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
- 🔄 Committee Reorganization
- 🧩 Liaison Reports
- 💰 Financial Review
- 🧪 Soil Testing & Early Package Discussion
- 📆 Schedule Review
- 📄 RFPs for Testing, Peer Review & Tax Consultant
- 🧱 Exterior Materials Presentation
- 📝 Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes
- 📅 Future Agenda Items
- 🛑 Adjournment
- ✅ Key Takeaways
🗓️ Killam School Building Committee Meeting Summary
📍 Date: October 14, 2025
🕒 Time: ~2hrs8min
📌 Location: Reading Town Hall Select Board room & Zoom
🎙️ Chair: Carla Nazzaro
🧾 Roll Call & Agenda Review
Speaker: Carla Nazzaro
⏱️ 5:24
- Quorum confirmed with members present: Pat Tompkins, Shawn Brandt, John Coote, Chris Haley, Kirk McCormick, Ed Ross (absent), Gregory Stepler, Nancy Twomey, and Carla Nazzaro.
- Agenda included: public comment, committee reorganization, liaison reports, financial and schedule reviews, exterior materials presentation, minutes approval, and future agenda planning.
💬 Public Comment
Speaker: Carla Nazzaro
⏱️ 6:29
- No public comments were received.
🔄 Committee Reorganization
Speaker: Matt Kraunelis
⏱️ 6:52
- Chair: Carla Nazzaro re-elected unanimously.
- Vice Chair: Pat Tompkins elected unanimously.
🧩 Liaison Reports
Speaker: Jenni Katajamaki
⏱️ 10:54
- Geothermal test well confirmed original assumptions: 44 wells at 800 ft.
- Successful abutters meeting held on Sept 25; attendees were supportive of tree removals and landscaping plans.
- Tree warden requested additional tree species survey for permitting.
Speaker: Jane Katajamaki
⏱️ 14:00
- Working on parking license agreement with Christ the King Church for up to 150 spots.
- Church prefers a license agreement over a lease to avoid town meeting approval.
- Clerk-of-the-works position proposed to support facilities staff during construction; estimated cost: \$300K over 3 years.
💰 Financial Review
Speaker: Justin Fernandez
⏱️ 26:12
- Construction budget remains at \$0 until contractor bids.
- Contingencies:
- Construction: \$5.07M
- Owner’s (soft cost): \$1.26M
- Budget adjustment for LBA Amendment 19 (\$113K) for soil testing.
- Commitments:
- LBA Amendment 20 (\$7,623) for tree species survey
- Complete Cleaning Co. (\$140) for modular cleaning
- Invoices approved:
- LBA: \$484,745
- GNAP Architects: \$1,750
- Colliers: \$30,252
- Complete Cleaning Co.: \$2,740
🧪 Soil Testing & Early Package Discussion
Speaker: Mike Carroll
⏱️ 43:41
- LBA Amendment 19 (\$113K) for soil testing discussed extensively.
- Original estimate reduced from \$250K to \$113K.
- Testing required due to fill material classification, not contamination.
- Committee voted to approve Amendment 19 contingent on review by Pat Tompkins and John Coote with input from LSP and geotech experts.
📆 Schedule Review
Speaker: Justin Fernandez
⏱️ 1:34:04
- 60% CD submission due in November; 90% CD phase begins afterward.
- MSBA review meeting scheduled next week.
- Early bid packages:
- Switchgear & Generator: recommended to proceed
- Earthwork: pending further review
- Committee agreed to proceed with switchgear early package; generator may be included or deferred.
📄 RFPs for Testing, Peer Review & Tax Consultant
Speaker: Mike Carroll
⏱️ 1:37:49
- Three RFPs prepared:
- Material testing services
- Peer reviews (structural, ADA, fire protection)
- Tax consultant for rebate optimization
- Committee voted to authorize Colliers and town staff to proceed with issuing RFPs.
🧱 Exterior Materials Presentation
Speaker: Jenni Katajamaki & Lee Sherwood
⏱️ 1:50:24
- Finalized exterior palette includes:
- Orange and purple brick
- Ground-faced CMU resembling granite
- Wood-look phenolic panels
- Anodized aluminum window frames and roof edges
- Design balances durability, warmth, and community-scale aesthetics.
- Interior design will be more playful and child-focused.
📝 Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes
Speaker: Carla Nazzaro
⏱️ 2:05:32
- Minutes from September 8, 2025 approved with minor corrections.
📅 Future Agenda Items
Speaker: Carla Nazzaro
⏱️ 2:07:32
- Next meetings:
- November 12 (due to town meeting)
- December 15 (rescheduled for bid review)
- October meeting included in-person review of exterior material samples.
- Committee reorganization confirmed; interior materials to be reviewed in January.
🛑 Adjournment
Speaker: Carla Nazzaro
⏱️ 2:08:08
- Meeting adjourned at 9:00 PM.
✅ Key Takeaways
- ✅ Committee leadership reaffirmed: Carla Nazzaro as Chair, Pat Tompkins as Vice Chair.
- ✅ Geothermal testing validated original design assumptions.
- ✅ Parking agreement with Christ the King Church in progress; license preferred over lease.
- ✅ Clerk-of-the-works position proposed to support facilities during dual construction projects.
- ✅ Soil testing amendment approved contingent on expert review; early earthwork package under evaluation.
- ✅ Switchgear early package recommended; generator may be deferred.
- ✅ RFPs for testing, peer review, and tax consultant authorized.
- ✅ Exterior materials finalized; design balances durability and warmth with community-scale aesthetics.
- ✅ Next meetings scheduled; interior materials to be reviewed in January.
