Uh good evening everyone. This is the uh Shaker Lane School Building Committee meeting Wednesday, August 20th. Uh first order of business is to approve the prior meeting minutes. Did anyone have a chance to look at
those and any comments? They look good to me. I have one comment. That's item one where Steve Venudi has a W in his name and I think we need to remove that.
That's the only comment I have. Good catch. That sounds like a good edit. We'll make that edit. So, we'll do a roll call vote. Uh uh. All those in favor? Kelly.
Kelly. Yes. Mike. Mike Scudo. Yes. Steve W. Venudi. Steve Venudi. Yes. Uh Bob. Bob Roma. Yes. Uh Mike. Mike Scannutoo again. Yes.
And Steve. Yes. So the motion carries. Did you get Oh, Michelle. I think I was one of the mics, but Michelle Kane. Yes. Oh, I'm sorry, Michelle. That's okay, Stephen. Okay, got it. So, um,
Mark, do you want to talk about the invoices? Yeah, this is Matt. U, I'm taking over for Mark for just tonight because he's out of state. So, uh, uh, no problem. Uh, so we're reviewing we've got two invoices to look at and and review and approve for the for the
month for the recent most recent Turner Towns and Hairy basic services. There's an $11,100 uh invoice uh for basic services and then there's the Studio G basic services for for 2500. Um, so those are down below here. We can
take a look at those. So, I think I think Jim had uh a comment on I do on one of these invoices. I do on the on on the Turner invoice for the 11,000. It's not the invoice itself. I mean, I'm I'm receiving there's a I've
received an email later late late this afternoon from the MSBA uh requesting to um uh the requesting the status of the cash flow for the Shaker Lane Elementary School in the town, which which brought
concern alarm and and and concerns. And I've confirmed with our town accountant and our finance director, we haven't re we haven't submitted a reimbursement since March. So, I would like to just uh uh uh table
this right now, Mr. Chairman, uh to understand a little bit more with the email that we received this afternoon. Um and I want and I need and I would like a better comfort level that
uh a uh why since March and let's uh what is the timing going forward? Understood. Any uh any comment on that, Matt? Uh we we have the cash flow uh in in our
packet. I don't know. Did you get a chance to look at that, Jim? Uh I I did not look at the cash flow in the packet yet. I have not. Okay. It's on screen here. Okay. So, so you can see the from the the
lower line at the at the bottom of the page here at the 1 million85 uh budget um and the the amendments and and committed funds uh uh next to it. So 1 million 85 is the budget. Then the spent
to date approved invoices to date comes to 1 1,61,960 and the balance of remaining funds is 23,040. So we are still under budget, still in good shape and this includes this uh
current invoices. Well, you know, I don't think that's what he's talking about. Matt, yeah, that doesn't answer Jim's question. Thank you. Can I answer that, please? Okay, Shesh. Yeah. So, Jim, to answer your question,
we are still waiting for this amendment to the original PFA arrangement which was at you know under 700,000 685 and it was increased to million million85,000. So the MSBA the town signed it you
signed and send it to them the budget revision request till they approve that budget revision request we cannot enter any more invoices in the propay system. So that's what's holding back the entry of the propay into propay at this point.
So that's you know that's the reason there's not nothing has been added. And the other question regarding the cash flow I believe we have a cash flow that was submitted with a schematic design but after that there was a uh the FFN
budget was submitted so I think I'm not sure right now because I saw that email too and I was going to talk to you Mark when he gets back or to Matt after this meeting whether it was to related to the FFNE that was not distributed in the
original cash flow to the MSBA. Yeah, that's the only question that's there. Sash, can you can you follow up with the MSBA and see when they're going to approve that? Yes, cuz we need that number for town
meeting. Exactly. the the number for the dollar values approved the amount of the reimbursement that we're going to expect on this feasibility study that will be part of that uh the uh the
vote on Mon on on next witness day the 311 form that they'll approve the percentages in the 311 form that's what they will approve I mean we we need the cash by that date want to move the cash
okay so I think we to try to get the budget revision request expedited through them because once they approve that we can immediately, you know, enter the invoices and get those processed. Thank you. H Have we not submitted any
reimbursements through Propay yet to MSBA? No, we have. Okay. So, have they made any payments? Yes, I can give you a number in one second if you hold on for a minute. The submission the last submission that we have of record is in March.
Correct. So when when was our last reimbursement? So that would be I'm April would have been in April. You would have received it if it was submission was in March. You would received it in April. And the submission
and the reimbur I'm sorry this is Chuck Adam. I jumped in on it. Um, and the reason again that it's being that it was being held up is the MSBA still had not processed the be the budget revision request to adjust the 750
some thousand SES just mentioned. So therefore, the propay was off. We were submitting it based on the new numbers. They were rejecting everything and they're saying no that doesn't match the budget. We said it's because you haven't updated the propay yet with the budget revision request. So, we're stuck in this sort of bureaucratic wheel, but we
will get with them. I will call into the MSBA or Sash and I will call our contacts MSBA tomorrow and p push push push push them hard. Okay. I just I just allowed Michelle Reynolds in who's the um town accountant. She raised her hand and wanted to make a comment.
Thanks, Steve. Uh just to let you know from the last submission which was in March, it took about um three and a half months to get that money. That's that's extremely unusual. We'll find out what's going on. Yeah, that
never takes that long. So I if I can explain what's happened was originally we submitted them the first one was submitted in September in uh I believe in September 24 and they did reverse that in October 24 the next
one was submitted in uh March and they did not actually first one submitted was July 20 294 and they reimburse us in on May payment was made on October 10th and the second one was on March 25th. The
payment was made on 6 June 12th because we have submitted 641,768 and the total project budget original was $700,000. So we can only submit $50,000 no more than we cannot submit less than $50,000.
And if the invoices add more than that, then if you submit them in, they get kicked back right away till this budget revision request is approved, which is still pending with the MSBA. And like Chuck mentioned, we will follow up with them again to expedite that so you can get the reimbursement. We can submit the
reimbursement and you can get the money released to you if I may through the chair. Go ahead, Jim. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, so all I can I can I can appreciate jumping
on this and everything like that, but it shouldn't get to this point. Agreed. Bottom line. Okay. We've had an audience with MSBA enough times to sit there, especially I think we had one on a Thursday morning. Not two two three
weeks ago that clearly that was that was you know an issue that was a ma major stumbling block that absolutely should have been brought up then. And I can only I can only tell tell you every single time we talk to him we ask
him about it and every single I'm not making excuses. I'm really not. We will we will again I will speak the direct director myself tomorrow. I I have the ability to reach them. It's not a problem. Um and we'll just say, "Hey, listen. This is holding us up. It's holding up the talent. It's holding up
everybody. We've given you everything you've asked for. What can we do? It's the budget department. I I'm just again I'm not making excuses. It's the authority. They fallen apart up there. Um they lost the person that does their audits. We we have a project that was
closed in 2015 that they will not audit. They have everything they've needed in India for three years. So they're in a mess. But we'll we we will call them tomorrow and either Sesh or I will give you a call tomorrow and tell you what what we found found out.
Okay. All right. Well, thank you. Um I I I still make the request to the chair. Uh um let's just let's table this until we can understand a little bit better. I agree. No problem. Are we gonna uh then vote on studio G
services or Yes. Okay. Um table cabling both of them or just just one? No, just uh Studio G. You need a motion for that?
Well, uh Matt, do you want to talk to Studio G or have you already Uh I know Maril Lee's on, but uh we're talking about the studio G invoice, right? Yep. Okay. So that is in the packet here. One
moment. Believe it's in the packet right here. Studio G, this is uh an invoice for their current uh currently build $2,500 uh in the schematic design phase. So, I don't know. We uh reviewed and approved
this and recommend for payment. Okay. So, is there a motion to approve this uh studio G invoice for $2,500? Don't speak at once. Kelly, if you're speaking, you're on mute. Yeah. So moved. Sorry.
Okay. Is there a second? Second. Okay. Sorry. Who seconded it? Roll call vote. Kelly. Kelly Clinchy. Yes. Michelle. Michelle Kane. Yes. Steve.
Steven. Yes. Bob. Bob Rley. Yes. Mike. Mike Scutoo. Yes. Steve Moore. Yes. Motion carries. Uh, studio G service invoices approved. Uh, new business. Uh,
yeah. So, new business. Uh, a the first item was establishing the financial subcommittee uh for a vote. Yeah. Do we have any suggestions as to the composition of this committee? So my question is how many people do we
need on the committee? I mean obviously an odd number but do we need three or five? Uh I just want to check the notes from last the last meeting. Um, Steve, it's totally up up to this Chuck again. It's totally up up to you
whatever you think is the best to get um invoices and budgets reports and things reviewed and approved as they needed. uh this becomes more important as you're moving into the construction phase and in also during the design phase, the further design phase after the approval of the MSBA when you need to start
getting um revisions and things approved. Um I don't know what your charter or what the the plan is for the building committee, but 90% of our building committees will do a financial review committee that will report
anything that changes. Now, you know, again, how your town works relative to what authority you can give them to approve changing changes is totally up to you. Um, but this is really to expedite approval of invoices and recommendations made so that you've
reviewed it. Sitting here at the meeting, those three members can say, "We've reviewed it. We've accepted it. It's all fine." So, Chuck, from your uh experience, what's what's a committee like this made up of? Is it three or five members or
it's based on the size of your building committee? I would say three is fine. Well, that that's not very helpful. Well, I I I do do that because let me let me ask what's your what's your recommendation there? I I would say based on the number of
people on on your building committee just looking at the screen today, what are you seven roughly? Were you nine? So, nine, I think. Yeah. Yeah. So, so, so, so if you're nine, um, you know, you're gonna need at least three in order to that five you you you
could do then four left short. So, um, three or five is fine. It's it's very light light lifting. You you you usually it's a review of things with the 10 accountant and with anybody else who's involved with finance. Yeah, I think uh you know, Kelly, uh do
you think three would be sufficient? Three? Yeah, I think three would be fine. Yeah, I would certainly like to see Steve Venui on that if Absolutely. I think uh we saw Steve's hand raised there. You didn't
any other volunteers? I will gladly be on that. So, if it's looking at uh invoices and things like that and and during construction, I would suggest someone from the building committee, maybe Mike
or you, Steve. I agree. Mike Mike, uh, is your hand raised or is that just a snack in your hand? I I got nothing in my hands. So, Mike, would you be uh willing?
Uh, sure. Okay. Steve, Mike, who else can we get? Bob Romley. No. No. No. No. No. All righty. Um, there too many things in the in the works now.
Kelly, would you be interested? Sure. I I I sure I'll do it. Okay. So, we got Steve, Nudy, Mike, and Kelly. Is there a motion to approve the uh three members for the uh
financial subcommittee? So moved. Second. Seconded by Michelle Kane. Okay. Roll call vote. Bel Kelly. Kelly Clencher. Yes. Michelle Michelle Kane. Yes.
Uh Steve W. Venudi. Steve W. Venudi. Yes. Uh Bob. Bob Rama. Yes. Mike uh Mike Scadoodle. Yes. And Steve. Yes. So thanks very much for that. Um, hey Steve, can I ask a question on that?
Absolutely. Because typically when building projects go forward, they are under the spending authority of the permanent municipal building committee. Yep. So, how will that be coordinating with
this financial subject? I mean once it's turned over to PMBC we will you know we will uh approve you know uh invoices as they come in that's a totally different committee.
Well wouldn't that be with the if the project is going forward or you just saying this financial subcommittee is for now it is for the uh design phase. Yeah. Okay. Gotcha. up until construction. Okay.
Up until the um select board turns or requests the PMBC to be involved uh in the project. Gotcha. Thank you. Okay. Uh let's see.
Joint meeting with the select board. I think Steve was handling that. Um, yes. I talked to the chairs of the various committees um and to Jim yesterday. We're looking
at September 2nd, probably at I would imagine 6:30. Jim, if you could um I guess pick a room and we'll have to post the meetings for each each committee
be in the um you' be in the uh center on chat. Okay. 6:30 or 7, which would you like? Which what say you? I'm good. However you Whatever time you'd like. I think Gary
has to leave at 7:30. So the earlier the better. Fine. 6:30. Fine. Great. Six. Great. Six to date. Six o'clock. That's good. Six o'clock at the center. Okay. 6 to 8.
Sure. Where is that? Center on Shadic, Mr. Chairman. Oh, good. Okay. Okay, next. Uh, okay. Next item is number four, the studio G uh A schematic submission
update. I think Maril Lee is on our call here. She can uh jump in at this point. Yeah, thank you. Mary Lee, before you start, I'm sorry. Sure. Um, just to to formalize things, Steve, um, for for basically Jim, we should
probably as a committee vote to request the select board to put an article in town meeting warrant for the construction. I know it's going to be there, but we should formalize it and request
the select board put the article on. Uh, do you want to make that motion, Steve, since you have it so well articulated? [Laughter] Um, sure. I'll move that uh the
Shakelain Building Committee request the select board to place an article on the October 28th town meeting warrant for the construction of the Shaker Lane School. Okay. Is there a second? Second, Kelly.
Um, if if if I may before roll call, and I just want to just confirm this, and I I don't mean to get into the weeds at all. Do do does the motion have to also include the funding component of it. Not only just put it on there,
but it's going to be on there to seek funding. I don't know. I'm just asking. Uh, yes. to I guess to ask the select board to place an article in town meeting warrant to fund the construction of the Shaker Lane school. Um it's not
up to our committee as as far as the debt exclusion that's up to the select board. So okay. All right. Just the mechanism but the funding also. Okay. Great. Thank you. That's a good good point Jim. So Jim, are you involved in drafting the actual article?
Yes. Uh town town council has it. I have uh I've worked and uh and uh uh Mark uh Stafford uh forwarded me the the draft language and town council has it right now and I want to be able to get
that back to to MSBA and and also the Shaker Lane committee and and everything like that the final product for for MSBA's approval. Perfect. Thank you. All right. Yes, sir. Okay. I think we have I know we have a a
motion. Did we have a second? I can't remember. I seconded it. Ellie. Okay. Roll call vote. Uh, Kelly. Kelly Clenchy. Yes. Uh, Michelle. Michelle Kane. Yes. Steve Venudi. Steve. Yes. Bob. Bob Rley. Yes. Mike.
Mike Scanuto. Yes. Steve Moore. Yes. Okay. Thank you. And now we can move over to Studio G. All right. Thank you. Uh so yes for the schematic submission update the our response to the MSBA comments were
returned I believe last Monday and they have acknowledged receipt. I think Mark Stafford said a couple times that the comments were fairly minimal. I agree with that. It was no problem responding to those. Uh they had comments on the report itself and then also on the
square footages. And although their their wording is always a little confusing, there were no surprises. We had all of the spaces reimburseable that we were expecting to have. Only a very small amount was not reimburseable. And I believe we've all gone through that on
a previous meeting. Uh but I think um that's really all I have to say about the schematic submission update. Okay. Total total project budget. I'm not sure why that's under mine. I think that's just TTH.
Yeah. So, I mean, I think this this last last month's uh summary that's on screen, we talked about the uh the worksheet. Uh I know Chuck and Sesh were probably involved in conversations since
then. uh but uh there's a there's a total project budget at the MSA of the 98619152 and which is a little higher about 469 higher than the uh the um advertised total project budget. So we're still
looking looking at costs and ways to reduce further further reduce cost to align with uh the total project cost of 98,149 932. So I think that's still underway. Chuck, is that accurate?
Yep, that summarizes it well. Okay. Okay. Any questions on that? All right. Uh, so, uh, that's kind of a total project update right there. Number five, we the budget update. Um, I think
this budget update refers to the the bud the cash flow that I went through a little earlier that we are still under budget on our phase our segment of the contract here. So, we're in good shape there and
um this includes the current invoices that we looked at earlier. So, unless there's any question there, I'll move back up to the last item. Um, not not quite last, but uh we're at the point of uh the schedule update. Um, so
that we have our schedule on here. I'm going to make this a little bigger if I can, but I'm getting pretty good at this Zoom uh thing, I think. Uh, okay. So, town meeting vote is is
our 1028. Uh we are currently um uh waiting for MSBA. Uh no, we had comments and Merily said it was just comments were received and responded to with minimal comments on
the uh the last submission. So um we are on schedule and we have some some things to look at in in between now and the vote. some public uh outreach and things like that
uh that we can talk about shortly. Uh Matt, when you say shortly, does that mean tonight or later? I think I was just referring we have a a project a public uh comment section. That that's what I was referring to, but
also there's I know there's some some other outreaches. Michelle, you may have a better grasp than I do on p public outreach at the moment, but um things that are happening there and maybe even merrily. Sure. Do you want me to comment now?
Sure. Sure. So um for those of you who don't know, we we have um Annelise Taber, I believe she might be even listening in on this call. She has is working hard in a Yes for Littleton group. Um she has um weekly if not every other week meetings.
I think they had one last night. Um has a campaign going, has um you know, really has salon signs, is really talking it up. Facebook page. Um we also have, you know, some other members that are helping her out, getting the word
out in the town. Um I know Dr. Clenchi is working with a couple of u members of the group also to create a video through Dave Carunin. Um we have another meeting coming up I think in September. Um we had a meeting in uh a couple weeks ago
and we just um you know had our forum last week. I think that was last week, last Wednesday. We had a building tour. We actually had a really good turnout which was surprising. We had close to a dozen people turn out for our tour and not a forum, our tour and Q&A. So it was
uh surprisingly great. I don't know if anybody else wants to add anything. nothing to add, but I just want to say I am thrilled to hear that you had a good turnout. Thank you. Yeah. Okay. So, with that, uh, I think we can
jump into public comment if there's any on the call. Uh, Annaise and Rob Browns. Anelise, I'll bring you in first. Annelise, you're in. Go ahead. Name and address
you're muted. I think. Sorry about that. Um, Annalise Staver 291 Goldmith. I am the chair of the Yes for Littleton uh ballot question committee. Um, just to piggyback off of what Michelle was just saying. Um, so I was
at the tour and um, it was not only a good turnout, but it was uh, mostly if all new people. So it was um, that's huge, too. So it's it's just it's always good to see new people and to get new voices and um, and we had a couple of
Butters that were from the other side of Shaker Lane that hadn't been included in the original sort of a butter conversation. um and they were a little concerned about um sort of where the buses are going to be entering, which is also where the construction trucks are
going to be entering. Um, and so, you know, they're still in in support of the project and everything, but part of our outreach efforts are going to be to um to make sure that like everybody on Shaker Lane and then everybody in the
school zone on Goldsmith, like everybody has, you know, is part like everybody's been contacted, everybody has their voice heard. Um because we don't want any like last minute, you know, somebody coming up to town meeting like, "Oh, I never, you know, we want to make sure everybody feels
heard." That's that's going to happen anyway. Yeah. Yeah. Ex. Well, you know, that's we're going to do our best to to make sure. Um so, yeah. So, that was uh very encouraging. Um so, I have a couple questions, a couple things I just wanted
to confirm with you guys. Um, so we were hoping the the next um community uh yes, the next community forum um is going to be in September and we were wondering if we could not only have it at the senior center but
maybe have it on a Saturday like September 27th. Just trying to reach as many community members as we can. And I know we haven't had one of those forums at the senior center yet. So something to consider. I know we still have to schedule that
meeting. So, um the Saturday would be kind of a bonus, but if just at the senior center would be that priority, I think. So, um as we're thinking about that and looking at schedules, that'd be great. Um my other question is so the
the joint meeting on the 2nd um at 6 o'clock we are going to be requesting that each committee vote officially to approve the project if that is a
possibility. Um, basically just the the official word on, you know, yes, our committee approves the project so that we can put it in the warrant before that uh that deadline. Um,
so that that is a request looking at my notes. Um, another one is, uh, so the Shaker Lane yard signs, the one that's the ones that have the QR code, not our yard signs, but the ones that are, um, they're not
officially, you know. Yes. Um, so we're hoping that we could put those on not only school property, but town property, like fields and things like that. So, just something to think about. Um, just a request that we'd like to make officially.
And at least I think we have about maybe 10 of those signs left. Really just 10. Might it might even be less. Yeah, we were. Okay. We we do we have um a lot of them. So yes, I would agree. Waiting for that approval to definitely spread those around 10. Yeah, because I mean even 10 10 is 10, you know. Absolutely.
Because we could do the library. We could do I mean some sports fields like 10 will go a long way. Um so you know that would be that would be an awesome way to use up the rest of those. Um, and then of course we're getting our yard signs around everywhere privately. Um, they've been going like hot cakes, which
is really great. Um, and then my last request is so we received the uh code triggering memo today and I had been hoping that there would be more um more clear numbers for the no vote like
you know the boiler will be costing x amount if it has to be replaced that kind of thing. Um, so I don't know if those numbers exist or if there's another way to get those numbers because I think it would be a really to have
basically my request is to have a more accurate as as accurate as we can be number for the no vote if that makes sense. So because I know that 44 million was like cost per square foot was done last summer. you know,
we're saying this this might be a lot more, but if like we can have as accurate as possible number for the no vote so we can compare it to hopefully this fantastic number that we're going to get on the 27th. Um, so
so has has this committee seen that uh the memo? Yes, it was uh actually on last meeting's agenda. I miss I missed the last meeting. Okay, I can uh I can send you a copy.
Okay, but I you know I think to Anelise uh comment uh the more information we can provide for no vote is helpful. Yeah, absolutely. We we just want to be
as clear as and transparent as we can be to you know we don't want to be hiding any information or we just because we're uh we're asking for people's trust. So we just want to make sure that we have everything that we we can have. So but otherwise that's that's it for me. So thank you so much for your time.
Anelise I have one question for you. Why are you asking for all the uh committees to vote on September 2nd to uh advance this uh project?
So we are just asking for um an official word of support from school committee fincom and um select board so that we can have it published in the warrant that you know school committee supports this, FINCOM supports this, that kind of
thing. Um because I know the warrant closes on the 12th. Steve, I have a question for Steve Venudi. Will they have enough information that night to make, you know, vote on that? That's what I was going to talk about
with my hand raised here. I I believe and I know Karen's on the call and Jim's here that according to the select board calendar for this town meeting warrant that's scheduled between the FINCOM and
the select board to take their votes of recommendation on September 22nd. So, we'll get the information out to everybody on the 2nd and I'm sure the school committee at some point will have a meeting to vote. Um,
the shigling building committee can certainly vote that night to to support it. I don't see a reason why we couldn't do that, but I believe the fin and select board are scheduled on the 22nd. We could probably talk talk about a
consensus and see what arguments there are against it. But maybe a bit too early because they're just getting that information. Exactly. I agree. It may be a little too early for that. Yeah. I mean, I I see what Karen has her hand raised. So, we should uh
Yeah, go ahead. She has to say to confirm it is a September 22nd meeting that we'll be taking those votes. Um so, just so I have, you know, everything correct on my end. Um, so, so the if the warrant closes on the 12th,
that means what's being published in that booklet is that's it, right? There's a difference between the warrant being closed and the booklet being published. There's there's a lot of time. The booklet doesn't go to the printer until
end of September, early October. So, plenty of time. So, so if we're gathering these kind of votes, it's okay to wait. Do we have um basically is there a deadline we should be working towards for getting these votes so that we can get them printed in the warrant?
The 22nd is the day. Okay. All right. That works. As long as we just get them in before then, that's that's our goal. Yeah. I I just wanted to address Anelise's uh comment because I I did think it was premature, but uh thanks for the uh
confirmation, Steve. Yeah, thank you. I appreciate it. All right. Is that all set on that? Okay. Uh Rob, um let me bring him in. He's got his hand raised. Rob
name and address, please. Yeah. Rob Brown's 25 Juniper Road. So, a respected citizen has launched a pretty extensive podcast of protesting and in expressing his
intention to vote against and to rally against in uh the project and instead is presenting a number of assertions that seem to center around the concept of using modulars as the solution. not
necessarily all modulars, but rather as modulars in order to offset the lack of adequate classrooms. He makes another assertion of significance, stating that numerous
school systems have modulars that could be, if I'm remembering correctly, could be basically picked up because they're done using them. So they don't have to be purchased is what he states saying they only need to be transported.
And so the cost of do nothing makes a statement with regard to 11 modulars at a cost along with connection of utilities for a total of $6 million I think is the presentation data. and he's
somewhat attacking that by way of not request, you know, not needing 11 modulars, but rather use it in a partiality. So, I don't want to get I'm not asking to get in the weeds here. I am asking how who can inform people like
me so that we can understand and critique this assertion or series of assertions that he's making. I'm quite concerned with regard to his uh reach in the community and the damaging effects
that his uh straight talk presentation can have uh reinforcing a negative vote. Hey Kelly, have you seen have you seen that? I have not. Uh first time I've heard of
it. I mean there are many many counterbalancing points. First of all, adding seven or 11 portables isn't going to going to take care of the fact that we have a school that's beyond its life expectancy and it it's not if it'll
happen. It's when we're going to have a system failure, which will be very disruptive in most cases. Uh portables are are definitely not ideal for for that age group. And we would be looking for portables that have washrooms uh available. So there would
be money required for that. There are used portables out there and uh you typically don't get them for just transporting them. There's a there's a cost associated with it. My wife just finished a a project uh and she had to
bring a I can't remember how many 50 60 70 portables over the uh Cape Cod Bridge. Wow. And then uh hook them up. And it was uh it was a lot of money. So, and she did pay for those portables plus transportation.
But so I mean again I one has to consider the the whole picture here. I mean we're we're looking at preK to2 students. They're they're our youngest learners. Uh we we want to make sure that they're connected
to the school as much as possible and uh walking walking outside during the the winter time and in cold weather to go back and forth to to the cafeteria or gymnasium or to receive services if they require services isn't isn't the best
option. And if we we don't do anything to modernize the building and just do a code upgrades, it's not it's not going to meet the educational plan that we've designed, which is really focusing around 21st century learning skills. So,
uh I get it. My experience as superintendent for 26 years is portables are a temporary measure until a town uh is eligible to get funding from the state or decides to build the school on their own. It's It's certainly not a a
permanent solution. I saw Jim's hand up. I don't know if he'd pulled it down. Yeah. No, it's really it's really just something uh uh to to Kelly's point. I mean, I you know, Kelly's been in this for 26 years. I've been over for 30
years and I and I've dealt with the temporary portables uh in in in two or three different communities. I think two different communities and that's exactly what they are is temporary. In no way, shape or form is it is it a is it a a
sustainable long-term learning environment um whatsoever? Absolutely. Positively not. coupled with the fact that they're connected to what Kelly said is an antiquated building. And uh really it's something that is so
outdated and tired and um so I I respect the opinion, but I do not agree with it whatsoever at all. In no way, shape or form. Yeah, I I agree. and then bringing in secondhand
portables to an antiquated school is adding, you know, old to old and that's that just doesn't make any sense, right? So, Karen's got her hand up as well.
Yeah. uh not to pile on but as a parent I have experience with um children young children being educated in in modulars and it's my own children um back in Colorado um and while it is
okay um to say that it is less than ideal even that is is is really giving it too much credit. Um, my kids feel completely separated from the rest of the student body. Um, they
it's cold in the winter and it's hot in the summer no matter what. Um, it's just it's a really um it's a really it should be used temporarily at best and in that even then short-term temporarily um
that's where my kiddos attended kindergarten. fantastic school, right? But they ran out of space. They brought in uh trailers and um yeah, it's not the same. It's not the same environment.
And let's let's remember that that the modulars are used until uh a permanent solution is is uh completed. So, you know, this person is advocating modulars as a permanent
solution. No, if I can speak uh No, he's not. He's actually So, I don't I appreciate all the time already given to this. If there's someone that I can speak more offline, he's not advocating a permanent
solution. He's actually advocating a delay of several years. And I'm not trying to uh in any way suggest all the statements that I've heard, I couldn't agree more. I'm trying to combat what I see as a respected citizen who's saying
delay it for 2 to 3 years. He appears to give no concern with regard to the inevitability that if this fails, that being the vote, that um we're going to trigger u the situation to have a code
upgrade. He seems to give no consideration with that. Rather he seems to be enamored with the concept that modular is to offset the utilization of inadequate space for a period of two to three years to offset what he presents I
don't know his support but he presents as that will negate the impact of existing tariffs and the existence of a high interest rate and how he thinks both of those going to go away I can't begin to speak to so I appreciate all the time given if there's someone that
is willing I was looking for is there a presentation that was made a year or so ago with regard to consideration of a use of modulars other than a total use of modulars which is not what he's advocating for. Um, and he's not looking
forward as a permanent. He's got something in between that I still think is very vulnerable. But I know that there are people on this call that have the experience and the knowledge with which to combat it. And that was my per purpose for speaking tonight. And I thank you for your time.
Rob, one more thing. If he's looking at this gentleman is looking at two to three years, then he's also assuming that the community is going to shoulder the whole cost of the project because there will no there will be no grant from MSBA.
I think that's a pretty strong rebuttal by itself. And but I mean Rob, we meet every Friday. We can certainly talk it about talk it about talk about it then more correctly. And uh um Jim Dugen has a lot of experience as well. So we we
can certainly talk through this. Uh Kelly, can I join you in that meeting, please? Of course. You bet. Just that one. Just that one. Are you sure? You're always welcome. I know I am. Just that one. I have Rob on Mondays. Okay. I'll send you the link.
Maril Lee has her hand up, too. Yeah. So, uh, I just wanted to point out that going back months, every single presentation that was recorded has several minutes of myself and Kelly talking about modulars and how they're
not a real solution for all the reasons everybody just named, but also because modulars don't solve issues like the gymnasium being half the size it's supposed to be. So, there's there's quite a few meetings that were recorded if you want to go back and look at those. Uh we also talked about things
like escalation and why modulars are not a permanent solution at all and why the sooner this project can be done the better both in terms of getting the MSBA grant and taking advantage of of that plus you know the longer you wait the
more costs go up. So I'm I'm repeating what others have already said but I just wanted to point out that those statements were recorded and they should be available online. Okay, thanks Marley. Y any other uh public comment?
Uh nobody from the attendees. So that's it. Okay, so the next meeting is Wednesday, September 17th. Um is there a motion to adjourn? So moved. Second. Second.
Okay. Um I'm not going to ask for a roll call vote. I assume it's unanimous. So, uh, thanks everyone and, uh, we'll see you at the next meeting. Thanks, Steve. Have a good night.