Would be nice, BUT it looks like the ARCHITECT got it right in the first place.

Did you read the article Ed?

"When estimating the cost per square foot, PMA initially estimated $326 per square foot and the architect estimated $342 per square foot. PMA then looked at six other projects they were working on and "pushed to have" a $322 per square foot budget, which was on the higher end compared to their other projects, he said."

Tuesday night it was shared that the expected revised estimate was "around" $340/sqft.

Mel Joe Gigante has been the electrical inspector in North Reading for 30 years. Jim DeCola is also a master electrician. Should Hardacker had called the Building Dept,(as he should have)he would have had all and any information regarding the lights that went our during the referred to performance. At no cost to the Schools...they would have come out to the auditorium and accessed the situation before the fact. So the inconvenience to the attendees and participants would have been avoided. So to use a non-compliance issue as reasoning for the need for a new HS doesn't comport.

Wait... I thought the claim was that the cost of the meeting and vote would be $10k? What happened? Were the original estimates to low? Bwahahahaha!

The cost will not keep rising once we have a guaranteed maximum price, which we will get on or before March 11. I am going to check into how much the special town meeting and election will cost.

Those questions were asked last year, rp. They were ignored. They obviated. Next question??

Not sure what Ed's point is there. "Obviated" is a pretty big word. It's a transitive verb. You can obviate something. You can't obviate.

The answer to your question is that you can NOT get a guaranteed price early in the design because there are too many unknowns. But you can't proceed with detailed design until you have approval on a budget. So, you make a "preliminary" design, you ESTIMATE (Webster: to judge tentatively or approximately the value, worth, or significance of) a cost, and you get an approval to proceed. Later, when you have a more complete design, you can get a guaranteed price.

Just one more fact -- The Mass. School Building Authority process requires that a price be estimated and a vote be taken by any town wanting to build a school well before the design or construction documents are completed. This is what North Reading did. It followed every single step required by the MSBA.

Obviate is a big word John? So I think we do have to compare resumes! Obviate is a big word...OMG! It think you may referring to diffident connotations of that term? My use was clear. Seems you want to the use a term's meaning to to sway your argument that there was a misrepresentation. You know you can Google definitions and uses of words. And this is the intellect that advocates bond over-rides! Really.

Exactly, I don't ask you for money until I know the true costs. John, are you some how advocating that construction estimating is a new science. Its certainly seems that way in your eyes and the Selectman & SSBC. Just like the lights going out in the HS play Mel refers to. Not reality. Not possible. Someone elses fault, but I pay the bill? Quite convenient isn't it?

Obviated is a big word? Past tense John. And your a spokesman for this project!? Get a Webster's dictionary, then post.

Hey John, thanks for the clarification on GMP. I think you hit the nail on the head with your question about "market conditions" ! Doesn't seem to add up.

Ancient Chinese Proverb: "He who asks is a fool for five minutes, but he who does not ask remains a fool forever."

I'm completely in favor of the project moving forward - but I think it's our obligation under democratic rule to question our leaders. Would you have us all be sheep? If my questions have been answered, I apologize - could you point me to the answers?

So you have seen that Wellsley & Newton were 150% above budget? Phil, we do have schools...HS was renovated in'93, Batch re-built, Little renovated, Hood renovated. But the term referred by your supporters "deferred maintenance" causes me pause. Do you really believe in your quote, that: "I don't blame them, but..." with any accurate reference to lack of maintenance? Its a pretty big blind spot for the SSBC, is it not? Mel referred to the lights going out at a school play last year. No electrician set that up? You can talk public safety all you want, as Mel has, but not hire an electrician to assure the publics' safety in an assembly?.Are you being serious in your position as a SSBC member?? Is that also 'deferred maintenance"? As a member of the SSBC, you are to be responsible to the public, not the School Committee or SSBC. An electrical fault at a public assembly?...you have to have new schools to avoid that? I don't think so. Maintenance, or its lacking is not a bond issue.. maintenance is the requirement. It should have been part of the schools budget for the past 25 years. Not used as an excuse to construct new schools.

Ed, the high school "renovation" was a band-aid, as I have noted elsewhere here. Second, the electricity went out a couple of years ago at the high school musical when they turned on the lights right before the start of the show. No one knew this was going to happen, and it is simply a symptom of the problem with the electrical system at the high school being maxed out.

And again, there HAS NOT BEEN A LACK OF MAINTENANCE. As I have posted elsewhere on these pages, the MSBA awarded North Reading and additional 2 percent in reimbursement for the school project because of how well Wayne Hardacker and his staff has maintained these buildings.

Ed, your continued posting of misleading and inaccurate information is a disservice to the entire community. Why do you continue to either ignore or misstate the facts?

patti. d...stay. I have some confidence this school cost will some how work it self out and sanity will return. But you have to vote obviously. They have set the dates to obviously deter your vote. That's why they always come back w/the 4 to 1 count from last Spring. They are a committed group w/no holds barred. But are seeing each and every day the objection to their plight does not have public support...but will fight it at every instance. Very much of a class warfare & their reputations for such an expensive project. Mel Webster, Chair of the School Committee has classified my objections a "information harmful to the community". He seems to be a just person, but misguided. They will never admit to the mistake of this endevour. They're too "far in". Have to save face. So $10M or $12M (to date they have not stated exact figures, but have an election scheduled, more of the same.) maybe $15 M. If your a politician in a small town... you fess up...admit your error of judgement. Ain't gonna happen here. They feel they have the votes to sustain a bankrupting policy, and perhaps they do...but to what end. I have tried to reach an accord with my posts, but its obvious they don't want to hear it. So it is what it is...numbers at the ballot. Prime example how local government does not represent your interest. Very sad.

If you were to consider the argument that the new schools would attract new residents at a better price for your home...not necessarily. If that potential buyer prices similar priced properties in Middleton vs North Reading, he and or she will quickly calculate that the property tax in North Reading may add $150 to $200 per month more to their payment than the Middleton property. So it cuts both ways relative to any benefit of your equity in relation to this expanding bond.

But that's the dilemma, Janine...they don't! When anyone raises concerns, they are either dismissed or attacked. Its a very sad picture. I served on the BOS with a current member. His continued support really amazes me! There is no fiscal soundness( or as another blogger described..no "moral integrity" Its pure madness. So when the BOS cuts a municipal budget line item...DPW, Board of Health(for flu vaccine!!?) Police & Fire, just what is their commitment to the community? Seems singularly tracked to this project. I for one would have preferred a bond to re-construct some of the roads in North Reading. They're pretty bad! So sadly we are left with all the wind(money) sucked out of us for a this project...pure madness. They will never, ever say they made a mistake. What kind of Board of Selectman do you have, that goes down this fiscally unsound path? I just can't imagine it! But remember its very personal w/them. And they'll attack you for questioning. These is the same board that cut the Health Agent salary budget(that was approved at Town Meeting) last year, and told him we have no money in the budget to employ you. So they have an agenda, public health not on the list. And certainly not done in a public session. So my guess is... you never know. Executive sessions seem to prevail, w/out any relevance to the law.

Come to the meetings!! But there was no public comment allowed. There was a gentleman w/questions of how the project was bonded. Not allowed to the podium. SSBC took a copy of his written questions w/the proviso..."Well get back to you."

>>> But there was no public comment allowed.

Ed - That's just not true. You're making stuff up a again! I went to the meeting. I made a comment. Several others did as well. One gentleman, a Mr. Burke I believe, did arrive with a list of twenty-some questions and, in the interest of allowing others to have their say as well, he was asked to share his list and promised a response.

Ed -- There was more than an hour of public comment at the meeting. There were at least 13 residents who got up and asked questions or made statements. The questions that were being posed by the first gentleman who was called on were not germane to the meeting. They are questions that were answered more than a year ago prior to the project going to town meeting and the ballot.

Dear Mr. Canney, I have been reading your rants and mis-truths on Patch and in the Transcript for far too long but today you clearly crossed a line when you called out Mr. Delaney for stopping me from saying something he felt was crossing over into executive session information. As a former Selectman, you should know better that it's the Chairman's responsibility to control the meetings and to ensure nothing is said that could have a negative effect on our town. It's called leadership and Mr. Delaney is a true leader and has nothing but the best interest of our Town in mind. In your post, you failed to mention that Mr. Delaney let me finish making my point; which was "ACCOUNTABILITY". No one, including Mr. Delaney is arguing with me on this point but it's not as simple as you may think.

The "deferred maintenance", Mr Prisco absolutely was a blind eye and as a selectman, you should have raised concerns. You may have noticed that we have had several members on the School Committee for many years that you could have addressed your "Blind Eye" concerns with. When Jerry Venezia was a Selectman w/me we attempted to have School maintenance done by the town municipal employees and the municipal budget, because it was obvious that little maintenance was being done. The obvious reason was that in the future the costs for this lack of maintenance would be enormous...and that's just what you are experiencing now. We were successful in having the school employee insurance and payroll done on the "town side" to save duplicating costs, but they fought us on the maintenance. Why have TWO maintenance Supervisors..one municipal and one schools when you can consolidate costs and employees. Perhaps you may want to read some Transcripts from previous years to get your facts straight.

The BOS, SC & SSBC unfortunately rushed this project w/out having the numbers, and you have scheduled a Special Town Meeting & Election (on a Friday?!) with out numbers...$10M, 15M, or more(at what interest), what will be the total costs to your constituents?? That should be your concern, not an elaborate defense of mistakes.

Mr. Prisco...last Spring the BOS had a warrant article to take several residential properties by eminent domain adjacent to the HS driveway. It was passed over. Would you know if that issue is still pertinent to the project?

hehe

LET'S DO IT RIGHT!

Do you have any specific numbers you can share, John, in regard to "LET'S DO IT RIGHT!" ? How the additional funding may be bonded? Bonded for how many years? At what interest? How it may affect the property tax rates? "Do it right", can be generic. You may want Corian counter tops in a home...I may want Granite. But if its your money paying for my counter tops..."Do it right" may have a different connotation.

Dang Ed, you're right again. I give up. Your superior intellect has gotten the best of me.

Lies, Mel! Pretty strong term fella. May I refute your interpretation? First you say there is no rush, but then you say(due to interest costs?, not sure where the $400,000 to $500,000/mo. comes from) there is a $400,000-500,000/monthly cost for delay. Perhaps...maybe.., you didn't have correct numbers last Spring, so we went forward with a bond that (as of today) does not cover the proposed project cost.. In essence you blame those that question the original estimates (that I hope you can agree were "way off") for the mistakes.You, Prisco, Maurceri, O'leary, Delaney told the public last Spring they were good numbers...NO? By the way Mel, $400,000 to $500,000 per month seems quite a stretch. But please don't accuse distractors of "lying". You are the School Committee member that coined the phrase "Deferred Maintenance", not me. A better argument may be a listing of repairs, done on your watch, that were performed at the HS. Being reactionary as a public official is not a good place to be. Notice how Delaney & Gerry Venezia stay away from the fray. I don't condone it, but its far better than accusing a citizen of "lying, to mislead the community" I'm sure your aware that's deformation. I'm am not a public official. Get off the "to mislead the community". You should talk to Gerry & Delaney. Your on shaky ground with that accusation. So get a grip, Mel...and just provide answers, not admonishments.

Why did we not have a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) back when we had the original overide vote ?

JIM - The answer to your question is that you can NOT get a guaranteed price early in the design because there are too many unknowns. But you can't proceed with detailed design until you have approval on a budget. So, you make a "preliminary" design, you ESTIMATE (Webster: to judge tentatively or approximately the value, worth, or significance of) a cost, and you get an approval to proceed. Later, when you have a more complete design, you can get a guaranteed price.

Ed -- the $400,000 - $500,000 a month cost for a delay in the project was given to SSBC by the architect/construction manager/project manager. I will continue to post the facts here in response to the opinions and misstatements made by others, You continue to post that poor maintenance is one of the reasons the high school is in bad condition, and that could not be further from the truth.

John Intorcio - Thank You for the snide comment / answer SNIDE (Webster : slyly disparaging : insinuating <snide remarks> ). I also have a dictionary. Are You on the commitee ?

Seems Mel deleted his first reply...that the CPC approved of the plans. I point out the Schools' architect incorrectly provided advice relative to the requirements. Mass. Architectural Code Vs ADA. I don't believe its pick & choose. But Mel's response was he would bring this issue to their attention. But not really accepting of the fact that the information was incorrect (from Mel Webster:"Just a note, the CPC accpected the plan"). So correct vs incorrect information seems not to be a credibility issue.

Why did we not have a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) back when we had the original overide vote ?

JIM - The answer to your question is that you can NOT get a guaranteed price early in the design because there are too many unknowns. But you can't proceed with detailed design until you have approval on a budget. So, you make a "preliminary" design, you ESTIMATE (Webster: to judge tentatively or approximately the value, worth, or significance of) a cost, and you get an approval to proceed. Later, when you have a more complete design, you can get a guaranteed price.

Okay Mel, thanks. I did see your original post. Between you & me, perhaps we can put some civility back into these discussions. I do read all your posts, and while I may disagree, find them informative.

I agree Jim, its not necessary. I don't understand why some proponents are so personal w/comments. Personal attacks never further any point of view. Saying you can go to town hall and check criteria from last year's meetings, as I have, is not demeaning to anyone's character. Seems to be a "shout you down" attempt. Not necessary.