Oswegatchie Fire Station Building Committee - Minutes - 01/14/2025

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                 Oswegatchie Fire Station Building Committee

                              January 14, 2025

                              *SPECIAL MEETING*



Meeting called to order at 6:30pm



Pledge of Allegiance



Members Present:  Robert Tuneski, Ted Olynciw, Rocco Bracciale, Wayne
Gilpin, Paul Rafuse, Guy Russo, Jennifer Bracciale, Richard Muckle



Absent:  Matthew Blankenship



Guests:  Atty. Nick Kepple

Public Comment:  None

Opening Remarks:
The committee had a meeting on 1/7/25 where the committee received the
schedule from Downes Construction.  It was highlighted construction would
begin in June 2025 and closed in by November 2025.  The meeting schedule of
the different boards are not on this schedule but are very significant
because of the way the contract is configured.  The original contract is a
two phase contract.  Phase 1 went through Design Development.  Phase 2 went
into Construction Documents including administration and construction of
support.  The construction estimate from Downes is to be provided on
1/21/25.  Therefore, the dollar amount, which is based on 5.5% fee of the
estimate, would not be known for Phase 2 for SPA.  We would miss the Board
of Finance (BOF) meeting and have to wait another cycle to go to the BOF
and Representative Town Meeting (RTM) to secure funding for the architect’s
part of Phase 2.  Waiting would push the schedule out past starting in June
and having the building closed in by November.  The project would have to
work through the winter, which increases costs or defer to next year which
could also increase the cost.  Atty. Kepple suggested taking the 2 phase
approach and break it into 3 phases.  Phase 1 went through Design and
Development.  Phase 2 would go through Construction Documents.  SPA was
amenable to the change.  First Selectman Brule was also amenable to the
change.  The detailed proposal from SPA was obtained the afternoon of
1/6/25.  Phase 2 will now be only Construction Documents.  Phase 3 will be
construction costs plus administration costs that the architect has for
construction.  Attachment 2 is what will be submitted to the Town for
review and concurrence.

Atty. Kepple summarized the committee is not requesting additional funding.
 It is still all a part of the fee structure but instead of taking it in 2
steps, we would take it in 3 steps.  By voting for this contract change the
committee is requesting the Board of Selectmen (BOS) to agree to an
amendment to the contract allowing for a different fee schedule which would
result in paying SPA in 3 steps instead of 2.

      MOTION by R. Bracciale, second J. Bracciale to revise SPA’s contract
      from a 2 Phase to a 3 Phase contract and request the BOS for an
      additional appropriation of $286,000.00 for the Construction
      Documents.

      G. Russo – Friendly amendment to add “Release the funding of
      $286,000.00 for the Construction Documents consistent with the
      original project budget.”

      R. Bracciale – To consider upon the action of the Oswegatchie
      Building Committee for appropriation of REVISED Phase 2 of the
      architectural contract.

      MOTION by G. Russo, second by T. Olynciw that the Oswegatchie Fire
      Station Building Committee requests that the contract with SPA be
      amended to 3 Phases and that funds in the order of $286,000.00,
      consistent with the original project budget, be made available at this
      time.
      VOTE:  Unanimous




      MOTION by G. Russo, second W. Gilpin to adjourn.
      VOTE:  Unanimous



Meeting adjourned at 7:08pm



Respectfully submitted by:

Linda Finnegan, Recording Secretary