Town of Franklin Board Meeting
September 27, 2006 - 7:00 pm
The Town Board of the Town of Franklin held a duly noticed Special Board meeting on Wednesday, September 27, at 7:00 pm at the Vermontville Town Hall.
Board members present:
Others present:
CALL MEETING TO ORDER
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited; the Town Clerk called the roll, announced the full Board was present and introduced everyone present.
Supervisor Keith noted that prior to the start of the meeting, several attendees had gathered informally at the Kate Mountain Recreation Park to evaluate the grounds. She introduced Shanna Ratner, Principal of Yellow Wood Associates.
PROGRESS REPORT BY YELLOW WOOD ASSOCIATES
Ms. Ratner thanked the Town Board and employees of the Town for all their input and explained that Yellow Wood had performed significant research. Yellow Wood Associates offers a "Green Community Technologies" approach to help communities find solutions to infrastructure management that are better economically, environmentally and socially over the long term. Yellow Wood helps small rural communities with technology to apply to infrastructure. Their research is based on linking community needs with proven state-of-the-art approaches with community goals in mind. A slide presentation was prepared. Their experience proves that many technologies are being developed, i.e., building materials, lighting, etc., many of which are highly cost effective and environmentally and socially better than materials used at present. Yellow Wood is committed to small rural communities and assists towns before construction to understand what alternatives are. The Town of Franklin needs to look at the entire picture, so Yellow Wood is in process of performing a "life cycle cost analysis" which will demonstrate how improvements can be phased in over several years. She stated the purpose of the meeting was to report on Yellow Wood's progress in evaluating infrastructure needs of the Town and that they needed the Town to decide what solutions they wanted Yellow Wood to pursue.
Jeff Forward, the energy expert for Yellow Wood, explained "Life Cycle Costing" whereby new types of construction materials, which may or may not have a higher purchase price, would cost less in the long run to maintain and operate. Taking the long view is important. An example of this would be purchasing a $10 energy-saving light bulb versus a regular bulb; the regular light bulb would have to be replaced in a few months and the energy-saving bulb would last years. Another example is a 50-year life metal roof versus a 20-year asphalt shingle roof. He urged the Town to compare materials alternatives over the life span of the building or item, including disposal costs. Because municipalities are organizations with long lives (as opposed to corporations with shorter ones) long term borrowing at low interest is available. He explained that life cycle costing looks at all factors.
Melissa Levy presented examples of successful municipal structures in the Northeast and Midwest reconfigured or newly built which utilize "green technology". These structures made use of "blue jean cotton" insulation, larger windows for additional lighting, steel roofs, cardboard siding, and local rough-cut lumber. Some were built using donated recycled materials and volunteer labor.
Mr. Forward emphasized the need to consider materials and design. He reported on his meeting with an official of NYSERDA who performed an energy audit of the Vermontville Town Hall and the Garage. This report will be included in Yellow Wood's final report. With respect to the possible new structure at the Rec Park, NYSERDA has grant funds available for new construction. A program named "Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design ("LEED") uses a "green building" rating system, which is nationally accepted for design, construction and operation of high performance "green buildings". The rating system is relevant to sustainable site development, energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality, water savings and materials selection. He noted that NYSERDA is inexperienced with municipalities so YW is "experimenting" with them in this instance. Yellow Wood can present options to help design the new facility to meet NYSERDA design incentives and standards, acting as liaison between the Town and NYSERDA, in that YW can help the Town to ask the right questions of NYSERDA. This topic will be revisited at the meeting in December.
For YW's first set of questions to set priorities for their research, Jeff Forward asked if the Town Board wanted to pursue plumbing fixtures only at the Rec Park or proceed with the entire structure. The Town Board determined it wanted to proceed with the new construction as recommended by the Town's Building Committee.
Ms. Ratner then set forth immediate priorities:
TOWN GARAGE
a. Oil/Water Separation. This must be dealt with now. NYSDEC has mandated this be accomplished.
(2) Ms. Ratner agreed it was a difficult situation, and offered these alternatives:
(3) Roger Symonds commented that if the Town spends $160,000 for a new vehicle, taxpayers are entitled to proper maintenance of the truck, which will drag in salt and sand. The trucks must be washed regularly.
(4) Ms. Ratner suggested washing the vehicles at another facility which has an oil/water separator. The green approach will require reconfiguring the Garage and some training.
The Board concurred it would be wise to look into the "dry shop" method. Coun. Kretser asked how much training would be required. b. Heating Solutions and Garage Reconfiguration. This work should be done immediately.
(2) Alternate Heating Suggestions
Currently Garage uses propane heaters mounted on walls. If the Garage doors are open, all heat is lost and the Garage is difficult to work in. Yellow Wood urged the Town to consider:
The Town Board determined not to pursue the wood boiler option. It also determined it needed additional information and recommendations from Yellow Wood before deciding which. MERRILLSVILLE TOWN HALL
2. Records Storage. This space is inadequate for the Town's records storage - it is not secure and not fireproof. VERMONTVILLE TOWN HALL
PROBLEMS:
2. Heating System. An old system. Ducts take up space. Suggest changing to boiler and use basement space for records storage and custodian office.
3. Handicapped Accessibility. Both bathrooms are not built to meet handicapped standards, as they must have 5 square feet so a wheelchair can turn around. POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS:
The Board determined more investigation and information needs to be done concerning potential funding grants before it determined a priority for the Vermontville Town Hall.
KATE MOUNTAIN RECREATION PARK - PROPOSED STRUCTURE
2. Site Assessment. This should be done before construction plans are finalized.
3. Priority. Does the Town wish to proceed with the new structure as recommended by the Building Committee? Does the Town Board wish to phase in the construction of the structure?
The Town Board determined the proposed structure at Kate Mountain is a priority. The Board wishes to proceed with the structure as recommended by the Building Committee using green technology. The Board does not wish to phase in construction.
Coun. Walt Kretser stated the Board would like to situate the new structure to the left of the pavilion and eliminate the softball field. The structure would be closer to water supply, and the electricity is located there. The skating shack can be torn down. FINANCING CONSTRUCTION AND RENOVATION PROJECTS
YELLOW WOOD PRIORITIES SUMMATION
2. The Garage is a priority.
b. The Town must decide on insulation
c. The Town must determine which method of heating it wants
d. This would be a good opportunity to test the "dry shop" method and set a standard for the entire Northeast. 3. Kate Mountain must have a site assessment, including reports on soil and water
4. Must improve storage of records presently located at Merrillsville Town Hall. COMMENTS
FINAL REPORT
It was agreed that the final report will be sent to the Board prior to a conference call scheduled for Wednesday, November 8, 2006, and the final report will be presented at a special board meeting on Wednesday, December 6, 2006.
Supervisor Keith thanked Yellow Wood Associates and the Building Committee for their diligence and hard work.
ADJOURNMENT
(M.Keith-T.Goff m/s/p) ALL AYE. Respectfully submitted, Sandra J. Oliver, Town Clerk
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