By Sarah Opdahl

On Tuesday, September 9, New Fairfield’s Permanent Building Committee (PBC) met to review ongoing projects. The elementary school’s playground continues to be a main topic of conversation as it is out of use while repair to the sub base progresses. The vendors have started to remove the four inches of sub base, with two mini machines, a truck and two laborers pulling the stone away from the playground equipment. They are placing the stone in the bed of the dump truck and hauling it away to their yard. The stone removal work was expected to take at least a week. Once that is complete, the plan is to collect samples of the subgrade material. They will then install the under drains, add a new sub base, and lay the top rubber surface.

The total cost that was approved for the playground is $224,268.99. It was noted that the aforementioned samples are being collected to help ascertain fault, which the town would then use to attempt to recoup funds. There is an intricate chain of custody for the samples to help all involved be assured of validity. O&G will also hold samples.

There was a brief discussion about the playground’s gaga pit and where it makes sense to add it to the play area. The work for the pit was always part of the playground bid, but there was never an official agreement on a placement location. There will be a light amount of underground surveying required for location and depth of underground utilities in the newly chosen location.

Bus lot design work is being slowed a bit due to the need for as-builts, which need to be supplied from O&G. Representatives from JCJ Architecture agreed that they could get started with preliminary work at a high-level, bird’s eye-view, such as turning templates. However, they will need the as-built information as soon as possible, especially since the grading has changed significantly in that location from when the original drawings were created.

Colliers International’s Mr. Mark Schweitzer noted that the Gillotti Road crosswalk at the exit of the high/middle school campus is complete. Training  is scheduled for school personnel on the beacons, giving staff the ability to program them during the summertime or extended vacations. He explained that the beacons are currently on for three hours per day.

At the high school, the new sports field guide rail is in place and the field gates, which were heavily discussed at previous meetings, are in progress. Schweitzer said the gates were  measured, and they are in the process of fabricating and powder coating them.

The next New Fairfield Permanent Building Committee meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, September 23, 7:30 p.m.