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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - AC - 09/12/2017 Town of Cohasset Advisory Committee Minutes, September 12, 2017 Place: Cohasset High School—Superintendent's Office Conference Room Attendees Nancy Adams Roth John Chapman Paul Carlson Tanya Bodell Richard Fitzpatrick Leland Jenkins Ralph Tulio Michael Dick 7:05 pm to 9:30 pm-Joint meeting with Board of Selectmen, Capital Budget and Advisory committees to hear THRAC's presentation by 5 members of the committee led by Mary McGoldrick. THRAC recommended Option 3—to renovate the historic town hall and re-build the adjacent office building,thus, connecting the two as one structure. THRAC's presentation outlined: • The proposed floor plans for each floor,proposed architectural drawings, and pictures of the finished building. The building will be LEED certified. • Projected time to complete is 14 months. • Preliminary eligibility for CPA funding. • Preliminary estimates and cost comparison between two vendors/builders. • Anticipated cost of the project is $12.8M • Other town hall cost comparison • Initial project budget request of$1.05M at Special Town Meeting to cover the design and bidding phase of the project. • The remaining$11.75M for construction will be requested at the annual Town Meeting in June 2018. Lengthy discussion followed between BOS, Capital Budget, and Advisory members revolving: • Status in educating the town residence of the project, its tax implication, and benefits prior to Special Town Meeting anticipated in October. • Capital Budget does not have enough time to study the numbers and financial impacts since this is the first they saw some numbers. They are concerned that they may not be able to complete their assessment or vote before the September 19 deadline to include it into the warrant. • Questions on how,when and where town employees will be housed during construction, and if the$21 OK general development budget is adequate to cover all expenses including any office lease payments. • Concerns about the openness of the proposed layout of the offices and public areas to conduct town hall business. THRAC indicated that the proposed layout is the result of their study based on our town hall business requirements and recommendations from all departments/employees currently housed in town hall. • Possible consequences should the initial$1.05M be approved in the Special Town Meeting but the final $11.75M get voted down on the Annual Town Meeting in June 2018. • Concerns on potential added cost due to change orders after completion of the architectural drawings. THRAC indicated the factored in$840K for contingencies. Advisory Committee Minutes—September 12,2017 Page 1 of 3 • Timeline may not be adequate to properly prepare and include this article for Special Town Hall Meeting. May re-schedule the Special Town Meeting to December. HRAC will meet with both Capital Budget and Advisory Committees separately to provide answer any questions and provide each committee their needed information. THRAC scheduled a meeting with the Advisory Committee on September 14 and Capital Budget on September 19. 9:30 pm—End of Joint meeting with BOS and Capital budget and beginning of Advisory Committee meeting. 9:30 pm to 10:30 pm—Advisory Committee meeting—Place: Superintendent's Break Room Reviewed warrant articles: • Article I—Amendments to Fiscal 2018 Operating Budget Status: Approved. Motioned by Paul C. Second by Mike D.—All members listed above are in favor. • Article 2— Unpaid Bills from Previous Fiscal Years Status: Nothing to vote on. • Article 3—Stabilization Funds Status: Approved. Motioned by Lee J. Second by John C.—All members listed above are in favor. Nan mentioned to make sure the School Committee hold line on future increases. • Article 4—Allocation of Funds for One-Time Cost Status: Approved. Motioned by Paul C. Second by John C.—All members listed above are in favor. Comments: Lee commented on previous Y/E transfer of$64K from Facilities to various areas. Lee questions why money was not spent by facilities. • Article S—Cohasset Town Hall Status: Pending after the committee has all information needed. Meeting on September 14 with THRAC. • Article 6—Authorization of Borrowing,for Road Betterment Projects for Private Ways, Status: Approved. Motioned and second—All members listed above are in favor. • Article 7—Authorization of Borrowing,for Road Projects for Public Ways Status: Postponed to Annual Town Meeting. • Article 8— Water Department Capital Project Status: Pend for more information. This may be postponed for consideration at Annual Town Meeting. • Article 9—Zoning Bylaw Amendment—Large House Plan Review Status: Postponed to Annual Town Meeting. • Article 10—Application for Bond Premium Status: Approved. Motioned by Richard F. Second by Tanya B. —All members listed above are in favor. • Article 11—Grant of Easements for a Solar Array Status: Pending clarification from Chris Senior Comments: Per Tanya B.,need to delete"perpetual and"on the first sentence and revise the last sentence to add "... for the benefit of the town." Tanya mentioned the BOS should only be allowed to grant temporary easements to protect the town's interest in continuing any potential revenue should there be a change in solar array Advisory Committee Minutes—September 12,2017 Page 2 of 3 ownership and"as a result of a bankruptcy which wold negate obligations of the new owner to sell the solar energy to the town under the contract" . • Article 12—Drainage and Access Easement to Sandy Cove o,(fAtlantic Avenue Status: Need more information • Article 13—Community Preservation Committee Status: Need more information from CPC Mary McGoldrick and Chris Senior will be invited to the next meeting for further discussions concerning Article 5. Russ Bonetti will also be invited to provide more information on Article 13 relating to James Island. Next meeting is scheduled for September 14—Basement Town Hall at 7:00 p.m. Advisory Committee Minutes September 12,2017 Page 3 of 3