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SPENCER – On January 16, the David Prouty High School Building Committee increased the “not to exceed” amount for stormwater improvements and discussed the entrance sign, among other topics.
The board voted to add $100,000 to the existing $400,000 for potential stormwater improvements surrounding the baseball field, noting that months ago, the district voiced a desire to have that area “mimic,” the work done at the football field, according to Nick Pimentel, of Colliers (owners project manager or OPM).
Chairman Mike Ethier noted the board had chosen a “middle ground,” between a Division 1 college type field and a high school Division 1 equivalent when talking about making upgrades.
Pimentel said the work would include under drainage underneath the field and irrigation system as well as high use loam.
The area extends to behind Dippin Donuts and the Wheaton property.
Ethier said, “It is going to depend where we sit at the end of the project if we can do this or not.”
He added, “If we need this money for something else, we don’t have to spend as much.”
Pimentel said part of the money would come from construction contingency funds as it could run in the “$700,000 neighborhood” when exact costs are known.
It will drain the remainder of Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) grant funds, Pimentel said.
Installing the entrance sign “in real time,” or at the end of the project was another topic of discussion.
Committee member Mary Braney said she believed the sign was “grandfathered,” and did not require a special permit because it was part of the entire project.
She said the town has bylaws restrictions regarding how bright the signs can be, etc. although these rules have changed over the years.
She said Spencer Cable Access had put money aside to contribute toward the sign in the road. Braney said she would return to the SCA board to follow up on where that possible donation stood.
Superintendent Paul Haughey said the Department of Transportation “gave pushback,” at the beginning of the project about route 9. The matter got tabled but Haughey recalled the DOT was concerned about traffic flow and tried to provide guidance on where to locate the entrance.
Haughey said there was no information more recently from DOT. “They were playing ping pong with us…It’s something we have to pick back up,” he said, adding the location of the entrance would dictate where the signage and conduits go.
The superintendent said, “I’m going to stay with the OPM and his team to make sure we do it the right way and not lose any aspect of the MSBA grant.”
If money is contributed for the sign, they can put it in as a third-party donation, he said.
The School Committee, not the Building Committee, is the board that accepts donations.
Kristian Whitsett of architect Jones Whitsett, said original plans for two signs had been combined into one and it will have a “digital element,” to it.
In addition to looking at photos showing progress with stairs, the gym, roofs and more inside and the parking lot outside, the Building Committee approved $226,247 for the ProAV contract of audio-visual equipment.
The next meeting, which will be held on Zoom, is February 27. In March, Ethier suggested board members meet in person at 5 p.m. for a site visit prior to a 6 p.m. session.
