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SPENCER/EAST BROOKFIELD – Security cameras and school logos were among several topics of discussion at the most recent School Building Committee meeting.
The meeting took place after members were given a tour of the site where construction work is ongoing at David Prouty High School.
Nick Pimentel of Colliers (owners project manager) gave an update on finances. Specifically referring to a $4.5 million Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) supplemental grant, he said 90% was “bought out and contracted.”
There is an allowance for a foundation slab and windows associated with a maintenance garage next year, he said.
Pimentel anticipates $500,000 left over in that account that turns into construction contingency.
Change order prompts questions
Committee members reviewed and then approved a list of change orders totaling $135,536. The largest item was $54,060 to modify the fencing layout at the baseball field to accommodate the new grading and drainage basins. That installation is part of the new stormwater improvements, according to Pimentel.
Other items with a larger cost include $32,949 to add thermal support brackets across the north and west elevations of the gym.
To comply with American with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards, the board approved $9,628 for work on door clearances.
In addition, $7,991 will be spent for a roof access platform on the third floor. The platform is instead of having an access ladder in front of a doorway.
But it was $7,673 for security cameras in the temporary cafeteria that sparked conversation.
Pimentel said he believed the idea for additional cameras was brought up by former David Prouty High School Principal Nate Malone. The rationale was it is a large gathering space that will be used temporarily but is not part of the final uses.
“Once the space is used as Pre-Kindergarten, those cameras come down and they get put into your attic as stock package. They will be yours forever but won’t remain there for end of time,” Pimentel said.
Member Ralph Hicks, who is also a selectman, questioned whether the cameras would be high resolution enough to “identify the perpetrator,” if an incident occurs.
Hicks said when the town built Wire Village School, it had two “substandard” cameras put in. He described an incident when “two Evil Knievels on large dirt bikes” spilled oil on their back tires, lifted the front of the wheel and “took off down the stairs and out and we could not identify who they were because the camera did not have high enough resolution.”
When informed one camera had six mega pixels and the other had 12, Hicks replied, “I’m not into pixels.”
Pimentel noted the security consultant selected these cameras, which are like others in the building. The cameras were identified as Illustra 12 MP fish eye cameras that came with two enterprise camera lenses.
Hicks said he did not like the idea of having to deal with a consultant if something goes wrong with the cameras. “I like knowing where things are coming from,” he said. In the past, he dealt with Valley Cinema in Chicopee, Hicks added.
“We’ll be going to you and you go to the consultant,” he told Pimentel.
The Colliers representative said the cameras would still be under warranty.
Still, Hicks said he is concerned because of what happened when the bike riders “opened up gas caps…tilted their bikes and you should have seen the explosion,’’ he said.
Hicks added there were stains from where the gasoline burned on the outside foyer.
“Kids today and adults too, do things that I never would have dreamt of,” he said.
Pimentel reminded board members the cameras would be used inside of an interior space during daytime lunch hours, when “the threat is less.”
Decision on signage needed
With approximately four months to go on this phase of the project, Pimentel suggested the committee address putting a sign with the Panther logo at the gym. He said if given the go ahead, Superintendent Paul Haughey and chair Mike Ethier could approve the approximately $35,000 item in between March and April meetings so it could be made and installed in time for the start of school.
However, Ethier said he preferred the whole committee take a vote. He said it did not necessarily need to go up before school starts. First, he wanted to see exact costs and take time to consider the matter.
Rob Day of Fontaine Brothers said a similar project involves salvaging and rehanging the center court logo, which costs about the same as the other.
He asked the board if they wanted one or the other or both or preferred putting something aside until the following year.
Noting the time sensitivity of the work, Day said a decision must be made as soon as possible.
“It is a lot of work and you do not want to do it over a wood floor,” Day said, referring to the center court logo.
Ultimately, board members said they would discuss the logos at the next meeting on Tuesday, April 15 at Wire Village School.
