At their Tuesday, February 7 meeting, New Fairfield’s Permanent Building Committee (PBC) members continued to closely follow the building progress of the new schools. In addition to showing strong interest in finalizing all matters on the elementary campus, the PBC attempted to ascertain the details behind numerous fees.

O&G’s Mr. Zach Rowley stated that the punch list at the elementary school will be finalized by the end of February. PBC member Mr. Paul Boniello pressed O& G to “explain why the punch list is not completed at CELA yet. It’s February 7, we got the kids in, we want to understand what has been preventing us from getting that done in a timely manner just so we can knock it out and call it a bull’s eye.” Rowley replied, “we started with twelve hundred punch list items we’re down to around the eight right now. We don’t disagree that some of them take longer than anticipated…it’s really been a coordination issue and occupied building.”

There were in-depth discussions regarding a design request for two JCJ Architecture add services at the high school for both a bus loop change and an additional design for the space under the gathering stair in the Dining Commons. First, the bus loop design was noted as separate from the high school or middle school and changes that are possibly needed for a safer dismissal schedule due to traffic management modifications.

Second, while walking around the high school under construction,  administrators noticed under the big grand staircase in the Dining Commons that there is room under the stairs that is not being utilized and they are hop ing to turn that into a location for a vending machine or additional storage. A point of discussion at that point was the sprinkler head that would be needed in the potential storage area. At roughly $30,000, Del Monaco said, “I would not support spending that kind of money on something that somebody thought of along the way. I mean it’s definitely significant dollars.” The PBC agreed to table that issue.

Schweitzer explained that bus loop changes have been requested by administrators due to the many issues that happened at the elementary campus. Boniello stated, “what I’m a little frustrated with is…all of a sudden, everybody wants to make sure that we have it right up at the high school and that’s all good. The problem I have is, we just spent $10,000 on that. I’m sorry, plus another $1,770.” He went on to say, “money’s being spent without our knowledge…I certainly would like to have the opportunity to just look at this stuff,” hoping that the correct chain of command is being followed. When Schweitzer confirmed that the design team is already working on this, prior to the PBC’s approval, Mr. Mike Del Monaco said, “someone else is paying for that, not us. No one else besides the PBC can authorize paying for that.”

Del Monaco expressed concern regarding the glycol for the heating system at the elementary campus, a topic that was discussed at previous meetings. Schwietzer explained, “what we resolved to do is the district is ordering 100% glycol. We are going to leave the totes in place.” He clarified that one tote is full and another is half full. Del Monaco is not happy with the process that was used to normalize the system, saying, “the only problem I have is the y filled their part of the system with 35% [glycol], which was part of the contract. They opened the valve between the old and new systems and that’s when it was discovered that the existing system was way too low. But at that point, instead of continuing to swap out fluid in the system with 35% glycol they should have added 100% glycol to minimize the amount of glycol that needs to be taken off the site. And that’s what they failed to do.”  He later said, “Sorry, I don’t think we shouldn’t be responsible for removing excess glycol…I’d be willing to pay for removal of one tote. But anything beyond that was removed by mistake.”

There are warranty issues with roof leaks that are occurring and a leak that is occurring for an underground fire tank. The tank is precast concrete. There are significant questions about the sealant that will be used in the repair. Del Monaco noted that they can at least place a patch, until a permanent solution is agreed upon for the wet environment application.

PBC members are concerned about the roof leak and any impacts on programming, in addition to the potential impacts on the finished spaces in this occupied building. O&G’s Mr. Joe Vetro said that they will open the walls from above to be sure there is no wetness behind the sheetrock walls. The roof issue was found in December, but the PBC was not informed about the problem, Boniello pleaded, “Mark and the Colliers team, please just keep us informed so that we understand and so that we can respond accordingly.”

A discussion was had about a nearly $40,000 request for additional cameras in a few places at the elementary campus, including a second admin station in the office and a corridor near the special education classrooms. The PBC will request that Director of Technology Mr. Paul Gouveia reviews the costs to be sure they are accurate before considering it for approval.

PBC members attempted to understand the cost and intent of the workers who solved atypically for a  sheetrock/trim issue. The PBC imagined an easier and less expensive solution should have been employed—furring out a wall rather than addin g a double layer of sheetrock—but was not. This project was ultimately approved for payment, but is on a list of Errors and Omissions that Colliers is tracking. There was also a fee discussed for fence replacement after a car that was parking incorrectly ruined a section along the high school’s barrier walkway and new wiring at the high school for an emergency radio system that the Town recently received a grant for.

The next regular Permanent Building Committee is scheduled for Tuesday, February 21, 7:30 p.m.

By Sarah Opdahl