By Sarah Opdahl

At the Tuesday, September 23, New Fairfield Permanent Building Committee (PBC) meeting, Colliers International’s Mr. Mark Schweitzer reported that a preliminary concept plan for the bus lot was received from Langan Engineering. While final as-builts are not complete for the site, which Langan needs for more final design plans, Colliers was able to use a survey to create the preliminary document. O&G’s Mr. Joe Vetro explained that contractors are working to reseed the grass at the site, as it is currently full of crabgrass and weeds.

There was a brief update on the elementary playground, which is being fully outfitted with new stone underlayment, drains, and a rubber-coated play surface. PBC members pressed for the playground to be flooded before the play surface is installed, in order to test the drains. There were soil samples taken to further investigate the reason for the play surface failure. In performing tests, “The perk test did not go as well as they expected,” Schweitzer shared. He went on to say, “they did take a soil sample. They would like to have that tested as far as gradation, and do a sieve analysis on that as a third sample point.” PBC member Ms. Maureen Clegg noted of the other samples that were taken, “It’s interesting that they were acceptable, but then the perk test wasn’t as good as they thought it should be.”

There was a brief update regarding the investigation and analyses into the reasoning behind the high school’s many propane failures, though details were not released at this or any previous meetings. It was noted that there is a letter that is being reviewed by legal counsel and that there is no current expected time frame for completion of the review.

Schweitzer gave an update on the high/middle school’s new crosswalk on Gillotti Road, saying that the crossing is now complete. He explained that a training was conducted for staff on how to manage the crosswalk’s beacons. A recent project adding guide rails and gates at the high school was also finalized. There is also a plan to move rocks up from the former Consolidated site to the high school. And, finally, a long-awaited wire management solution in three high school rooms will be installed in the coming weeks.

The next regular Permanent Building Committee is scheduled for Tuesday, October 24, 7:30 p.m.