Approved November 20, 2024
MPS BUILDING COMMITTEE MEETING
Oliphant Administration Building
Michael S. Pinto Conference Room
26 Oliphant Lane, Middletown, RI 02842
October 23, 2024 5:00pm
Members in Attendance:
| Present | Voting Member | Name | Title |
| X | Yes | Edward Brady | Chair, Community Member |
| N | Yes | William Nash | Vice Chair, Community Member |
| X | Yes | William Niemeyer | Superintendent of Schools |
| X | Yes | Theresa Spengler | School Committee Chair |
| X | Yes | Tami Holden | School Committee Vice Chair |
| N | Yes | Vacant | Director of Facilities Management, Transportation and Safety |
| X | Yes | Thomas P. Welch, III | Town Council Vice President |
| X | Yes | Peter Connerton | Town Council Member |
| N | Yes | Donna Sweet | Middletown High School Principal |
| N | Yes | Michelle Fonseca | Asst Superintendent for Teaching and Learning |
| X* | Yes | Shawn Brown | Town Administrator, Local Budget Official |
| X | Yes | Don Morin | Secretary, Community Member |
| X | Yes | Marc Thayer | Community Member |
| N | Alternate | Gregory Huet | Alternate Member of School Committee |
| P | Alternate | William O’Connell | Alternate Member of School Committee |
| N | Alternate | Christopher Logan | Alternate Town Council Member |
| X | Alternate | Jerry Haas | Gaudet Middle School Principal |
| X* | Alternate | Marc Tanguay | Town Finance Director, Alternate Local Budget Official |
X = Present/Voting; R=Represented; P=Present/Non-voting; N=Not Present
* Marc Tanguay represented Shawn Brown until Shawn arrived at 5:30pm.
· The meeting was called to order at 5:01 pm by Chair Ed Brady. Ten (10) of thirteen (13) voting members were present or represented by an alternate.
· Also present: Justin Bernard, Colin McCarthy, OPM, Colliers Project Leaders; Matt LaRue, Tina Stanislaski, Soha Mohammed-Eltaher, HMFH Architects; Tony Murgida, Gilbane Building Company.
· Present via Zoom: Connor Heinzman, HMFH Architects; Ed Cifune, Emma Osborne, DBVW Architects.
· MOTION: Tom Welch moved to accept the meeting minutes from September 25, 2024 and Don Morin seconded.
· DISCUSSION: None.
· VOTE: The motion passed unanimously (10-0).
· Build RI Executive Director and General Counsel Gregory Mancini addressed the Building Committee about project labor agreements (PLAs). PLAs serve as a collective bargaining agreement for an entire project. A project of this size might have up to sixteen different bargaining units with different collective bargaining agreements. PLAs create a single bargaining agreement for the project that all parties will adhere to.
· In most industries, joining a union is done at the will of the workers. In the construction industry, the business owner can decide if they believe joining a union is in its best interest. Many construction business owners choose to do so.
· Mr. Mancini shared how a PLA can help reduce risk for a project of this size.
· The project will have immediate access to skilled labor at the prevailing wage rate.
· A predetermined amount of money goes into a training program to ensure that a pool of trained workers is always available.
· Union laborers have better safety records than non-union laborers.
· Work is required to continue even if there is a dispute between unions. In fact, no work stoppages are allowed for any reason.
· No additional cost is incurred as the union wage rate is essentially the same as the prevailing wage rate.
· PLAs are popular nationally for large projects. In 2000, the RI Supreme Court issued a decision on how an entity can establish a PLA. The entity must define the goals of a project and then do a study to determine if a PLA will help meet the goals of said project.
· Mr. Mancini stated that 90% of the large companies doing work on projects of this size are unionized. He added that Federal law does not allow discrimination against non-union labor. As a result, the PLA can stipulate that a non-union bidder does not have to pay the union dues if it has its own benefits program, as that is not fair.
· Build RI will share a boilerplate PLA with the Town that the Town can then tailor to its project. The PLA should be documented and signed by all unions and the Construction Manager prior to the project going out to bid.
· Regarding staffing, skilled personnel will come from RI first. If there is a challenge with providing skilled labor from RI, the unions have the infrastructure to provide resources from a regional and national network to ensure that the necessary skilled labor is provided.
· Build RI will work with Middletown to ensure that apprenticeship opportunities are provided to its residents. Build RI has a goal of having 15% of all work be performed by apprentices.
· Mr. Mancini explained that all current large RIDE projects have a PLA in place except for Middletown and East Greenwich, while Warwick is doing a feasibility study now.
· Tony Murgida from Gilbane Building Company stated that given the quantity of work that will be occurring at the same time as our project and given that the other projects are entering into a PLA with the unions, having a PLA in place is of value to ensure that the necessary labor will be available when it is needed. Mr. Mancini added that typical language in the PLA states that the necessary skilled labor will be provided within 48 hours, whether it be from a union or non-union company.
· MOTION: Ed Brady moved to recommend that the Town of Middletown and Middletown Public Schools pursue a feasibility study for a Project Labor Agreement and Don Morin seconded.
· DISCUSSION: No additional discussion.
· VOTE: The motion passed unanimously (10-0). Shawn Brown and Billy Niemeyer will arrange for a joint meeting of the School Committee and Town Council to take up this recommendation.
· ACTION: Arrange for a joint meeting of the School Committee and Town Council to take up the recommendation to perform a PLA feasibility study. – Town Administrator and Superintendent
· The presentation supplied by Build RI to the Town can be viewed here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1O_ipTLwoBWO-Daiw1DwM24D4Z00dR5HF/view?usp=sharing.
· The letter from Gilbane to request consideration of a PLA feasibility study can be viewed here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aa_6MqE7lw5tKHudH1bpCQSv2yVuHWqE/view?usp=sharing.
4.1 Construction Document (CD) Development Interior Space Design Update
· Matt LaRue stated that HMFH is approaching the halfway point of the Construction Document phase and is on target to have the 60% CDs ready by mid-December to go for cost estimating, with 100% completion targeted for March, 2025.
· HMFH has met with the Historical Society and three potential themes for graphics were highlighted: agriculture (farming, windmills, vineyard, nurseries), the Navy, and leisure destination (auto racing, picnics, beaches). Other potential topics include local figures such as Joseph H. Gaudet), geology (stone walls, pudding stone, Peckham Quarry), historic schools, and the history of the site (cultural, spiritual, archaeological and/or architecture).
· Matt added that the name of the new school will need more immediate thought than the themes do. He requested that the name be determined by March of 2025. This decision falls under the purview of the School Committee in conjunction with the Town Counsel and not the Building Committee.
· ACTION: Determine the name of the new middle-high school by March, 2025. – School Committee in conjunction with Town Counsel
· Matt shared slides showing examples of classrooms and labs in the middle and high school. Classrooms will have marking boards for writing and tacking with magnets. Ceilings will be sloped higher toward the windows to maximize the amount of light entering the room. The slope will be from approximately nine feet at its lowest point to approximately eleven feet four inches by the windows.
· The building will have full outside air ventilation, but each classroom will also have three window openings, two of which can be opened. The windows will have room-darkening shades, and the transom and side light at the door will have blinds that can be pulled down.
· The science rooms will be larger and will contain much more storage than the regular classrooms. Each science room will contain an emergency shower and eye wash station. The middle school will have two science rooms per grade, while the high school will have six science rooms total. High school classrooms will be larger due to the lack of lockers, allowing for the walls to be pushed out further than the middle school classrooms. High school science rooms will be even larger, with each pair of rooms sharing a prep room where chemicals can be stored between them.
4.2 Soil Sampling Update
· The soils characterization report has been received. Soil samples were taken from three sites, and two of the samples contained levels of materials higher than allowed. One was for petroleum and one was for lead. The consultants from GZA believe that these are isolated findings and once the soil is blended, the piles will contain levels below the acceptable limits for removal from the site. GZA is in consultation with RI DEM for handling guidance. Soils export cost allowances are captured within the budget.
4.3 Planning Board Master Plan Application Update
· The Planning Board master plan review meeting is scheduled for November 6th.
4.4 User Meetings Update
· HMFH met with middle school students and Mr. Taylor earlier in the day as part of the environmental club for a biophilic design workshop. The students were very engaged and provided a high quality of input on their recommendations for the new school. A user group meeting with the high school to do the same thing is pending.
· A meeting with the drama instructor took place on October 21st and a follow up user group meeting will be held with a larger group of teachers on November 5th.
· HMFH is completing the requirements for the RIDEM permitting filing for stormwater and wetlands and will go out on October 29th. During a ninety-day filing period HMFH anticipates receiving feedback from RIDEM that can be incorporated in the design.
· Multiple user group meetings will take place on November 5th.
· The 100% Construction Documents for the elementary school complex are targeted to be completed by November 8th and will be ready for cost estimating.
· The state fire board hearing for approval of the waiver for interior window sprinklers is scheduled for December 3rd.
· The update from HMFH can be viewed here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fd_ay8mxqt2gkzWWLh7E6tOVNrCAQ4Hj/view?usp=sharing.
5.1 Roads & Utilities Advisory Committee Meeting Recap
· Justin Bernard informed the Committee that a meeting took place with the Roads & Utilities Advisory Committee on October 3rd. They had three main comments:
· Sanitary sewer lines at Gaudet and the High School should be investigated with cameras.
· The existing stone wall to the north of the Gaudet School will need to be relocated.
· A Committee member requested new islands in the existing southeast parking lot. The design team noted that they were removed during value engineering.
5.2 RIDE Stage III DD Submission Update
· The consultant team is still waiting for feedback from RIDE on the Stage III Design Development Submission that was submitted on October 1st.
5.3 ES Complex Heating System Walkthrough Follow Up & Updated HMFH Supplemental Services Request
· Justin Bernard informed the Committee that a walkthrough of the existing high school to assess the heating system took place on October 10th with Bentley and their heating subcontractor to identify areas to be repaired/upgraded.
· A thorough investigation of the entire heating system will be scheduled in the coming weeks. The hope is to start work on the system immediately after the heating season, potentially in April, 2025.
· Based on the revised approach for the heating system, HMFH has revised its Elementary School Complex Supplemental Services Request from June 24th, reducing it by $350,280.
· There are no changes to the budget. The contracted amount in the budget will be reduced upon approval of the HMFH supplemental services request to be voted on later in the meeting.
5.5 Four Week Look Ahead
· Preparation for the Planning Board meeting will continue.
· Colliers is prepared to review and act on any comments when they come from the RIDE Stage III DD Submission.
· A detailed HVAC investigation at the existing high school will take place in the next few weeks.
· The update from Colliers can be viewed here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Yc3C2D0RhoB_rhkb85JKbzD6ngQ-eTaw/view?usp=sharing.
6.1 Updated HMFH Supplemental Service Request Discussion
· MOTION: Don Morin moved that the School Building Committee vote to recommend that the School Committee and Town Council approve HMFH’s revised Supplemental Services Request dated October 16, 2024 and Theresa Spengler seconded.
· DISCUSSION: The budget should reflect a move of $350,380 from the contracted services line item to the owner’s contingency line item.
· VOTE: The motion passed unanimously (10-0).
6.2 Future Meetings Schedule
· Chair Ed Brady mentioned that our two next meetings will be on November 20th and December 18th. In 2025, we should consider moving to the second and fourth Wednesday of the month in 2025.
· Don shared a sample calendar that he put together for the Building Committee to consider. He will share it with the full Building Committee for review and approval at the next meeting.
6.3 Four Week Look Ahead
· Chair Ed Brady explained that he had nothing else to add, except that he would like to start receiving some Construction Documents when they are available so some of the Building Committee members who wish to review them can do so.
· Don and Ed will follow up offline on open action items that have not yet been closed.
· Shawn Brown asked the School Committee to advertise for a new community member to the Building Committee to replace Bill Nash as he will become a member of the School Committee after the November election.
· ACTION: Post for a new community member to replace Bill Nash on the School Building Committee. – School Committee
Adjournment:
· MOTION: Tom Welch moved that the Building Committee adjourn at 6:35pm and Don Morin seconded. The motion passed unanimously (10-0).
Future Meeting Schedule – The next meeting will be on November 20, 2024 at 5:00p.m. at the Oliphant Administration Building.
Respectfully Submitted,
Don Morin