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SPENCER/EAST BROOKFIELD – At its most recent meeting, the David Prouty High School Building Committee addressed the transportation and disposal of chemicals and a potential shift in solar credit programs, among other topics.
Nick Pimentel from Colliers (OPM) presented a “Not to Exceed,” figure of $22,000 and noted that during demolition/abatement at the site, the contractor found chemicals that need disposal but cannot be sent out with or as typical construction waste.
The chemicals were discovered in a couple of science rooms, documented and wrapped in plastic.
Among the discoveries were ammonium hydroxides, inorganic oxidizers, toxic organic solids, corrosive liquids, acid flammable solids and calcium carbide, “to name a few on the list,” said Pimentel.
Building committee member Ralph Hicks noted that North Brookfield has a day designated each year for collection of these types of materials.
Member Mark Carpentier concurred, saying it has been a joint effort in the Brookfields as well as Spencer annually in September for 20 years.
He said it would depend on the quantity of chemicals that were discovered whether this disposal venue is appropriate. A liter or less of anything could be looked at by the vendor that is used, Clean Harbors.
Service charges, if any, would be minimal, Carpentier said. Volunteers in Spencer “can handle just about anything” at this collection event. However, he emphasized that the chemicals need to be isolated properly until they get answers.
DPHS Assistant Principal Sara Kinnas said her concern is that contractors at the site may not have handled the chemicals “delicately,” and if anything was broken or combined, it posed a safety hazard.
She said as part of the regular construction process, work is done quickly. Household cleaners and chemicals may be safe on their own but if combined, that might not be the case.
Carpentier agreed there would be a worry if rather than being “gathered up and encapsulated,” materials are leaking or interacting when put on a truck and transported to North Brookfield.
If the latter is the case, he said, the disposal would be refused.
Stephen Hemman from the Massachusetts Association of Regional Schools stressed the importance of getting the chemicals offsite and disposing of them in a way that does not violate state laws.
“You don’t want to take chances,” he said.
Superintendent Paul Haughey, who chairs the board, concurred that he wanted to guarantee “safe transport and work.”
He added, “I don’t want to glow in the dark driving this stuff down the road.”
Ultimately, the board voted to obtain professional services from JTS Group to remove the chemicals at a cost not to exceed $22,000.
Sustainable design change considered
Cynthia Kaplan spoke to the committee about a sustainable design change from Northeast Collaborative for High Performing Schools (NECHPS) to LEED.
CHPS has merged with USGBC, which administers the LEED program. All but one employee will make the transition to the new agency. The remaining reviewer will stay on to finish the 60 ongoing projects until CHPS ceases operations on June 30, 2027.
As a result, Kaplan said, the committee must decide whether to remain with CHPS and try to meet the deadline for all documentation submittals or migrate over to LEED.
The latter option would involve entering the documentation into LEED online and getting reviewed in four phases without a strict due date.
Kaplan said the fees differ between USGBC ($16,100) versus CHPS ($7,550) but USGBC will honor CHPS fees until June 2027.
“The bill does not go up,” Kaplan said.
In addition, Kaplan said, although the prerequisite credits differ in number between agencies, there is a lot of overlap and “no additional work or cost that is going to move the needle either way.”
Carpentier said his son works for a construction company that “exclusively goes for LEED” and deals with many projects larger than David Prouty HS.
He said LEED is “virtually understood and recognized,”
“I don’t see a downside to it,” Carpentier said.
Member Matthew Mullen said the board had little choice but to switch to LEED, given that there is only one reviewer left and the documentation deadline is so tight.
Haughey said the district has worked to gets its sustainability efforts to a high standard and was recognized as a Green Ribbon School by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).
“We are in there doing the work. Let’s just go get the credits we deserve,” Haughey said.
Before deciding, Hicks said he wants more guidance and a recommendation at the next meeting.
