Below is a summarized version of the Killam School Building Committee meeting, organized by timestamps and speakers, focusing on key points raised during the discussion in Reading, Massachusetts. This summary condenses the discussion into major themes, speaker contributions, and decisions, avoiding excessive detail while retaining the essence of the conversation. Timestamps correspond to the video linked at the bottom.
Contents
- 🧾 Roll Call & Agenda Review
- 💬 Public Comment
- 🧩 Liaison Reports & RFP Updates
- 🏗️ Fence Design Discussion
- 💰 Financial Review
- 🧑💼 Facilities Clerk Position
- 🚗 Church Parking Lot Update
- 📆 Schedule Review & Early Package Vote
- 🛠️ Prequalification Working Group
- 🛣️ Off-Site Improvements & Add Alternates
- 📝 Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes
- 📅 Future Meetings
- 🛑 Adjournment
- ✅ Key Takeaways
🗓️ Killam School Building Committee Meeting Summary
📍 Date: December 15, 2025
🕒 Time: 7:00 PM – 9:35 PM
📌 Location: Reading Town Hall Select Board room & Zoom
🎙️ Chair: Carla Nazzaro
🧾 Roll Call & Agenda Review
Speaker: Carla Nazzaro
⏱️ 4:16
- Members present: Pat Tompkins, Sean Brandt, John Coote, Chris Haley, Kirk McCormack, Ed Ross, Nancy Twomey, Carla Nazzaro.
- Greg absent.
- Agenda: public comment, liaison reports, RFP updates, fence design discussion, financial review, commitments, schedule review, early package vote, prequalification working group, off-site improvements/add alternates, approval of prior minutes, future agenda items.
💬 Public Comment
Speaker: Carla Nazzaro
⏱️ 5:46
- No public comments received.
🧩 Liaison Reports & RFP Updates
Speaker: Justin Fernandez
⏱️ 6:26
- RFP Status:
- Code review and testing proposals received; will present recommendations at next SBC meeting.
- No proposals for tax consultant; deadline to be extended and re-advertised.
- Security Discussion:
- Police Chief recommends ballistic glass at vestibule transaction window and ballistic protection for adjacent walls.
- Committee agreed to price options (ballistic glass, Kevlar interlayer, CMU walls) for review at 90% CD phase.
- Security details to be handled in executive session for confidentiality.
🏗️ Fence Design Discussion
Speaker: Jenni Katajamaki & Lee Sherwood
⏱️ 16:09
- Location: Haverhill Street adjacent to Rise preschool playground.
- Goal: protect playground from potential vehicle intrusion.
- Options:
- Double Fence System: Vehicular cable barrier + ornamental fence (approx. $270K).
- Low Structural Wall + Ornamental Fence: 32-inch wall with stone veneer + fence (approx. $460K).
- Both options meet safety criteria; stone wall more aesthetic but higher cost.
- Committee agreed to form a smaller working group (Nancy, Pat, Carla + town staff) to review crash data and finalize recommendation.
💰 Financial Review
Speaker: Justin Fernandez
⏱️ 33:58
- Budget Status:
- Architectural & Engineering: $3.92M spent.
- Administrative: $2.23M spent.
- Total spent to date: $6.14M.
- Budget Adjustments:
- Modular relocation: $8,273.74 from soft cost contingency.
- Commitments Approved:
- GovConnection: $8,273.74 for modular relocation.
- BidDocs Online: not-to-exceed $7,650 for bid hosting.
- Invoices Approved:
- GovConnection: $9,162.54 (credit of $7,929 noted).
- Colliers: $56,382 (three invoices).
- Forecasted Costs:
- Facilities clerk: $400K.
- Church parking license: TBD.
🧑💼 Facilities Clerk Position
Speaker: Jenni Katajamaki
⏱️ 44:02
- Role: On-site representative for facilities department during construction; supports OPM and design team.
- Temporary position funded by project; $75/hour; estimated cost $400K.
- Committee voted unanimously to approve forecasted cost and proceed with hiring in January.
🚗 Church Parking Lot Update
Speaker: Jenni Katajamaki
⏱️ 51:35
- Negotiations ongoing with Christ the King Parish; parish undergoing discernment process on property use.
- DPW agreed to plow licensed section for school use.
- Initial cost estimate: $10 per spot per month; likely to increase.
- Decision deferred until parish finalizes recommendations (expected January).
📆 Schedule Review & Early Package Vote
Speaker: Justin Fernandez
⏱️ 59:16
- 60% CD submission completed; MSBA comments due Friday.
- 90% CD submission scheduled for February; SBC vote on Feb 9.
- Early Electrical Package:
- Switchgear only (generator removed due to downsizing and availability).
- Committee voted unanimously to approve bid release via BidDocs Online.
🛠️ Prequalification Working Group
Speaker: Mike Carroll
⏱️ 1:05:22
- Purpose: review GC and filed sub-bidder qualifications.
- Members approved: Nancy Twomey, Kevin Kabuzi, Justin Fernandez, David Harris (LBA).
- BidDocs platform to streamline process; four meetings anticipated.
🛣️ Off-Site Improvements & Add Alternates
Speaker: Carla Nazzaro & Mike Carroll
⏱️ 1:15:52
- Committee voted to include two add alternates in bid documents:
- Charles Street improvements (parking, sidewalks, traffic flow).
- Haverhill Street improvements (crosswalks, safety upgrades).
- Estimated combined cost: under $3M.
- Justification: safety, neighborhood traffic flow, and project integration; MSBA caps apply but work is incidental to project.
📝 Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes
Speaker: Carla Nazzaro
⏱️ 1:33:02
- Minutes from November 12, 2025 approved.
📅 Future Meetings
Speaker: Carla Nazzaro
⏱️ 1:34:05
- Next SBC meeting: January 20, 2026 (moved to Tuesday due to MLK holiday).
- XLT meeting: January 12, 2026.
- 90% CD vote: February 9, 2026.
🛑 Adjournment
Speaker: Carla Nazzaro
⏱️ 1:35:01
- Meeting adjourned at 9:35 PM.
- Chair extended holiday greetings and thanked team for progress and dedication.
✅ Key Takeaways
- ✅ RFPs for code review and testing received; tax consultant RFP deadline extended.
- ✅ Security upgrades under review; pricing for ballistic glass and walls to follow at 90% CD phase.
- ✅ Fence design narrowed to two options; working group to finalize recommendation.
- ✅ Facilities clerk position approved; hiring in January.
- ✅ Church parking agreement pending parish decision; DPW to assist with snow removal.
- ✅ Early electrical package (switchgear) approved for bid release.
- ✅ Prequalification working group formed; BidDocs to streamline process.
- ✅ Two add alternates for off-site improvements (Charles & Haverhill Streets) approved for inclusion in bid documents.
- ✅ Project remains on budget; $6.14M spent to date; invoices and commitments approved.
- ✅ Next meeting January 20; 90% CD vote scheduled for February 9.
