HomeMy Public PortalAbout20180816 - Center School Re-Use Advisory Team - Minutes1
Center School Re-Use Advisory Team
Thursday, August 16, 2018 6:30 PM
Town Hall, 18 Main Street, Hopkinton, MA
MINUTES
Members Present: Richard Flannery, Chair, Kenneth Weismantel, Vice Chair, Laura Barry, John
Pavlov
Members Absent: Darlene Hayes
Liaisons Present: Michael Auen (Hopkinton Historic District Commission), Jennifer Devlin
(School Committee), Deborah Fein-Brug (Planning Board),
Liaisons Absent: Claire Wright (Board of Selectmen), Bob Dobinski (Parks & Recreation
Commission)
Others Present: Norman Khumalo, Town Manager, Elaine Lazarus, Director of Land Use &
Town Operations
Community Input
Mr. Flannery read an email received from Rachael Ziolo relative to the space needs for Girl
Scouts, and how they could be met at Center School.
Meeting Minutes
Mr. Weismantel moved to approve the minutes of the 6/13/18 meeting. The motion was
seconded by Ms. Barry and the Team voted unanimously in favor. Mr. Weismantel moved to
approve the minutes of the 6/26/18 meeting as amended. Mr. Pavlov seconded the motion and
the Team voted unanimously in favor.
Discussion with Town Manager
Mr. Flannery stated that he and Mr. Weismantel met with Mr. Khumalo, Ms. Wright and Ms.
Lazarus on 8/13/18 to review the status of the Team’s work and the Charge from the Board of
Selectmen, noting that it appears that the work is nearly complete. Mr. Khumalo stated that it
appears as though the primary recommendation of the Team seems to be that Center School
continue to be used as a municipal facility. He noted that the Team has reviewed the order of
magnitude of costs to renovate the building, which would be about $275/sq. ft., totaling
$12,000,000 to $16,000,000, based on a preliminary estimate by Johnson Roberts Associates.
He stated that he had asked the consultants to review whether the existing footprint of the
building can handle all town needs, and the response was that it can accommodate all town and
school departments. He stated that office space, storage, gym, classroom space (Parks & Rec. &
Youth Commission programs), the Life Skills program, a room for community use, and records
storage are the primary uses identified and reviewed by the consultants. He noted that they
indicated that the gym can be upgraded during the renovation process.
He stated that the consultants looked at whether the 1950’s section in the middle can be
removed, and they reported that it would be difficult and complicated. He noted that they noted
it would have to be integrated with the plans for the other portions of the building. He stated that
they also looked at co-locating town and school offices with similar functions, such as finance,
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human resources and information technology, and this is an interesting concept. He noted that
there is space for future expansion on the site for additional parking or building space, and more
detailed cost estimates would be obtained through a design process. Mr. Flannery noted that the
preparation of cost estimates is not part of the Team’s charge, and that would occur in the next
step.
Mr. Weismantel stated that co-locating similar departments seems like a great idea, and that
space vacated at Town Hall might also be appropriate for the Life Skills program. He stated that
the 1950’s part of Center School might be able to be refurbished, and the associated
issues/aesthetic issues might be able to be addressed.
Ms. Fein-Brug stated that the project will be expensive and the building is vacant now, so the
Town could start using it now for programs/offices. The poor condition of the building was
discussed. References to potential funding sources were discussed, and it was noted that
investigations of grants, etc., would occur when a renovation project moves forward. Mr.
Khumalo noted that there is funding this year to continue the gym use and the building is also
being used for storage. Ms. Fein-Brug suggested the use of bubble diagrams or other methods to
illustrate space usage. She referenced other potential uses for the building, and the Team
reviewed the comments received from the public and the need for an active advocate for a use in
order for it to move forward, as outlined in the criteria established by the Team during its review
process.
The Team discussed drafting a final report to the Board of Selectmen, which would include a
description of the Team’s process and the recommendations, including the building uses
discussed at the last public forum, Upper Charles Trail linkage through the property, an
accounting of the recommendations received from the public that are not recommended by the
Team, and how the order of magnitude costs were factored into the recommendations. Ms. Barry
will prepare an outline and Team members will work on the draft.
Next Steps
Mr. Flannery suggested having a presence at the Center School farewell ceremony on Sept. 15,
with a flyer that contains a summary of the process and the current status of the Team’s work.
Ms. Barry will prepare a draft for review. Mr. Weismantel suggested the title “Remembering the
History and Imagining the Future”.
Meeting Dates
The following meeting dates were set: 8/29/18 at 6:30 PM, 9/11/18 at 6:30 PM, 9/18/18 at 6:30
PM, and presentation to the Board of Selectmen at its meeting on 9/25/18.
Ms. Barry left the meeting at this time.
Mr. Weismantel moved to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded by Mr. Pavlov and
the Team voted unanimously in favor.
Adjourned: 7:53 PM
Approved: August 29, 2018
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Documents used at the meeting:
Email from Rachel Ziolo to csrachair@hopkintonma.gov, re: Girl scouts at center school, dated 7/26/18
Draft Minutes of the meetings on 6/13/18 and 6/26/18