TOWN OF BRADFORD
TOWN HALL RESTORATION COMMITTEE
JANUARY 25, 2012
7:00PM
Call to Order and Roll Call:
Eileen Kelly, Chair called the meeting to order at 7:;00pm with Audrey Sylvester, Beth Rodd, John Greenwood, George Cilley, Caryl Walker, Marcia Keller, Dick Keller and Marge Cilley, Secretary present. Andrew Pinard arrived 9:30pm.
Also present were Carl Rubchinuk, Unity Rigging and Bob Lincoln.
Review and Consideration of January 21, 2012 minutes: Motion was made by Beth Rodd to approve the January 21, 2012 minutes. Seconded by George Cilley. Motion carried 8-0,
Mark Goldberg, Fire Chief:
Mark Goldberg, Fire Chief stated that any space over 2500 square feet does need to be sprinkled, even if not occupied. This would involve water storage, and to get that kind of
gallons, you would need to have a sprinkler design, and have hydraulic calculations done.
Having that done, they will advise what the water storage capacity needs to be, and Chief Goldberg guessed it could be around 30,000 gallons, but could be as low as 10,000 gallons. Once the sprinkler designs are done, they are submitted to the Fire Marshall as well as ISO and Hartford.
Another topic of concern is the septic system which will have to be addressed. Room for a septic large enough for the occasional 200 people was discussed. John Greenwood stated he had talked with a Soil Scientist today, and he presented the same scenario, with four daily workers with the occasional 200 four or five times a year. The Soil Scientist advised John that it makes it into a load capacity design issue where you are looking at possibly 600 gallons per day. These designs are based on an occasional permitted use.
A well radius issue, the Soil Scientist advised right now there can be 20 feet of separation between a well and septic. The new wells now have a 4” PVC pipe down so there is a gap and they grout on the side which seals it. Discussion ensued regarding just where the well is located. Another problem considered is the amount of land with what is established that needs to be done.
Mark Goldberg stated that a 7’ x 30’ tank is only 9,000 gallons, so if there could be three required, it would take a lot of space. Mark also pointed out that these tanks must be open to the Fire system. If there were a catastrophic leak, even 10,000 gallons below grade would require massive drains or sump pits.
John Greenwood questioned Mark Goldberg how it was determined if the water for the sprinkler system would be 10,000 or 30,000, and Mark stated it would be the determination after it had been submitted to the ISO and hydraulic study. Fire pumps have to be fed directly from the pole, and a large capacity generator would be the back up, unless they went with a diesel pump which has exhaust and ventilation concerns. Unlike previously, the generator can now be for multipurpose uses.
It was stated that LP gas is more efficient today, and also a turn down ratios because the load varies in the building so much and this would give much better control, however venting would be a concern . Mark Goldberg, Fire Chief advised he would check out new codes.
Stamped engineers plans will need to be obtained, and several names were listed. Mark also reminded everyone that there will be annual costs for monitoring and certification of all the systems, that need to be considered.
Sprinklers are designed on the worst zone per Mark Goldberg, that being the auditorium, so it would be designed for the upper level even though it was not going to be used there for some time.
Other discussion topics included but not limited to were:
Building is landlocked
Parking
Ventilation in the basement
Heat, Hot water, Air conditioning
Humidifier
Air Handlers
Controllers
Second exit in the basement
Safe storage in the basement of town records.
Fire Alarm system
Mark Goldberg, Fire Chief stated the property behind the Town Hall would be a large asset to the property. Mark also advised he is not for the project for several reasons, however, he would help the committee and town in any way he can to accomplish what the town wants to achieve.
John Greenwood stated that the town hall is the largest building we have right now, the town office is out, police renting space, and we do need to find a way to make due with it.
A fire suppression engineer for design and plan would need to be procured and they would take it to ISO, then Mark Goldberg, Fire Chief advised he would go over the design and some minor things with them. Resulting from this, would be where the water would go, make decisions as to the fire pump size, electrical sizes, back up generators.
Audrey Sylvester questioned Mark Goldberg, Fire Chief what could they do to persuade him to save the town hall. Bradford’s oldest building since 1797, has served the town for generations of activities and is the core of the village on Main Street. Mark suggested that being able to purchase the property behind the town hall would be very advantageous.
Mark Goldberg, Fire Chief gave everyone his telephone number and e-mail address and invited everyone to contact him if anyone has any questions. He was thanked for his input by all the board members.
Report from today’s workshop:
Caryl Walker, Audrey Sylvester and George Cilley attended the Town Hall Mentoring Retreat with the New Hampshire Restoration Alliance, and gave their presentation of what is needed and hoped to accomplish with the Bradford Town Hall. The first comment from the attendees was there were six other towns there with the same concerns and goals that Bradford is having. Strategies and perceptions were the topics of conversation with all the committees present. A couple of sayings presented were: Looking Ahead by Building on the past and Row, don’t drift. Some towns are going ahead with pledges to get money. A time line strategy is advantageous, as is perception of participation.
Types of Loans, Longivity and Interest:
Marcia Keller had procured figures from Lake Sunapee Bank for a 15 and 20 year payback time frame for a $450,000 and an $800,000 loan with different types of loans, along with an amortization schedules for each. It was again pointed out that if the $450,000 was borrowed and paid back in 15 years, the annual payments would be no more and in many cases less then what the town has been spending annually for the town hall for minor fixes.
Decision was made to check with a Design Engineer for an estimated cost for a design. One engineering firm would handle all aspects of the project and make sure it is up to code. Eileen Kelly will check with an Engineering firm and check with their estimate of a fee, for what we need to get done and to let us know in a couple of weeks.
It was suggested that as a committee what we’ve found is that we need Engineer’s drawings done in detail that would support a long term project which would include phasing it out into three phases, cost associated with each phase so as a committee, we are getting that together but we do need to get the engineer’s drawings done.
It was decided that the THRC could go to the Selectmen and explain what they are planning this week and put in a figure in the next Budget Committee meeting for a Warrant Article.
Motion was made by Marcia Keller that rather than going for a bond, we get engineering prices as firm as we can, go before the Selectmen and tell them this is what we want to do, and for Town Meeting 2012, we ask for the funds to do a comprehensive engineering plan for the restoration of the town hall, with the intent of doing it in phases
and the expectation that we will be looking for bond money for the first phase at a recessed Town Meeting. Seconded by John Greenwood. Motion carried 8-0.
Eileen Kelly, Chair will contact an engineer for an engineer plan/design tomorrow.
Eileen Kelly read an e-mail from Andrew Dey, Consulting, from Walpole stating he had received the RFP for the restoration of the Bradford Town Hall, but will not be responding because I am not a design build company. Mr. Dey advised that the RFP mixes two different types of “project procurement” models. Generally, when one opts for the design-build model of project procurement, the town creates a Request for Qualifications or RFQ. The purpose of the RFQ is to select the best design-build partner for the project, which would include experience and reputation but not always cost.
Another project delivery mechanism often used is “Design, Bid, Build,” where an architect or consultant develops documentation for the work to be done, then it gets forwarded to general contractors for bidding.
Motion was made by Marcia Keller to amend the previous motion to say under design bid build, to hire an architect or consultant to develop documentation with plans and specifications for the work to be done, which would then be sent out to general contractors for bidding. Motion seconded by John Greenwood. Motion carried 8-0.
It was stated this amendment cancels the first motion.
The Bond Hearing will be canceled.
Decision was to go to the Selectmen on Tuesday, January 31, 2012 and to the Budget Committee on Thursday, February 2, 2012.
Thursday, February 2, 2012, Mr. Peter Michaud will be meet some of the committee at the town hall at 8:00am.
Next meeting is scheduled for: Monday, January 30, 2012 at 7:00pm
Meeting adjourned 9:50pm
Respectfully submitted
Marjorie R. Cilley