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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMBC 03/01/1994r yy rr}} ! ,.. i= MUNICIPAL BUILDING COMMITTI , afi 1ELD MARCH 1, 1994 MINUTES i,SSAGVjusETTS MEMBERS PRESENT: Larry Carpenter, Rich Feeley, Steve MacCaffrie, Dave Young GUEST PRESENT: Andy Gazzolo - FinCom, Bob Thompson - FinCom, Bill Williams - Town Manager, Bernie Jackson - Buildings and Grounds, Natalie Rupert - School Committee, Emil Giordano - School Committee, Bob Gurek - Business Manager MPS, Frank St. Pierre, Principal - Stahl Associates, Peter Guimond - P.E. Inc. Structural Engineers, Joe Pasquale, Chair - Board of Selectmen. THIS MEETING WAS HELD TO DISCUSS THE MANSFIELD HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM WALL. Bernie Jackson addressed the meeting. He stated that he had requested that the Municipal Building Committee be involved with this project. The auditorium wall had developed a vertical crack in the corners of the block wall. According to test monitors placed in the area by Stahl Associates the opening was increasing. According to the consultants the wall needs both exterior and interior reinforcements. The cast of this repair would be over $100,000. The MBC reviewed the chronological files that were prepared by Bernie Jackson and narrated by Frank St. Pierre of Stahl Associates. Stahl Associates had done test borings. The results of these borings showed that the foundation was stable. The soil tests were okay - the soil consistency was compact. The wall in the High School Auditorium is 36' high and 12 inches thick and 18' across. There appears to be 8" steel tube columns put in as wind columns. These tubes are not stiff enough and need to be reinforced. Tests need to be conducted to determine where the metal columns are located. A camera can be inserted into the air space with a telescope shutter to view the interior of the wall space and examine the masonry metal ties. No reason could be determined to why this problem was worsening now. Steve MacCaffrie stated that this problem needed to be fixed immediately. He stated that there is a two fold solution. First, Stahl Associates must put together a bid. We can put this through the emergency repair act. Secondly, the corner blocks should be reinforced or taken down. There is a chance that the corner block could fall or pieces could chip off causing injury. We could do this work ourselves or bill it out. Larry Carpenter agreed with Steve's recommendation. The MBC discussed the solutions to this problem. The estimate for reinforcing the wall should cost between $50,000 and $60,000, assuming the masonry ties are in good condition. Bill Williams and Andy Gazzolo requested a summary report and a detailed plan of action was well as a proposal and a written estimate of the work. The MBC reviewed the existing contract with Stahl. There was still money available. Stahl Associates will hire a contractor to test the wall and examine the brick ties. The cost should be $1,000 for these tests which would not be included under the Stahl contract. Mr. St. Pierre stated that there was no threat of a whole wall failure. This is not a block problem but a design flaw of the 1960's. MBC- Minutes 3-1-94, pg. 2 A motion was made to proceed under the emergency repair act to move ahead and expend $1,000 to hire Geyser Associates to conduct the tests on the wall and masonry ties. Additional money could be expended to secure the corner block with sheets of plywood. (MacCaffrie/Carpenter) Motion passed 4-0-0. A motion was made to send a letter to the School Department requesting that two associate members with voting rights be appointed. These Associate members would be involved in the Auditorium Wall Sub -committee. The Board of Selectmen are copied on the memo. Motion passed 4-0-0. The members of the MBC and the guests were invited to tour the auditorium, band room and stairway to view the wall cracks. The next meeting of the Municipal Building Committee is set for March 8, 1994. Respectfully submitted, Maureen R. Doherty Secretary Yj, Grp