPECS FOR State Funding by June 30
Board of Selectmen (May 4 meeting) approved extra payment ($19,200) for School Planner to draw up education specifications...Ed Specs for four part Plan.  Four buildings and areas around them will be separate applications.  For example:  the new 3-4-5 building and attendent fill, paving, fields is one;  the high school project plus moving School Road is two;  the Middle School auditorium and renovations plus loop road is three;  Hurlbutt renovations and School Road entrance is four.  So easy to explain! (These are my guesses--not confirmed what the four separate projects will actually be.)

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MAY 18 and May 25 Dates to note...
On May 18, 2000 at 7:30pm in the Weston Library Fuss&O'Neill will present their draft plan for sewers/septic to Town of Weston Boards and Commissions.  The public is invited...but not to speak.  On May 25, 2000 at 8pm in the W.H.S. auditorium, there will be a PUBLIC HEARING on this same proposal. On June 1, 2000 (est.) at the Board of Selectmen, a decision will be made by that Board, and a recommendation will be made to the Board of Finance and then to Town Meeting...more dates for more meetings to come...see above.


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RESPONSES RECEIVED OFFICIALLY TO RFP Monday, April 24 at 11am in Town Hall; only the name and address revealed at this time.

Nine (9) architectural firms repond to RFP and five make it through successfully.  Making it to the next level are the architectural firms in red and underlined--the first "cut" by Building Committee was:
1.  Wiles and Associates (Bridgeport)

2.  Fletcher-Thompson (Bridgeport-now in Shelton) - ARCHITECT NUMBER FOUR (current)

3.  DiCarlo & Dahl (Hamden) - ARCHITECT NUMBER ONE - responsible for 4 room addition at North House (with foundation for 4 more rooms)
4.  Schoenhardt Associates (Simsbury)

5.  Friar Associates ARCHITECT NUMBER TWO (Farmington) - they designed and built the Hurlbutt Core Building and enclosed linkages in their first phase, as well as modifying rooms at WMS, building a new DPW Garage on Old Hyde Road and Board of Education Headquarters on School Road.

6.  CJNA - Charles J. Nafie & Associates - (New York City) - ARCHITECT NUMBER THREE (did Master Plan, prepared SFU documents)
7.  C.J. Lawlor (West Hartford)
8. Tai Soo Kim (Hartford)
9.  Jeter, Cook and Jepson (Hartford)
 

On Tuesday, after the Building Committee had met, "About Town" looked through all nine responses to the RFP...all references to price/cost were removed (so that this matter can remain confidential and be negotiated).
 
 

• LATEST INCARNATION WINS OK FROM BOARDS OF SELECTMEN AND FINANCE!  ARCHITECT KAESTLE-BOOS/BLDG COMMITTEE ON THE JOB...TO PAY BACK TOWN $$ OVER TIME
  
• Presentation by original Sports Complex team re:  discussing fitting into entire workplan;
  
• This is really happening in a terrific way--all weather field complete and ready for play by mid-October '03!!! (All-weather Hartford football field above - Courant photo.)
  
• At the Board of Selectmen July 20, 2006 came word of need to contribute another $4,100 toward completing the lighting of the Varsity Soccer Field on School Road.
• At the Board of Selectmen in April 3, 2008, discussion of latest problems at Revson Field.
  
• If artificial turf is bad, Revson grass mixes with glass - the only safe place to play is...in the streets?

The word (November 2002) on where the Sports Complex stands:  although still shy of the original total $$ needed, there is enough money to proceed forthwith to detail how exactly the all-weather soccer field will fit into drainage on School Road, and coordinate with School Construction project as a whole.  This will be accomplished for @$17,000 by school project's environmental-landscape design professionals.  Architect for school project will design new "Booster Barn" gratis. Cognizant of potential for major disasters, first will be a full engineering review of plans for where each building actually is placed on the property, however...it is becoming clearer every day that 2003-2005 will not be optimum time for athletic activity on the School Campus.  And it is a good bet that fields will not be ready at either Morehouse Farm Park or Bisceglie in a timely fashion, due to litigation!

• The field surface must be replaced,
  
• Fairly complex drainage structures and underdrain systems kept up,
  
• And ponding would only take place on the field after more than two inches of rain had fallen (in an hour?).