Milford NH Voting Results 3/12/2013

These are the voting results for the Tuesday, March 12th, 2013 election for Milford New Hampshire.

There were 1528 ballots cast out of 9667 voters on the checklist, for a voter turnout of 16%.  

School Warrant:

School Board (2 positions)
886 Bob Willette, elected
851 Len Mannino, elected
733 Mike Banks

Question 1 - Capital Improvements Bond (Middle school roof, Middle school flooring, High school fire alarm system, District phone system); 60% supermajority vote needed
1081 yes, 420 no, passed (72%)

Question 2 - Operating Budget, 903 yes, 594 no, passed

Question 3 - MTA (Teachers) Collective Bargaining Agreement, 954 yes, 540 no, passed

Question 4 - MESSA (Associates and Assistants) Collective Bargaining Agreement, 942 yes, 532 no, passed

Question 5 - MEPA (Custodians and Maintenance) Collective Bargaining Agreement - 989 yes, 488 no passed

Question 6 - Purchase of West Street Lot, 561 yes, 934 no, failed

Question 7 - Long Term Data Service Lease, 894 yes, 585 no, passed


Town Warrant

Selectmen
735 Kevin Federico, elected
649 Ed Densmore

Cemetery Trustee
665 Stephen Trombly, elected
387 Gil Archambault
277 Maria Salisbury

Library Trustee (2 positions)
983 Chris Costantino, elected
862 Wayne Hardy, elected

Town Clerk
1089 Peggy Langell, elected
288 Bobbi Schelberg

Trustee of the Trust Funds
1236 Janet Spalding, elected

Water & Wastewater Commisioner
1229 Dale White, elected

Question 2 Zoning Change Ballot Votes

Ballot Vote 1 - Non-conforming uses and structures, 1146 yes, 271 no, passed

Ballot Vote 2 - Non-conforming uses and structures - Continuance, discontinuance, or change, 1154 yes, 258 no, passed

Ballot Vote 3 - Zoning Ordinance Definitions, 1150 yes, 263 no, passed

Ballot Vote 4 - Groundwater protection, 1184 yes, 222 no, passed

Ballot Vote 5 - Sign ordinance definitions, 1150 yes, 248 no, passed

Ballot Vote 6 - Sign ordinance - Permits not required, 1129 yes, 262 no, passed

Ballot Vote 7 - Sign ordinance - Application procedure, 1160 yes, 225 no, passed

Ballot Vote 8 - Sign requirements by sign type, 1121 yes, 255 no, passed

Ballot Vote 9 - Sign ordinance - Wall signs (fascia sign or facade sign), 1135 yes, 251 no, passed

Ballot Vote 10 - Sign ordinance tables, 1115 yes, 275 no, passed

Ballot Vote 11 - Senior housing development, 1230 yes, 199 no, passed

Ballot Vote 12 - Telecommunications facilities ordinance, 1189 yes, 212 no, passed

Ballot Vote 13 - Administrative relief, 1159 yes, 250 no, passed


Question 3 - Nashua Street Sidewalk Construction Project, 60% supermajority required, 457 yes, 1024 no, failed

Question 4 - Town Operating Budget, 926 yes, 523 no, passed

Question 5 - Wastewater Treatment Operating Budget, 1118 yes, 301 no, passed

Question 6 - Water Department Operating Budget, 1127 yes, 283 no, passed

Question 7 - Two Replacement Ambulance 7-Year Lease/Purchase, 970 yes, 490 no, passed

Question 8 - Social Services, 1101 yes, 348 no, passed

Question 9 - Non-Emergency Community Transportation Bus Service, 1136 yes, 325 no, passed

Question 10 - Dump Truck (6 cubic Yard) - 5-Year Lease/Purchase, 911 yes, 533 no, passed

Question 11 - Conservation Lands Fund, 913 yes, 558 no, passed

Question 12 - Pumpkin Festival, Holiday Decorations and Plantings, 987 yes, 558 no, passed

Question 13 - Milford Improvement Team Operating Budget Support, 927 yes, 536 no, passed

Question 14 - Teamsters Union Collective Bargaining Agreement (2013-2014), 866 yes, 586 no, passed

Question 15 - Summer Band Concerts, 948 yes, 532 no, passed

Question 16 - Memorial, Veterans & Labor Day Parade Town Support, 1127 yes, 360 no, passed

Question 17 - Fireworks, 836 yes, 652 no, passed

Question 18 - Allow for the Inclusion of Estimated Tax Impact Notations on Budget and Warrant Articles, 1115 yes, 301 no, passed

Milford Voting Results 11/6/2012

These are the voting results for Tuesday November 6th, 2012 for Milford, New Hampshire

There were 7958 votes cast.  This compares to 6893 in 2004 and 7850 in 2008.

There were 8988 registered voters at the start of the day.  There were about 1051 new voter registrations, yielding a total of about 10,049 registered voters at the end of the day.  This results in a 79% voter turnout for Milford.

President:  Mitt Romney (R) 3773, Barack Obama (D) 3940, Gary Johnson (L) 112, Virgil Goode (C) 3

Governor:  Ovide Lamontagne (R) 3335, Maggie Hassan (D) 4150, John Babiarz (L) 230

Representative in Congress:  Charlie Bass (R) 3708, Ann McLane Kuster (D) 3502, Hardy Macia (L) 340

Executive Councilor:  David Wheeler (R) 3746, Debra Pignatelli (D) 3532

State Senator:  Peter Bragdon (R) 4823 (elected)

State Representative for District 23 (in order of descending vote count):
Bob Willette (R) 3774 (elected)
Ruth Heden (D) 3313 (elected)
Shawn Sweeney (R) 3173 (elected)
Stephen Palmer (R) 3088 (elected)
Andrew Seale (R) 3036
Andy Hughes (D) 2990
Roger Tilton (D) 2834
Herb Salmon (D) 2730

State Representative for District 40:  Gary Daniels (R) 4087, Henry Mullaney (D) 3065

Sheriff: James Hardy (R) 3957, Bell Barry (D) 2998

County Attorney:  Dennis Hogan (R) 3386, Patricia LaFrance (D) 3482

County Treasurer:  David Fredette (R) 3535, Shannon Bernier (D) 3288

Register of Deeds:  Pamela Coughlin (R) 3738, Louise Wright (D) 3082

Register of Probate:  Joseph Levasseur (R) 3491, Graham Smith (D) 3251

County Commissioner:  Carol Holden (R) 3564, Susan Ladmer 2797 (D) 2797, James Parker (L) 485

Constitutional Amendment Questions:

Question 1 Ban Income Tax Forever:  Yes 3597, No 2701

Question 2 Allow Legislature to be the guiding body for setting of rules for governing the administration of the courts.  Yes 3597, No 3090

Question 3 Hold a convention to amend the constitution:  Yes 2470, No 4250

Milford NH Voting Results 3/13/2012

These are the voting results for Milford NH for the 3/13/12 local elections

Total Votes Cast 1818

School Ballot

School Board
Peter Bragdon 1446 elected

School District Moderator
Peter Basiliere 1566 elected

School District Treasurer
Rosemarie Evans 1516 elected

School District Clerk
Joan Dargie 1471 elected

Warrant Article 1 Operating Budget
yes 1218, no 547 passed

Warrant Article 2 MESSA Collective Bargaining Agreement
yes 1219, no 539 passed

Warrant Article 3 Special Meeting Allowed
yes 1169, no 555 passed


Town Ballot

Selectman
Gary Daniels 1178 elected
Mark Fougere 1026 elected
Kevin Federico 723

Cemetery Trustee
Mary Dickson 1036 elected
Gil Archambault 455

Library Trustee
Jennifer Martin Hansen 1326 elected
Kim Paul 1102 elected
Debra Faucher (sp?) 23 elected
Joy Leo 19
Randy Malcuit (sp?) 6

Town Moderator
Peter Basiliere 1505 elected

Town Treasurer
Brian Sanborn 1397 elected

Trustee of Trust Funds
Brad Chappell 1462 elected

Supervisor of the Checklist
Darlene Bouffard 1430 elected

Water & Wastewater Commisioner
Mike Putnam 1429 elected


Articles

Article 2 Zoning Changes

Ballot Vote 1: Shall/Should/May wording standardization
yes 1425 no 270 passed

Ballot Vote 2: Lot of Record definition alignment
yes 1390 no 287 passed

Ballot Vote 3: Dwelling unit, lot of record, definition modifications
yes 1338 no 310 passed

Ballot Vote 4: Acceptable use modifications
yes 1272 no 360 passed

Ballot Vote 5: Overlay Districts name changes
yes 1351 no 283 passed

Ballot Vote 6: Add overlay district Commerce and Community District
yes 1229 no 401

Ballot Vote 7: Add overlay district West Elm Street Gateway District
yes 1283 no 353

Ballot Vote 8: Update sign ordinance
yes 1264 no 404 passed

Ballot Vote 9: Remove duplicate references in sign ordinance
yes 1359 no 285 passed

Ballot Vote 10: Modify code enforcement rules to match state requirements
yes 1262 no 361 passed

Question 3 Ambulance Facility $2,214,000
yes 1120 no 667 passed 63% (needed 60% or 1072 to pass)

Question 4 Operating budget $11,767,325
yes 1208 no 490 passed

Question 5 Wastewater Treatment Operating Budget $1,693,966
yes 1362 no 330 passed

Question 6 Water Department Operating Budget $1,361,299
yes 1336 no 334 passed

Question 7 Fire Engine # 4 Replacement (Annual payment $67,700/total purchase price $437,000)
yes 1213 no 487 passed

Question 8 Public Works Backhoe, Rubber Tired (Annual payment $23,800/total purchase price $113,000)
yes 1021 no 663 passed

Question 9 AFSCME union Collective Bargaining Agreement (2009-2013) - $50,510
yes 1067 no 603 passed

Question 10 Teamsters Union Collective Bargaining Agreement (2012-2013) - $21,035
yes 980 no 683 passed

Question 11 Social Services - $35,000
yes 1275 no 413 passed

Question 12 Non-emergency Community Transportation Bus Service $26,500
yes 1434 no 335 passed

Question 13 Conservation Lands Fund $20,000
yes 1107 no 632 passed

Question 14 Pumpkin Festival, Holiday Decorations and Plantings $20,000
yes 1221 no 553 passed

Question 15 DO-IT Operating Budget Support $20,000
yes 1112 no 623 passed

Question 16 Jennison Road Bridge Replacement/Phase I $18,000
yes 1351 no 383

Question 17 Summer Band Concerts $9,000
yes 1107 no 647 passed

Question 18 Memorial, Veterans & labor Day Parade Town Support $6,000
yes 1324 no 427 passed

Question 19 Fireworks $4,500
yes 1038 no 773 passed

Question 20 Authorize the Board of Selectmen to Rent or Lease Town-Owned Property $0
yes 1429 no 295 passed

Question 21 Authorize the Board of Selectmen to lease Town-Owned property - Shepard Park Scout House $0
yes 1519 no 194 passed

Question 22 Authorize the Board of Selectmen to Lease Town-owned property - MCAA/North River Road Fields $0
yes 1525 no 182 passed

Question 23 Authorize the Board of Selectmen to to Convey a Permanent Easement on Town-Owned Property (Former Putnam Street) $0
yes 1352 no 289 passed

Question 24 Establishment of the BROX Prperties Public infrastructure Improvement Fund (Tax Map 38, Lots 4,5, 5-1, 6, 9, 11,12, 13, and 14) $0
yes 1225 no 436 passed

Question 25 Funding of the BROX Properties Public Infrastructure improvement Fund $0
yes 1207 no 444 passed

Question 26 Authorize the Board of Selectmen to Convey a Permanent Subdivision identification Signage Easement - Falcon Ridge Subdivision (Map 3, Lot 4) $0
yes 1238 no 385 passed

Question 27 Pratt Land Conservation Easement Conveyance (Map 45, Lot 2) $0
yes 1353 no 288 passed

Question 28 Change Town Treasurer to and Appointed Position $0
yes 1101 no 609 passed

Question 29 Adjustment to income and Asset Levels for Elderly Exemptions - By Petition $0
yes 1106 no 619

end of ballots

Milford Voting Results 3/8/2011

These are the results from the 3/8/2011 vote: There were 2001 voters. School Ballot School Board 1224 Paul Dargie - elected 855 Kevin Drew - elected 798 Carolyn Magri Halstead 340 Jim Rumson Question 1 Operating Budget yes 984 no 988 failed Question 2 Collective Bargaining Agreement - MEPA yes 1318 no 641 passed Question 3 Special meeting if question 2 is defeated yes 1364 no 559 passed Question 4 Property Acquisition yes 616 no 1330 failed Question 5 Creation of a joint services study committee yes 1531 no 416 passed Town Ballot Election of Officers Selectmen 1245 Mike Putnam - elected 1224 Kathy Bauer - elected 673 Kevin Taylor Cemetery Trustee 1576 Len Harten - elected Trustee of the Trust Funds 1507 Ed Killam - elected Library Trustee 1464 Sarah Philbrick-Sandhage - elected 1241 Michael Tule - elected Water/Wastewater Commissioner 1618 Bob courage - elected Article 2 - Zoning Questions (all questions passed) 1 Residential small structure setbacks yes 1248 no 624 2 Zoning Ordinance definitions yes 1464 no 370 3 Definitions: liquid petroleum products in groundwater protection district yes 1537 no 302 4 Residence A district special exception uses yes 1298 no 514 5 Residence B district special exception uses yes 1341 no 463 6 Residence R district acceptable uses and special exception yes 1292 no 508 7 Commerical district acceptable uses and special exceptions yes 1325 no 460 8 Industrial district uses and special exceptions yes 1391 no 428 9 LCB district acceptable uses and special exceptions yes 1364 no 443 10 ICI district acceptable uses and special exceptions yes 1367 no 436 11 ICI-2 district acceptable uses and special exceptions yes 1310 no 441 12 Special exception criteria for offices in residence A and B yes 1247 no 503 13 Sign ordinance definiitons yes 1283 no 478 14 Wall signs and price numbering signs yes 1170 no 591 15 Monument signs and price numbering signs yes 1215 no 538 16 Price numbering signs yes 1238 no 550 17 Off premise signs yes 1310 no 480 18 Event signage yes 1317 no 491 19 Electronic message centers yes 1038 no 782 20 Senior housing development definitions yes 1497 no 321 21 Wetlands conservation district yes 1285 no 486 22 Open space and conservation zoing district yes 1323 no 428 Article 3 Fire/Ambulance facility lands acquisition & vacant building demolition $530,000 (60% majority needed) yes 963 no 964 failed Article 4 Fire/ambulance facility architectural & engineering plans $250,000 (60% majority needed)yes 810 no 1109 failed Article 5 Water utilities department - sanitary sewer system rehabilitation $270,000 (60% majority needed) yes 1401 no 499 passed Article 6 Union street water main replacement project $246,000 (60% majority needed) yes 1379 no 528 passed Article 7 Operating budget $11,708,252 yes 868 no 1043 failed Article 8 Wastewater treatment operating budget $1,735,642 yes 1406 no 501 passed Article 9 Water department operating budget $1,381,757 yes 1393 no 486 passed Article 10 Route 101A / Route 13 / Oval improvements grant $155,000 yes 1372 no 576 passed Article 11 Public works tractor / loader / backhoe $135,000 yes 778 no 1147 failed Article 12 Route 13 South / Emerson road / Armory road intersection improvement $90,000 yes 1136 no 771 passed Article 13 Social Services $35,000 yes 1396 no 513 passed Article 14 Non-emergency community transportation bus service $35,000 yes 1473 no 459 passed Article 15 Pumpkin festival, holiday decoration and plantings $20,000 yes 1265 no 660 passed Article 16 DO-IT operating budget support $20,000 yes 1212 no 691 passed Article 17 Conservation lands fund $10,000 yes 1253 no 657 passed Article 18 Summer band concerts $9,000 yes 1193 no 726 passed Article 19 Memorial, Veterans & labor day parade town support $6,000 yes 1460 no 470 passed Article 20 Establishment of the Brox properties public infrastructure improvement fund $0 yes 819 no 1048 failed Article 21 Diversion of proceeds of sale of former police station property $0 yes 928 no 966 failed Article 22 Modification of authorization for Selectmen sale of the Brox properties $0 yes 1390 no 476 passed Article 23 Elderly exemption equalization to synchronize with town property assement revaluation $0 yes 1602 no 302 passed Article 24 Joining Concord regional solid wate / resource recovery cooperative $0 yes 1284 no 599 passed Article 25 Joining single stream recycling Co-op $0 yes 1237 no 648 passed Article 26 Town forest lands - Tucker Brook town forest $0 yes 1617 no 275 passed Article 27 Town forest lands - Mayflower Hill town forest $0 yes 1617 no 275 passed Article 28 Joint services study committee - by petition yes 1362 no 486 passed

Milford Cost Per Student Trends

The state recently published the cost per student data for the 07-08 school year. The data is published on the New Hampshire Department of Education - Financial Reports web page.

Milford reached a milestone with this latest report. Our cost per student for the entire District was below the state average for the first time in at least 11 years!!!

Shown below is a graphic that shows the data from the state site summarized for Milford. The first block shows the total spending per student for the past 11 years. We have been showing continuous improvement in our cost per student spending during the past 11 years. Our per student spending was 110% of the state average 11 years ago. The percentage has steadily dropped over the years, and we are now at only 98% of the state average.

This came about because our percentage growth in spending has been less than the state percentage growth over this time period. Our total spending per student has gone up 71% over the 11 years (from $6394 to $10,933), while the state average 's cost per student has gone up 93% (from $5780 to $11,135).

There are a lot of factors that go into spending for a school district that feed into the overall results. In my opinion, we have provided the right focus on our spending to provide good outcomes. The District is in much better shape than it was 11 years ago. We have gotten where we are by being consistent in our spending practices. We have been following the practice of trying to make continuous improvement each year, but in a modest way. We have avoided years of no progress due to severe cutbacks, and we have also not tried to do too much in any given year.

We have followed the teachings of the Tortoise and the Hare fable, where slow but steady wins the race. We have become a good Tortoise, where we move along at a steady pace each year, taking consistent steps towards an improved District. The only difference is that we do not have a finish line - we are just trying to do better all the time.

The spending area that contributed the most to our overall improvement was the elementary schools calculations. Eleven years ago we were at 111% of the state average, and now we are now at 91%. This is likely the result of going from operating out of three aging schools (Garden Street, Bales, and Jacques), and transitioning to newer schools (Heron Pond and renovated Jacques). We get economies of scale by operating out of a relatively large Heron Pond school. Most elementary schools in the state are much smaller, and they cost more to operate per student. We get by with fewer support staff members than a typical District due to the larger school size. There was additional savings when the Fifth grade was added onto Heron Pond, where we added about 200 more students with minimal additional overhead cost.

3/10/09 Voting Results

There were 1683 ballots cast today in the Milford local elections.

School Votes

1302 Peter Bragdon, School Board

Question 1 Jacques School Addition to Implement Public Kindergarten
yes 943 (57%), no 713 (43%) - question failed as it needed a 60% supermajority to pass

Question 2 Operating Budget
yes 856 no 802

Question 3 Teachers Association contract
yes 932 no 721

Question 4 Special meeting allowed if question 3 fails
yes 1060 no 565

Question 5 Milford Educational Support Staff contract
yes 931 no 718

Question 6 Special meeting allowed if question 5 fails
yes 1055 no 583

Question 7 Deputy Treasurer
yes 1072 no 562

Town Votes

Article 1 Elections of Officers

Selectman ( two 3-year terms)

1128 Gary Daniels
637 Nathaniel Carmen
519 Frank Corey
387 John Cass, Sr.

Cemetery Trustee - 3 year term

1360 Mary Dickson

Checklist Supervisor - 1 year term

1362 Polly Cote

Trustee of the Trust Funds - one 3 year term

1039 Brad Chappell
356 Kevin Taylor

Library Trustee - three 3-year terms

1142 Tim Barr
1105 Edith March
1070 Kristie Popp

Water/Wastewater Commissioner - 3 year term

1342 Mike Putnam

Water/Wastewater Commissioner - 2 year term

1389 Robert Courage

Article 2 Zoning Questions

Vote 1 Definitions
yes 1218 no 267
Vote 2 Replace principal route of access with Class V or better
yes 1194 no 301
Vote 3 Yard requirements
yes 1048 no 450
Vote 4 Administrative wording
yes 1247 no 263
Vote 5 Expiration of variances
yes 1229 no 269
Vote 6 Growth management sunset date
yes 1095 no 396
Vote 7 Small wind energy system restrictions
yes 1139 no 373

Article 3 Curtis well facility improvements
yes 1121 no 495

Article 4 Operating budget
yes 879 no 755

Article 5 Wastewater treatment budget
yes 1213 no 412

Article 6 Water treatment operating budget
yes 1194 no 415

Article 7 Route 101a / route 13 / oval improvements grant
yes 1142 no 510

Article 8 Teamsters union collective bargaining agreement
yes 504 no 1114

Article 9 Social services
yes 1054 no 547

Article 10 Wastewater treatment facility wheel loader replacement
yes 989 no 598

Article 11 Pumpkin festival, holiday decorations and plantings
yes 956 no 667

Article 12 Reinstating library hours
yes 854 no 765

Article 13 DO-IT operating budget support
yes 925 no 676

Article 14 Fireworks
yes 692 no 920

Article 15 Summer band concerts
yes 889 no 732

Article 16 Memorial, Veterans, and Labor Day parade town support
yes 1195 no 430

Article 17 South street railroad crossing
yes 1155 no 442

Article 18 Distontinuance of a portion of Hartshorn Mill Road
yes 1261 no 305

Article 19 Authorization to expend funds to purchase interest in lands outside town boundaries
yes 897 no 687

Article 20 Adjustment to income and asset levels for elderly exemptions
yes 1383 no 226

Article 21 Authorize special meeting if collective bargaining agreement warrant article is defeated
yes 1008 no 539

Article 22 Authorization to selectmen to establish and amend town ordinances
yes 1008 no 539

Article 23 Grant of access easement to Saint Joseph Hospital
yes 1406 no 207

Article 25 Cable access revolving fund
yes 865 no 702

Article 26 Non-emergency medical transportation bus service budgetary funding request
yes 1122 no 490

Article 27 Railroad pond fishing age limits - McBriarty Memorial Fishing Derby
yes 1041 no 541

Article 28 Request for adoption of New Hampshire RSA 79-F Taxation of farm structures and land under farm structures
yes 952 no 548

High School Renovation Project 4/10/08

General Comments

The MHS Project Management Advisory Committee met on Thursday 4/10/08 to review the status of the High School Renovation Project.

There continues to be good progress made on the project, and it is basically on schedule, will completion expected by the end of the summer.

Work on the track portion should resume in the next few weeks, when the loam piles have warmed completely, and have dried out a bit. They will then spread the loam, and install the sprinkler system. The sod will be put down after that, and allowed to sit for a while before it is used. Conduit to feed electrical and data feeds to the press box will be fed under the parking lot during the April vacation.

The actual track surface will not be installed until sometime in the summer. The top layer of track surface will bond better to the lower surface when the ground is good an warm. The warmer the better, so they will not do it until June or July. It will all be complete in time for start up of school in the fall.

The interior work is progressing, The music room is almost complete, and the students will move into it in a week or so.

Some of the interior rooms are nearing completion, and classes are moving into them, freeing up more rooms to be worked on.

Minor Problems

The committee reviewed and approved seven different change orders totaling $13,343. These are the typical types of change orders that arise during a renovation project. They included items such as the need for additional sprinkler heads in some new closets, adding sprinkler heads above the ceilings since the ceilings had to be lowered to accommodate piping changes, increasing the snow loading specification for the pressbox, etc.

Major Problems

Three issues have come up that are more serious due to the cost factors involved.

* We are adding new fire detection points to the fire alarm system. These points are being added to provide detection in various sections of the renovation project, including in the mechanicals in the music room and in various areas of room 4. It was not anticipated, but it was discovered that the fire annunciator panel at the front of the building has been maxed-out, and will need to be expanded to add new detection points to the system. It is important that the points be properly identified on the panel, to allow the fire department to quickly develop a plan of action when they respond to a call at the building.

The various people involved are looking at our alternatives at this point in time. One course of action would be to do the minimum amount necessary to get the planned changes identified on the panel. This would leave the panel in a maxed-out state, and require major changes if additional points were needed in the future.

Another alternative would be to expand the panel significantly to allow for future point expansion. This would require that the existing system be taken out and replaced by a completely new system. This will cost a lot more, but has the advantage of allowing us to change the technology that is used to allow for more open source technology, and multiple source sourcing.

The cost penalty for this issue is not known for sure, but it is being investigated. A rough guesstimate is that it is somewhere between $17K and $40K depending on which approach is chosen.

* The budget included $30K for the foundation work for the bleachers. This figure was based on typical foundations for similar bleachers.

It turned out that there are special problems with our particular installation, and a more costly foundation is needed. The basic problem is that there is very little room between the rear of the bleachers and the fence, and the elevation change is steep in that area. Because of this, the design engineer has specified that we install a retaining wall at the rear of the foundation concrete pad to insure that there is the proper support.

The first estimate for the more elaborate foundation was $75K, or $45K over the budgeted amount. We reviewed this issue in detail at the meeting. The final decision was that we asked the people involved to go back and see if they can come up with a design that uses a full size retaining wall at the rear of the press box, but uses a smaller or no retaining wall at all in the other areas of the bleachers where the distance from the structure to the fencing will be greater.

* We received a bill from the water utilities group for a new service entrance fee. This fee is based on anticipated annual usage, and was $22,691 for our filed irrigation system.

We spent a lot of time discussing this fee, and trying to find alternatives. We are going to look into the feasibility of installing a well to replace or supplement the town water service, with the expectation that this would reduce the entrance fee and/or reduce our annual water charges.

Mike Trojano had received a rough guesstimate of a typical well installation for a service of this type. The cost was $15K for the well or wells plus $5K for design/consultation services, for a total of $20K. In some cases, the cost could be higher if the well(s) need to be a lot deeper, if water treatment is needed, or if storage system(s) are needed to provide that the flow rates.

Several committee members questioned the feasibility of being able to get a well in this area that will have the needed gallons per minute flow capacity to meet the needs of the system. They are going to review the geologic maps of the area to get a rough estimate of the difficulties that can be expected to be encountered.

We are going to have another meeting in two weeks to review each of these issues.

Budget Summary

We were doing relatively well with the budget, until we hit these various cost adders. Business Administrator Mike Trojano will be putting together another cost roll-up for our next meeting, but this is where I think that we are based on a rough update of the previous roll-ups.

We had been at around $250K of unallocated contingency funds at the last roll-up. Subtracting out $13K for the approved changes, $35K for the annunciator panel, $30K for extra bleacher foundations, $5K for a negotiated water entrance fee, and $20K for a well for irrigation, leaves about $145K of unallocated contingency funds.

There is another large issue that is pending, and this is that many of the doors that we had thought had been included in the bid process were actually not part of the bid. The only doors that were included were ones that were attached or next to areas that were being worked on separately. Doors for rooms that were not otherwise being renovated were not included.

The cost for renovating these extra doors is still being scoped out. Many of them are very expensive to renovate since they are non-standard sized and new door frames are needed to get new doors installed.

It is my opinion that renovating the doors is one of the higher priorities of the overall project. The current doors cannot be locked from the inside, and in a school lock-down mode, the occupants of the room would have to go into the corridors to lock the doors, thus exposing them to any potential threats. Adding more doors for the project could be as much as $50K-100K.

This lack of unallocated contingency is getting very tight for this portion of the project, as there are still a few areas that have not even been touched as of yet. There may be more unanticipated problems to be found.

We are carrying $82K for parking improvements in the budget, and we have not tapped in to this at all yet. We have done no work so far in designing what will be done for parking improvements. This is an area that could be a safety valve if needed to accommodate unanticipated expenditures. If we have to cut something from the project, then this might be an area that could be attacked.

We should have a better idea on the overall project costs when we meet again in two weeks.