001Shelton, Connecticut. Regular meeting of the building and grounds committee in person to the board of education office located at 382 Longill A first floor boardroom. It's Wednesday, February 18th and we are starting this meeting at 5:34. Can I have a roll call, please? >> Jason Nabs >> here. >> Anthony Sparagino >> here. >> Joey Palagi is absent. Also in attendance, John Calhoun and Kate Coutach. >> Can we please stand for the pledge of allegiance? I pledge allegiance to the flag of United States of America, republic for which one nation under God, indivisible, liberty. I have a motion to uh review and approve the following reports to the committee. >> So move. >> I'll second that. Favor. All right. Uh, also a motion to approve the meetings of the minutes of the meeting of the building
002and grounds committee on September 24th. >> So moved. >> I'll second that. >> Favor. >> I uh item number three. Any public comment? Don't see anyone here. Anyone any public comment one last time? Any public comment? And off to uh agenda items. Uh the facilities report. Mr. Cowan. >> Okay. Um, thank you. Um, first of all, um, for the project report, there are no, uh, large capital projects that are ongoing right now. So, the Longill U Elementary School window project, the Moheaggan Elementary School window project in the high school turf field, there has been no activity as uh, as of today since we last met. Um uh next issue is uh current issues that are going on, accomplishments. Um we're in the process of upgrading the uh boys restrooms at Perry Hill um for security
003reasons and for uh and for sanitation and everything, we have we have decided to um go through the restrooms. We're adding uh partitions in there so that we can um have have privacy but yet have the bathroom doors open so that we can our staff can hear what's going on when they walk by. There's no uh uh fun and games going on while uh well they're supposed to be in there. And um so again, we're we sanitizing the space. We're doing paint repainting and repairing the walls, putting up partitions, painting ceilings, and then then upgrading the lighting there. So, that's ongoing. Um should have that done a month or so. Um Moheaggan Elementary School project, I'm happy to say, is completed. We know we redid the gym over the over the summer and we we
004did a lot of other other projects there and we just finalized painting it this past long weekend. So that's that's done. So uh him is looking really really good. Um the Shelton High School the corridor lighting projects through our energy um efficiency company uh that has been completed. All the corridor lighting now is complete. It all has motion sensors throughout the entire building. All high efficiency LEDs. Um so the next phase is we're going to start uh looking at that classroom because there's so many lights in the building in such a big building um the amount of money that's that's available through the utilities you have to take in smaller portions instead of gi these giant projects. So the next portion we're probably going to do the first and second floor classroom lighting at the
005high school and then we'll finalize it with the third and fourth floor. So uh and again that just by doing the hallways we we we've reduced our kilowatt um annual kilowatt usage by over 235,000. >> The hallways, John. >> That's where the hallways. And you'll you like you said just that first classroom that you go in and evaluate the first and second floor thing. >> Yeah. Once I have the once I have the numbers after the analysis, I'll tell I'll be able to tell you what the savings will be kilowattwise for. Of course, you have to do it by kilowatts because obviously the market price fluctuates. So you you don't know how much you're saving on any given year based on what our rate. Um, so our goals and objectives going forward, um, some of
006these things are on the on the list further on down. So, we're going to be working on, uh, the the food waste recycling, and I'll go into that a little more in detail. Um, another thing that, uh, we have an opportunity for, it's called, uh, drip funding program, and I'll go into that a couple items down on the agenda. Um, we're also going to be working with you. We're picking this project up again to uh relocate and install an a uh transformer at Elizabeth Shelton. Um I'm also working um with some consultants. Uh still working on the plan to try to replace the boiler here. I've had a several contractors in. I've got another one coming in. Um what we're going to try to do is replace it with either one or two smaller high
007efficiency boilers that are that are linked together and um and that we're hoping to pay for through our our small capital program. they'll have a substantial and then um again as we go forward our with our six-year capital plan I submitted it for this year but as we are doing um our HVAC assessments which I'll go into and uh the next category um we'll talk about what some of the recommendations are there. Um this spring we look to come up with some permanent solutions to resolve our weed weed issues that are here in the Perry Hill courtyards. Um and I'm also working on something with the city. We're going to be removing some of the expired port of ed vehicles that are at the facility. have uh three facilities vehicles, specialed vehicle, our truent officer
008vehicle and a and a special a special ed van and the um security uh they have an old Crown Victoria that has to be so those are all going to be going out to bid and scrapped out at a lot of the located at the high school. Um the one vehicle is here for for the uh officers vehicle, but the other >> five are at the high school. Yeah. Um and again, I'm going to continue to always ask for another maintenance vehicle till I no longer no longer can ask that. >> Um so that's uh so that's item A. Is there any questions on the facilities required? >> Uh uh the uh transformer Elizabeth Shelton that was kind of let's objective that I that's that's kind of old work, right? >> We've Yeah, we've looked
009at that. We've we've got the piping all done. Um basically, we've come up with a a way now to work with a utility where we don't have to we're not going to have to go to bid on this. We're going to do the majority of the electric inhouse. Uh the utility will provide the the transformer. Um so it should be a relatively lowc cost um project for us to do being that we've we've done a lot of the leg work already on it. It's going to be a matter of of connecting it to our to our main but the but the the biggest cost is transformer which the utilities have already agreed to UI has already agreed to provide to bring kind of >> we're hoping break that's our hope >> okay good >> oh
010and uh yeah no that's also on goals and objectives just clarify I spoke to Bill about the permanence outside for for them. >> Yeah. And and again, we we'll try to I'll try to over spring break, you know, try to work with them and try to try to get it work as team to get that done. >> Yeah. >> What are we actually going to >> What's that? >> What are we actually going to do? like get rid of >> I think well I think the the easiest solution right now is remove all the stones um and um look at the area that's there also >> that would it'll be nice it'll make Um, ideally it'd be nice to but I'm sure take a look AI court. Um, >> yeah. >> Oh, okay. Fine. Um,
011community use >> back years ago now around it. also has to be filled in but >> okay I would like to >> yeah um I used to be pretty I guess very popular a lot of lot of group yeah >> up on that I know it's been ex extremely um difficult for Parker Rec to get to a lot of these things where there's a lot of detail based on their staff build. Well, so um everybody's facing kind of the same same issue, not enough staff to try to care of all these little issues, but they definitely definitely No, no problem. you Italians line over. >> Okay. The next next item on the agenda is the uh HVAC assessment. As as you know, um going back for the last couple of years, we've had um uh
012we've had a state mandate to go through all of our school building, do an assessment on the on the on the HVAC uh Mary handling. Yeah. But we started out um started out last year with Moheaggan and Sunny. started out starting with smaller again a little bit smaller of an investment having these services done and this year did Booth Hill and Longill the other day uh superintendent and I um met with the engineers um went over went over some of the findings um superintendent does his comments talk about >> say the first two Moheaggan and the SS Moheaggan and Sunny >> Sunny. >> Yep. So, um, yeah. So, going going forward, we're going to going to continue to to move through all the schools and get their assessment. But again with the elementary schools, the
013main thing we're finding that obviously or or air circulations throughout the building know because standards change years. Um and of course I know that the wish of the board is here building long as I've been here probably longer and u um they make several suggestions here to address that but again it it would definitely fall under so the consulting options >> yeah I'll discuss it when we get to the super >> yeah there's there's mult multiple options. Perfect. So we can So the the next item is the is the drip pro program. It's a district repair and improvement project. It's for smaller capital projects that wouldn't make it into your like that would be reimburseable city bigger projects like your stuff like that. So um again this is a this is an opportunity through the
014state um in Shelton right now because of the the calculations on that we qualify for about 200 around $24,000 for this program. So, um, and what it's used for is is is for any type of of improvements to the building, uh, compliance issues. So, um, recently had within the last year or so, um, had the state of Connecticut do, uh, handicapped assessment on school district and one of the areas that was sorely lacking to the place at the high school far as handicapped accessibility. One of the big areas me visiting now with Ed and I have answered multiple multiple questions on on uh to the city you mean to the state but um the uh band in the chorus room at high school there's no accessibility down there at all on risers we looked at
015trying to do something house but again with the rules regarding handicap accessessibility you So foot to you know 12 12 in foot an inch. So because of the the height of it we would have to go out 30 30 ft of ramp in that room which would put us out the door and into the other room. >> Now remind me where that is. Is that past the auditorium? >> The left we know where the nurse's office is. Yeah. >> Down that hallway. Okay. Yep. >> I remember that. So, and again, that area is definitely looking at plus years age. Um, so what we'd like to do with this is we'd like to like to have some engineers come in, look at this, let them know what our what our budget is program. We'd like to
016see um we already found out that they they agree that it definitely qualify to the guidelines program, but we would do like it would be an internal renovation that area. So there exterior structure really jack price up. So we're feel with this with this kind of money we could we could do a complete renovation those spaces >> actually leveling rooms. But yeah, we'd have to they'd have to figure out like right now the things are all built up on wooden wooden steps >> have to some sort of way some of the uh labs where you may have there but there's it would have to be a total >> so kids wouldn't have to be down on the level or the Yeah, there has to be a again idea is that students should be able anyor
017>> like drum line is usually up. >> Yeah, they just can't have access. >> I spent a lot of time in. So again, that's um and again, this is a this is a re this is a reimbursement grant. So you um um district is responsible for upfront payments and then um then you so it's similar to the larger capital projects but um but again get the entire project. They >> both What's that? >> Both rooms standing. >> Yeah. My goal will try to be both. And again, once we get in there and start to have Adam try to, you know, come up with looking at the drawing without them actually digging everything. Um, they they feel and again that whole area everything, you know, that whole area needs renovation. time, but start to utilize this.
018This is a multi-year >> a multi-year project. So, there'll be money every year for that. >> Even in the hallway that long storage and then renovation ever put doors back on. >> No. No. >> It just now it's a hole that collects junk. It's pretty >> in the hallway going down is band room when they remodeled everything. There was a closet. >> Over the years, it's just become a catchall for every everything, >> right? >> There was a piano stuffed in the corner there and there was just all kinds of stuff. So again, not only, you know, we're working on cleaning some stuff out of there, but again, going to take renovation. That's the that's the trip program. We'll find out more on that as we >> be an ice counter. Damn. >> Yeah. You
019wanted >> when you've been to other buildings. >> Yeah. You wanted to have a And then the other the last issue on here is the Connecticut um commercial organic recycling law had a little sidebar conversation before the meeting started. And um basically it's a law that uh we're required to follow as of July 1st of this upcoming year. Um and and basically um uh public or non-public school buildings um they generate 26 tons a year and are within 20 miles of authorized facility. Uh you must comply with it. And according to the state calculations per student, how much food waste student produces? Our three largest qualify for this. We are within um within 20 miles of a facility. I think one in one in New Town. Um so um so basically we we we get
020the get the luck of the draw and we qualify to be able to do this. So what we need to do going forward um I guess yeah there's it's the new town transfer station I guess. under construction right now be able to handle handle program. Um so what what we'll need to do is we'll segregate our food waste three three separate areas. It'll it'll go into uh food scraps uh single stream recycling and um craft. So we have to kind of train our retrain our our students to schools that are crimp bins their stuff there and then they um and they get my staff would pull them out of the cafeteria, put them in cycling all ready, have the trash compactor in garbage can uh the large cans at the other Um, the only thing
021is have to have toers of some size for the food scraps. And um, what what I had said I'd like to do, I'd like to I'd like to talk to the city. Um, I'd like to find out um what um what's the status of our current garbage hauling contract and going to be going to be going out to bid know anytime soon. um would obvious like to be able to put that into bid species so that we won't have to pay those additional fees um hauling the food scraps out of our out of our budget which be a pretty good size impact because the amount of waste that generate. So, um, so that's one of the things that I'm going to couple of talking finding out where we are with that and then, um, what
022we do what we do next is figure out how we how we get into compliance. gone. They're requiring just the high school, intermediate, and Perry Hill. They say the elementary don't that >> okay that 24 tons. Um so they say they're not but I mean but the food programs that would be that would go in there would be any of our breakfast stuff, our kitchen waste, our you know our lunch waste, all all that stuff. anything that say the kitchen produced that they throw out at the day that would >> John I just want I know we're pressed for time here I think it's I think it would be in good good idea school as the kids get older or you know older bigger schools they in the habit of it one and then two
023we should really see how much out of waste that we might be saving like you mentioned before on on the waste that we that we get rid of versus what we might be able to get get a program where this compost is half our cost. Right. And then it also gets these kids in good in in good >> good uh behavior or uh pattern. Right. As as they get them to the SIS in the area, >> right? Exactly. Because the because again the state is the one that's saying that you're producing this amount of waste. Yeah. >> But we should be able to make the argument to our trash hauler that our tonnage is going to be going down by this amount. could offset it, right? >> So, there should be less of a less
024of a charge going forward. And it may even mean I don't know where we are in the contract with with the trash hauling. We don't handle that here, but it may even be an opportunity to reopen that to look if it's going to be a savings like that. >> And we have until what, John? August or July? Is it July to start it? >> It's it's July. So, we would start basically start it for the for the fall of of next year. And um yeah, and so that that's that's basically that's basically um the new stuff that's come down the pike since the last time. Some interesting uh opportunities and challen something something new versus all the old work that we have on there. To hear >> yep, that' be Absolutely. >> Yeah. >> Be
025careful what you wish for. >> Uh, >> no, I think it'd be a great idea even like you said to meet at the school and look over the look at. >> All right. Thank you, John. >> Yep. You're welcome. Move over to superintendent's comments, please. First, I apologize for my tardiness and if I delayed the meeting in any way if you waited for me, I I apologize. Um, I just want to follow up on uh what Mr. Calhoun had said in his report with the new state statute that requires us to do the assessments um the HVAC assessments in all the schools. As as John reported, he we have begun that system to be in compliance. I have for the members of the building and grounds committee um each report from each school that I
026want to provide for you. It's a very comprehensive detailed report that you can read at your own time. My advice and uh the company who does it this uh innovation engineering services they would be willing to come and meet with all of you to discuss the report and the findings and possibly talk about actions to remediate any of the issues. Um, obviously that's a funding issue, so some of it may be small capital or large capital. Um, so it would it would move from this board to the larger board on how we want to do it, but I think it should start here. So why I'm bringing these reports to the members of the building and grounds committee so that you can review them and then if you want to schedule a meeting with the
027company I I I'm going to go to the chair like that probably would be a special meeting for this board instead of waiting for the next 3 months out and they can come in and and the meeting can be specifically about these reports. Did we form a board? I know. Oh, there was >> So that you're talking about when you have the >> the internal board. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Do we handle that? >> So what's that? >> There there was that I believe I I remember this correctly. Supposed to be a board put together or um >> well we designate someone within the school system but that's not the same. >> Maybe that's maybe maybe it's different. >> Yeah. That's the That's the work to tools or tools to schools. That's the name of
028that one. Okay. I misunderstood. Yeah. >> Yeah. That's that's that's different than this. That's right. >> This is required by the state for >> uh to look at all the mechanical, >> right? Okay. But there was that tools for school. I think that's what it was. >> Most people looked at like they looked at everything in everything in general practices. >> Thanks. >> Yeah. So, so that's all I have for my report. I'll just pass out each school. It's as John had said, it's um Sunnyside, Booth Hill, Long Hill, and >> Yep. And then when are we doing when's uh Long Hill and Booth Hill scheduled to happen? >> What's that? >> When is Long Hill and Booth Hill scheduled to have their assessment? >> Um Long Hill and Booth Hill are done. >> They're
029done. Okay. >> They're they're they're there. Okay. >> Um we have Elizabeth Shelton hasn't hasn't done yet. We have Perry Hill, the Intermediate School, High School. >> Right. So, we did four so far. Okay. Sounds good. All right. For my comments, uh let's see here. Obviously, we uh as we all know, we put we started uh these meetings uh quarterly now just because of uh the repetitive uh work that we have in someations in our capital funding. Um, I did talk to uh Elizabeth over at purchasing started a uh she opened a bid up for the uh scoreboard. Um, that was today. She sent me an email. Um, so I'll look into that and have some further information on that, but that's in the works. Um, I know I have to answer back some questions
030about regarding some um, uh, job, you know, a walk a walk through. Um, so I'll have you there and let you know when that's going to happen so we can meet all the vendors and that. >> Um, I did talk to Bill Manion today about the track um outside of Finn Stadium there. inside for the stadium. Um, we talked about the, uh, necessary repairs that might need to be done to that or actually, you know, would love to re, you know, reinstall it or take off the top layer and reinstall it, but might have to keep patching it for this season or um, work on get work on getting some bids. That's what I've been working on. Again, with the front of the central office here, um, Bill said it's first as soon as freezes.
031He'll be he'll be here with a gang moving the stone putting >> Yeah, July, you're right. And putting a seat down. >> Um yeah, that's that's all I got right now, but I'll keep you posted, John, and one else. I'll send an email for information I have on the newest. Um yeah, that's all I have. So, take a motion to adjurnn. Second that.