##VIDEO ID:cIHwEotbBVM## so we'll go ahead and uh we call to order at 611 uh under uh Massachusetts general laws chapter 38 section 2f this meeting is being recorded and first off we'll uh stand for the pled pledge allegiance Alle to the flank the United States of America to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all thank you very much so just for the record it is Monday November 25th and this is the meeting of the long-term building committee uh first off we're going to have an opportunity for public comments so if anyone wishes to uh speak at all on uh on the uh proposed feasibility studies so all right and don't see anybody at the moment so we'll just go ahead and move on to the action item which is the recommendation uh or discussion item rather uh the about the uh the RFP proposals and the presentations that we saw last meeting uh so if anybody has any comments um I will I do the minutes first so I I I had them I had them down down as well but uh um we can just do that right at the end there but I I did want to make sure everybody had a chance uh Committee Member John Perry uh dropped off B some comments since he's not was not able to attend tonight so uh that was in the packet if anybody has a CH I hope everybody had a chance to take a look at those and um yeah if anybody has any any comments right now about the presentations um I thought both firms were uh provided uh some uh interesting approaches and I I do tend to think that there was one one firm that seemed to have a uh a full grasp of the situation that we're asking uh them to to take on uh and I I I will say that I thought the the RGB presentation was was very thorough I thought they were both thorough but I I I certainly think that the two things that stuck out to me about rgb's presentation was number one that they have seen these types of projects from start to finish and it there were several where they had participated in uh everything from a feasibility study all the way through uh project management and construction to to a finished product and that that is a key key component I think of of uh what we would want in a firm to to undertake this uh this project uh or this study and the other thing I think is worth noting that is kind of in a direct ju toos to the other firm uh RGB is located in Providence and and um the other firm being located in in Boston uh it actually I think played a role in in the presentation because principal there was not able to attend um and I I do think that the distance between here and Boston is is is a bit of a a bit of a wide Gulf and that does concern me a little bit uh so th those are my thoughts I will likely be or I will I will be voting to award the project to uh or to recommend award the project to RGB but I would love to hear anyone else's thought I mean I think the proximity issue was certainly uh a valid a valid point to bring up although when you look at the um resume of projects that they had had uh had worked on uh they actually had completed several projects locally whereas uh the um uh first first firm um was it RGB RGB um their most of their experience had been in the Rhode Island area and now they've dabbled a little bit in adbor so I think that um uh HK H KT is that right do I have the letters right all these alphabet letters um hkt had has a little bit more experience dealing with you know the town meeting issue and local Massachusetts uh types of uh foibles in in and things that can be uh addressed uh through this one concern I also had is that they were going to have to subcontract out just about every piece of the project that you know they would they were the glue that held it together but they had to they didn't control the other components that were going to be participants also in the whole um in the whole uh project uh you know their timeline I thought was um you was realistic that it is probably going to take some time they certainly understood the dynamic of including all of the buildings and doing a cost benefit analysis which was really what they seemed to focus on right out of the choot now whether that had more to do with the person that was presenting because she wasn't really the number one person that was going to be presenting he couldn't make it and that was her area of expertise but they certainly did seem to focus on wanting to deliver a product that gave us a good indication of uh Alternatives with our buildings and perhaps you know the the the life the the lifeline and what was left um uh for alternative uses for some of the building so I I I think there were pros and cons for both uh but certainly uh RGB had a much more Dynamic package that they could offer and that they had a lot of um of of areas that they could pull from and although much of their expertise was in um in the state of Rhode Island I'm sure that they could adapt and have adapted they had some projects in adelar and some of the communities that uh Bard Rhode Island know differently than we do um that I think that they certainly you know it's not that archaic that you know they could certainly catch on to the differences perhaps between Rhode Island financing and uh Massachusetts financing when it comes down to the project so um I would lean more heavily towards uh RGB but I did like the kind of organic nature of uh the the the second presenter and um I thought that they were focusing on the right things but I'm not really sure they have uh everything they they could to deliver the product Mr chair uh just first want to say I appreciate both RGB and hkt for presenting to us and explaining uh their proposals uh both certainly have expertise uh in these areas I would also be inclined uh echoing some of Miss Brown's comments to uh support the recommendation of RGB I think they had a uh they seem to have a a deeper understanding of especially some of the funding opportunities should this move forward um to the town for a proposal um and you know they they again had experience in this uh I also was skeptical to Mr Perry's point that he brought up at the last meeting about the subcontractor model I think it might be difficult both with budget and timeline to to work with that many groups I'm sure they do it but I think it may pose a challenge so uh for those reasons I we inclined to support rgp recognation I also feel the same way um the one thing about the second one was they said they had no idea for funding so that was right right that was that was a that was a critical po Point as well yes the not only being aware of the opportunities but the proactive nature right or proactive approach that they would take that RGB would would take is definitely was a key factor for me as well so any else have any I only saw the uh taped responses in presentation from the second one I left after the first had the meeting go to uh I had concerns about RGB but then it same concerns popped up with h hkt too I think hkt was more realistic though I saw the note in here about their timeline yes but I also think RGB was trying to be proactive and saying you need this right I'm assuming you need this right away so timeline would be whatever it is I think we should set the timeline and see if they can meet it if we no matter who we take it is's a concern about the Ral part of it though because Ro Island and Massachusetts are two different worlds right uh however second one didn't have any thought process about how to fund it so uh I mean RGB they showed up they were prepared they did what we need to do they had questions and answers so seemed to me that they did well on that aspect we check references are we going to yeah I I think we probably should because I I think there's some we got some local guys that work for I think for rjb yeah I I had a concern because I know the firm I work for has worked for RGB in the past but they not working for him now so I just want to put that on the table but uh I'm not sure you know uh the r thing always bothers me because of the funding and one question I did ask was you know there's a lot more than just buildings here there's also a semantic argument here about where things are going and what things are doing how things are going to happen you know we often in this town uh come up with these projects that get killed because basically a majority of sentiment is not to do that as opposed to what's the best idea so I thought RGB maybe the best presentation the one thing that I felt was I actually think HT htk gave a better presentation but uh they stumbled on all the areas you guys talked about in terms of U using the subcontractor model not uh be willing to sort of talk about uh or take responsibility for being aware or sharing information about other funding sources and um htk had the best time frame I thought that what RGB put forth was unrealistic uh given a the time of year and and you throw into that you know we we jump past the holidays but then you're dealing getting a project hitting the ground running and trying to get it done during the the winter months now these days is not much of a factor but there are winters that still happen that you're going to lose uh 3 to five days here and there in terms of the access to uh uh facilities as well as meeting with people and so on and so forth so uh I would like to put some stipulations in terms of uh deliverables uh if we go with RGB which I can vote for but I that was where I thought was the weakest part of the presentation so I I think it's worth noting here um because I I share the same concern on timeline especially um I think that what whatever ends up coming from the select as a directive from the select board should include stipulations on the timeline it should it if some adjustments need to be made uh to uh the The Proposal I think that's that's certainly uh certainly something that should be done uh when when the final Contracting shall we say gets gets done uh with the select board um I'm I'm inclined at this at this time to just well let me ask actually ask what the committee's pleasure is here my thought is it's it's the purv of this committee to Simply recommend based on the proposals based on what we've what we've seen what we've heard uh recommend to the select board what action the select board should should take between these two firms so um but I I again I certainly agree on the issues the questions about the timeline and would hope that Mr haret you and the select board would uh kind of tweak fine-tune some of the parameters of of the project with with anyone that was selected so U yes Miss absolutely I heard you mention that Mr per sent in some remarks is it possible to share those yes feel free to yeah Sean said that um there two different worlds between Island in Massachusetts just threw that out there and I'd like to know put some meat on that I think the part of the issue is the way things are funded the way things are done and grants you know just knowing working in two different states you you go to two different procedures it's not necessarily the same procedure or the experience in one not necessarily lend you to be expert in the other uh right I had expressed the same concern about Rhode Island versus Massachusetts and just the funding sources I mean grants that may be available in Rhode Island in a plentiful way may not be available in massachus Grants well right but they and and I had asked the question of them as to whether or not these grants were state or federal they said you know kind of a mix but a lot of them were were state so I think it it just depends it's just something that one group didn't have any any opinion at all about funding the other group has has done funding but primarily in Rhode Island and it was just a a point where but I will agree with sha that there are differences of political opinion and political process that might a process I think that significantly different uh working through the halls of state capital for funding and that type of thing not that they don't know not that they can't do it it's just a concern where you know uh I've seen people who can think perfectly but I also don't want to miss an opportunity so the other thing that really stood out to me about rgb's uh process um it it seemed that they found the a nice balance between being able to be open to all sorts of opinions and open in the public comment and understanding that there also needs to be kind of a uh something to pitch at the end and that's that's one thing where I was a little a little concerned about the hkt uh because I think ultimately whatever comes out of this it's it's going to be you know not only are we going to have the cost benefit analysis to be able to look and see you know which one's the best best the best financial fit but whatever we've been over this several times whatever option is chosen for the high school even if it is just to knock it down and and and sell you're dealing with uh the the necessity of probably a debt exclusion at the very least so no matter what there's going to have to be something to give to the town at town meeting to vote on um it seemed to me that hkt didn't really or rather let me let me step back here it seemed to me that RB RGB understood that that was going to be the ultimate use of of any study whereas I'm not necessarily sure if if if if uh the finished product was necessarily on hqt mind right so yes sir just um Chan Perry Just so you would ask so publicly he he he said both firms he felt were qualified I think he was a little concerned about the schedule for RGB but uh his conclusion was assuming that they would adjust their schedule and have a strong team leader I would recommend RGB so he was the only other comment I would make would be on the grants um I've been doing grants for 30 some years we've done a number of projects you can find some small grants for some of the cultural aspects you might find small like in the grants that they were talking about the projects if you notice they were the smaller projects right a small community building and they said I forget which one but mentioned that they had one Grant so they were doing a small portion of the building and then they were going to do another portion if they got a grant so I just want to be cautious if it's a you know small Municipal complex or Lodge it's it's not easy to get grants for a significant project right I also thought this common about knowing who are going to be the team leaders and who will be on the team is important if you're going to adjust because you really couldn't tell I guess he's one of the owners the first so we need to I think right I think I asked that I I remember that being asked and resp the the the other individual who was here was was going to be the the one of the for a particular aspect of the project right exactly so um so again I I think that there there are certainly some parameters that need to be discussed and and kind of narrowed down once it gets to a to a a Contracting phase um I I and I hope that these things are discussed and mentioned especially on the timeline that that I think we're all in agreement that that needs to be adjusted my my question is is that more on the the select board's uh purview than ours at this point um to that end chair i i i u make a motion that this committee recommend to the select board the uh the enter negotiations with RGB with particular attention to be paid towards the time frame for executing and completing the contract second okay we have a motion made and seconded to recommend uh R RGB uh with the stipulations Mr du just uh uh mentioned including uh the timeline and uh working out further further details I think that's realistic real realistic details yes indeed realistic timeline a realistic timeline for absolutely so uh we have a motion made in second uh ask all those in favor or do we have discussion I think we should uh what the discussion should be we or the slman should set the timeline what we're looking for I mean I don't want to just say oh 12 weeks is unrealistic then they you know two years from now right where where are you you know what are you doing well I think that's I think that's embedded in my my okay I just want to make that clear yeah no is it's subject to it's not based upon or you so so what is the committee think would be a realistic timeline what does the committee so so I wish I had the presentations in front of me because I think we were dealing with about a month difference or maybe two differ said 12 weeks they said 12 weeks and yeah it was June it was June before I thought it was early June uh before they were going to be able to deliver isn't that correct RGB was at the end of March and hkt was in June right the end of June so was about a month difference roughly and and you know I'm of two minds here because it would be ideal yes if we could deliver something to to town meeting that would be wonderful is that is that the happy medium there I think it it may be but I'll also defer to others who I'm not sure what we would deliver to town meeting right would it be more of a it's not really a setup for presentation at town meeting um so are you asking town meeting to appropriate funds are you ask me and I don't think we'll be at that point yeah I I agree with it I I I would like even if frankly even if it's an ongoing this is this is we're in the process of this I think I think something should be maybe not a presentation for time sake but something should be delivered uh just to you know right it's hard you know it's hard for town meeting purposes because the whole it is unfortunate that the whole purpose of of town meeting is to specifically act on questions yeah right and it's not a forum for feedback discussion or a vote on non- money things like you know you can't just put so what do you think of this you know let's see let's take a vote here of the people here what do they you know would they vote for this option or would they vote for that option without some money attached I mean it's it's not referendum type uh it's not a a for for a referendum it it's a form for appropriation more than anything else so it's it's difficult to not have something attached to it in some way or form but you know maybe it can be coined in in a way that that we could get feedback but once again all that feedback people would say yes but how much does it cost of course even if it was something as simple as I think the feedback portion also will be gleaned through the the process and both uh firms talked about public participation in that so I think that may be I I the one thing I would CA Russian is rushing or sacrificing the quality of the final product you know for a timeline purpose for town meeting right I think if we can have a special town meeting right exactly and I think the the the goal of of uh one of the things that RGB emphasized was public input so I think the public will have an opportunity to to give Insight throughout the process and certainly I would I would like to see that um just as a suggestion I would think we' try to push for maybe six months and hope and get it done I mean just even getting the contract negotiated getting the contract signed hitting the schedule with the select board's meeting I mean that that can take a month and a half you know just everything seems to go a little bit slower but I say we push for six months and see if we can get it to work right sounds good and to your earlier Point even even if they delivered in March I'm not sure even that would be enough time to line up something for Town meetings right and and and given the items that Mr Dutra had mentioned as well given that it's winter if we do want public input you know we would really would like to have that public input as to what types of uses and what suggestions people have out there for for public use uh of that facility and you know we could have schedule a meeting for the third Thursday in February and it's a big snowstorm or whatever and you have to reschedule it and you know you can run into those obstacles January February and March so as the spring enters maybe that's a better time for them to finish the product so I I think I would agree that the timeline is UN unrealistic for a lot of reasons we do have a a motion on the table is there any further discussion on the motion all right hearing none all those in favor I I any opposed and the motion carries all right oh we have celebratory music seconded that motion did okay so moving on very quickly then uh to uh the two other action items first of all we we have two minutes to approve uh thanks to Mr hardit here uh for September 4th and uh November 20th and I'll entertain motions to approve motion to approve as written second it's been motion and second to approve uh did I hear you correct you're approving both sets of minutes Mr all right excellent although any discussion all those in favor I I I all those opposed hearing none the minutes are passed and we'll move on to the final action item is the appointment of a committee clerk um I did not bring my straws for everyone to draw so I'm going to ask one more time for a volunteer and hearing none um Mr Sor you happen to be right next to me so I think I'm drafting you for I got I just became the chair of the infrastructure oversight and I got the same problem I can't find a I can't find can't find a cler clerk um I will give it a shot through only for those meetings that are recorded because I cannot take quick minutes handwritten I can with my arthritis I can't really even write a check barely anymore so I will be happy to um transcribe them from a recording that way I can take my time doing it so I will do it from a recording if we recorded if for some reason we don't have uh visual recording here if we have a zoom or something as long as I can get the transcription of that then that's fine and I think it would be certainly uh my hope that all all of the meetings will be yeah I hope so too because I think the the public enjoys uh the benefit of uh of of having those and and I would certainly encourage anyone to tell people tell your friends that you can view these meetings um uh online excellent so uh did I do I hear a motion to appoint uh Cy promis clerk so moved K's not going to be happy been moved and seconded uh any discussion all those in favor I any opposed no I won't even oppose it okay thank you very you're welcome all right excellent I have no topics uh not reasonably anticipated uh so with that I'll entertain a motion to adjourn so move second been moving second all those in favor I any opposed hearing none we are adjourned 638 thank you very much