Oswegatchie Fire Station Building Committee

FIFTEEN ROPE FERRY ROAD WATERFORD, CT 06385-2886
AGENDA
OSWEGATCHIE FIRE STATION BUILDING COMMITTEE
December 5, 2023
Oswegatchie Fire Station
2TM Floor Meeting Room
6:30 PM
1. Call to order
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. Public comment
4. Opening remarks
5. Review and approval of meeting minutes, November 21°, 2023
6. Review of Program Manager RFP Comments
7. Letter status report to RTM
8. Unfinished Business
a. Phase 1 Environmental Study
b. Architect RFP Status
c. Building Committee Schedule Review
d. RFP evaluation / grading matrix
e. Status update Sub-Committee to Gather and Tabulate Current Fire House Configuration
and Future Needs
9. New Business, Follow-on Actions
10. Adjournment

FIFTEEN ROPE FERRY ROAD WATERFORD, CT 06385-2886
Oswegatchie Fire Station Building Committee
Meeting
November 19, 2023
Meeting was called to order at 6:30pm
Pledge of Allegiance
Members Present: Robert Tuneski, Ted Olynciw, Rocco Bracciale, Wayne Gilpin, Michael
Rochetti, Elizabeth Sabilla, Paul Rafuse, Matthew Blankenship, Richard Muckle
Members Absent: None
Guests: Twig Holland, Attorney Nick Kepple
Public Comment: None
Opening Remarks: None
Motion by Rocco Bracciale to approve minutes from the November 9th meeting, (Attachment 1)
Second: Wayne Gilpin
Yays: Wayne Gilpin, Rocco Bracciale, Beth Sabilia, Paul Rafuse, Michael Rocchetti, Ted
Olynciw, Bob Tuneski
Nays: None
Abstentions: Richard Muckle, Matt Blankenship
A few rounds of comments and questions had been submitted by one of the committee
members after the RFP for the architect had been approved by the committee. The comments
were extensive, and exchanged by member Ted Olynciw and consultant Twig Holland. The
series of email comments between the two was distributed at the meeting and is provided as
{Attachment 2). The extent of comments being posed after the approval, suggested that
perhaps they should be vetted through and shared with the entire committee for the benefit of

all, and if necessary the previous vote to approve could be rescinded pending this discussion.
The chairman offered the floor to member Ted Olynciw to lead the committee through his
comments, and/or discuss any other comments or questions he had regarding the RFP.
Although appreciative for the opportunity, Ted Olynciw indicated that it was not necessary to
discuss them, citing that the vote was already held.
As a result of lessons learned from this experience, to insure that comments are visible to the
committee and discussed during meetings as opposed to through email (which may not be as
effective), the idea of a policy to insure transparent and timely commenting to documents was
discussed. It was agreed that any questions or comments regarding a document submitted for
review should be complete within 7 days, and that the comments/questions collected would be
tabulated by the recording secretary and discussed and adjudicated at the next meeting.
Motion by Richard Muckle to adopt the policy as written above
Second: Paul Rafuse
Yays: Unanimous
The committee discussed the establishment of a sub-committee of members to identify and
tabulate the configuration of the existing Oswegatchie Fire Station. This sub-committee would
create a table of measurable attributes of the existing fire station for use as a basis of
comparison for what is needed going forward. The actual needs going forward would be
provided by Director Howley with inputs from paid and volunteer firefighters and the
community. (Attachment 3) is an example table for compiling the relevant design information.
This approach is akin to the Design History process introduced by the Chairman at a previous
meeting. This information will be used as a basis for creating justifications for any changes and
can be used as a discussion framework when making recommendations to the RTM.
Motion by Ted Olynciw to have a minimum of three members. These members would collect
the information, tabulate it, and present it to the committee for review and concurrence.
Second: ?
Yays: Unanimous
After deciding to create a sub-committee, the Chairman solicited volunteers for the sub-
committee. Rocco Bracciale, Wayne Gilpin, Paul Rafuse, and Matt Blankenship volunteered to
serve on this sub-committee.
Motion by Richard Muckle to accept these four as the sub-committee
Second: T. Olynciw
Yays: Unanimous
Town Attorney Nick Kepple cautioned the sub-committee from emailing between themselves
for fear of constituting an illegal meeting and that the sub-committee post their meeting dates
with the Town Clerk.

Secretary Linda Finnegan compiled a list of dates for future meetings in 2024, and this was
distributed to the Members and is provided as (Attachment 4). After, member Richard Muckle
noted that the dates were only through July 2024. It was acknowledged that additional dates
for the remainder of the year would be provided at the next meeting.
Motion by Beth Sabilia to approve and establish the meeting dates listed in (Attachment 4)
Second: Rocco Bracciale
Yays: Unanimous
NEW BUSINESS: The following topics were raised for discussion:
a.
Member Ted Olynciw asked for the status of the Phase | Environmental Study - it was noted
that the request for it was delivered to the Town’s Purchasing Agent, on August 28th, and
that more detailed status would be provided at the next meeting.
Member Ted Olynciw reported that he provides a status report of the Building Committee’s
progress at each RTM meeting, and will insure Secretary Linda Finnegan receives copies as
well
Member Ted Olynciw noted that not ail of the meeting distributed information has been
provided with the meeting minutes. He agreed to provide a list of what he believed was
missing to Secretary Linda Finnegan.
Member Ted Olynciw suggested that in preparation of receipt and evaluation of Proposals,
that
e Copies of the architect RFP that was ultimately sent to prospective bidders by the
Purchasing Agent be distributed to the Committee,
e Agrading sheet be prepared to aid in evaluating each Proposal, (Consultant Twig Holland
accepted action to do this) and
e That the committee prepare a summary comparison table of all Proposals upon their
receipt
Motion by Michael Rocchetti to adjourn
Second: Wayne Gilpin
Yays: Unanimous

OSWEGATCHIE FIRE STATION BUILDING
COMMITTEE
Meetings are held at 6:30pm at Oswegatchie Fire Department
441 Boston Post Road
Waterford, CT 06385
2024
Meeting Schedule*
January 2, 2024
January 16, 2024
February 6, 2024
February 20, 2024
March 5, 2024
_ March 19, 2024
April 2, 2024
April 16, 2024
May 7, 2024
May 21, 2024
June 4, 2024
June 18, 2024
July 2, 2024
July 16, 2024
*Meeting schedule subject to change

OSWEGATCHIE FIRE STATION BUILDING
COMMITTEE
Meetings are held at 6:30pm at Oswegatchie Fire Department
441 Boston Post Road
Waterford, CT 06385
2024
Meeting Schedule*
January 2, 2024
January 16, 2024
February 6, 2024
February 20, 2024
March 5, 2024
March 19, 2024
April 2, 2024
April 16, 2024
May 7, 2024
May 21, 2024
June 4, 2024
June 18, 2024
July 2, 2024
July 16, 2024
August 6, 2024
August 20, 2024
September 3, 2024
September 17, 2024
October 1, 2024

*Meeting schedule subject to change
October 15, 2024
November 5, 2024
November 19, 2024
December 3, 2024
December 17, 2024