·         Call to Order

o   The meeting was called to order at 5:05 pm by Co-Chair Ed Brady.  Nine (9) out of eleven (11) voting members were present or represented by an alternate.

o   Also present: Derek Osterman, OPM, Colliers Project Leaders

·         Approval of Meeting Minutes from August 24, 2022

o   MOTION: Tom Welch moved to accept the meeting minutes from August 24, 2022 which Don Morin seconded.  The motion passed unanimously (9-0).

·         Update on Approval Process of Colliers Project Leaders as Owner’s Project Manager (OPM)

o   Co-chairman Brady informed the Committee that the Middletown School Committee and Middletown Town Council approved the selection of Colliers Project Leaders as OPM.  Co-chairman Brady then introduced Derek Osterman, OPM from Colliers Project Leaders.

·         Colliers Proposed Action Plan for the Bond Vote on November 8

o   Derek Osterman handed out a document entitled “Countdown to a Successful Vote – Middletown, RI” and walked through it.

o   He focused on putting down foundations, beginning with meeting “with legal counsel to determine limits of possible political activity to comply with campaign finance requirements”.  He also recommended building a political core and then completing some final steps involving an open house, yard signs and fliers.

o   Derek shared a flier that was developed for East Greenwich in 2019.  Vince suggested that any proposed flier clearly articulate the 80.5% reimbursement of both principal and interest on the $235 million bond, and that RIDE would not provide any support for “band-aids” on the existing schools.

o   Bill Nash suggested including a block diagram of the proposed location of the new schools.  Other suggestions include highlighting that building new schools will result in no disruption to the students, new schools will save money due to energy efficiency, older schools cost more to maintain, new schools will be safer for students, etc.

·         Inputs from Committee Members on the Development of the Architect/Engineers RFQ

o   Co-chairman Brady stated that Mario’s recommendation was that the larger firm be the architect of record should more than one contractor team up for the design work.

o   Co-chairman Brady also mentioned that the Gaudet School serves as the Red Cross Emergency Shelter for Aquidneck Island and will need to do so in the future.  Tom Welch asked about generators and co-chairman Brady stated that generators will definitely be included in the design.

o   Others asked about electric charging stations, acoustics, and a potential atrium, at which time Don Morin suggested we focus on what’s needed in the RFQ as these items will all be revisited in the future when the design work happens.

o   Derek Osterman handed out a first pass revision of an “RFQ for Architectural Services for RIDE Stage II and III.”  He walked through the document and timeline and asked that all input be funneled through Shawn and Rosemarie.  Shawn agreed to set up a location for Derek to post the document for everyone to review, and all members need to get comments to Shawn and Rosemarie in time for the document to get posted on 9/14/2022.

o   ACTION: Shawn will set up a shared folder where documents such as the draft RFQ can be posted for Committee members to review.  He will then post the draft RFQ in this location so Committee members can review it and provide feedback to him and Rosemarie, who will then share the inputs with Derek.

·         Discussion on the Marketing Plan for the $235 Million Bond

o   ACTION: Shawn agreed to work with Rosemarie to kick off the marketing effort.

·         Adjournment

o   MOTION: Tom Welch moved that the Building Committee adjourn at 6:35pm which Bill Nash seconded.  The motion passed unanimously (7-0).

Future Meeting Schedule – The next meeting will be held on September 21, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. at the Oliphant Administration Building.

Respectfully Submitted,

Don Morin