By Sarah Opdahl

At their Tuesday, June 13 meeting, New Fairfield’s Permanent Building Committee (PBC) heard updates on the two new schools. At the high school, there is a bit of a scramble to fulfill the needs for the dining services equipment. Chartwells, New Fairfield Public Schools’s food service provider, originally intended to send through a 53-page list of requests for small wares, however only 13 pages were transmitted to JCJ Architecture. There is now a push to complete their requests to prepare for the fall.

Another matter the PBC is contending with is the early demise of many playground equipment pieces at the elementary school. JCJ Architecture’s Mr. Bill Ayres is befuddled by the wear-and-tear issues the space is experiencing. He said, “it just seems that pieces are failing way too soon.” Meetings are scheduled with the vendor and installer to take “corrective measures.”

Punch list items remain at the elementary school, which O&G’s subcontractors look to address as soon as school is out and before summer school and camp programs begin. A couple of countertops need replacement, new doors will be installed, an electrical punch list will be addressed, a conference table will be added, and permanent new lighting will replace temporary fixtures. In addition, there is a project to relocate the fire tank fill line to the drop off and pick up island. This need was discovered approximately one month ago and, because it’s an existing condition, it is difficult to gauge what unforeseen conditions the subcontractors  might experience. Another curb cut on the bus loop is being discussed as the loop is still not right after multiple attempts to address the tight lot. The designers are also planning to create larger signage and black out some of the former striping to make the lot easier to navigate.

O&Gs Mr. Joe Vetro explained, the high school gym is being finalized with last-minute adjustments to the backstops and the wall pads are being added. In the media center, the last of the ligh ts and ceiling tiles are being placed. Outdoors, the sidewalks are in place and the topsoil is down. He recently met onsite with Comnet, the AV broadcast equipment vendor; “we walked the scope with them and went through a couple of suggestions.”

There is an extensive schedule detailing all requir ed moves for the high school, with priorities for technology, staff moves, and relocation of existing furniture. Recently, there were a large number of meetings held to coordinate the current high school’s demolition. The PBC asked to have all action items and agreements about the planning written up, so the plans are more concrete. O&G representatives were pointedly asked if there were any reservations about opening the new high school in the fall and V etro said no. He noted that the auditorium will be the very last area to complete. He also explained, some sound effect equipment for that space will not arrive until later in the fall and reminded the PBC that parking will be a major issue on the site and the permeable parking lot plan is needed in order for staff to park. “Teacher parking will not be available until at least the second semester,” Vetro said.

Colliers International’s Mr. Mark Schweitzer detailed a request from the middle school to keep the existing bus canopy – it provides needed shelter from the sun and from the weather. He said they are following up with JCJ Architecture as to the reasons for its removal – whether a design or an aesthetic issue.

According to Schweitzer, Town officials met with property owners adjacent to the new high school to see “what can be done for them” about a crosswalk diving into their property.  He said, “we’re going to wait until the end to see what the pressing issues are…and what the best solution to those issues are at the end of the project.” They may want to leave the crosswalk where it is,  move it down the road to the exit drive, or eliminate it altogether.

PBC members asked for clarification on where the “as-builts” stand and were assured they are in progress. They also asked about the continuing issue with the leaking underground fire tank on the elementary campus. Though there is no current leak, Colliers is “chasing letter s” to ensure that warranties will be honored on the fix.

The next regular Permanent Building Committee meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, June 27, 7:30 p.m.