Residents to view school designs
Published on September 9th, 1998
STONEHAM, MA - Abutters to the South School will be given a final opportunity to review the design for the new elementary school before plans are sent out to bid.
The School Building Commit-tee decided on Wednesday night to host a general information session, as a courtesy to abutters, to allow viewing of the final plans.
Committee Vice Chairman Ron Fiore called the presentation that would be made to the abutters "one last shot before going out to bid."
Discussions on Wednesday night initially focused on the private way status of Irving Street, which runs alongside the school entrance and is utilized in the drop off and pick up of students.
Duncan McClelland, a representative from the architectural firm Earl R. Flansburgh & Associates, reported that the state has advised that the 63 per cent reimbursement for the total project cost would not cover improvements to Irving Street since the roadway is not school-owned property.
Since Irving Street will continue to be used heavily by the school, repaving of the roadway along with sidewalk work is needed.
Committee member Steve O'Neill reported on his discussions with Public Works Director Robert Grover regarding the acceptance of the street by the town as a public way. While the town has been working on getting the various private ways around town accepted, its plan does not include consideration of that particular roadway at this point, he said.
"If we want it as a public way, he'd look at the Building Committee to sponsor a warrant article," stated O'Neill.
Flansburgh principal David Soleau advised that/per the state's request, figures for improvements to the street must be listed separately from work to the site on the bid form since they are not part of the reimbursement program.
In addition, he emphasized the need to obtain Town Counsel William Solomon's opinion on the legal issues concerning private ways, such as whether and what type of approval is needed for repaving the road.
"I just don't want to be surprised if the neighbors have the right to stop work," stated Soleau.
In other Building Committee news, McClelland plans on drafting a summary of the South School building progress for distribution, at the committee's request.
This summary, he said, will be an "update of where we are in the project, what we've done, and where we're going."
Committee member Maureen Solely favored this idea stating that it was important "just to let people know we are moving along."
"There are a lot of questions," she said and further suggested that the summary be available for handing out to families during the Back To School Nights at each school.
School Superintendent Joseph Connelly will review McClelland's final draft before release.
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