2026-10-28 - Joint Committee on Infrastructure and Library Board of Trustees

00:00in accordance with the requirements of

00:02RSA 91-A

00:04{semicolon} two Roman numeral two.

00:08Will the clerk please take the roll.

00:11>> I will. Alderman Richard Doucette.

00:14>> Present.

00:15>> Alderman Paula Johnson.

00:16>> Present.

00:17>> Alderwoman Benji Flagg Smith.

00:20Um Trustee Linda LeFlamme.

00:24>> Present.

00:25>> Trustee Padma Kollipredi.

00:29Uh Trustee Kristen Cain.

00:31>> Present.

00:33>> Trustee Ernest Jeddy.

00:35>> Here.

00:36>> Uh Trustee Scott Jacquith.

00:38>> Present.

00:39>> Um Trustee Patricia Dresner.

00:42>> Here.

00:43>> Mayor Jim Donchess is I believe not

00:45available. Alderman at Large Lori

00:47Wilshire is not available. Um Alderman

00:49at Large Michael O'Brien.

00:51>> Present.

00:52>> And Alderman at Large Alicia Gregg is

00:54here, so we have eight in attendance.

00:57>> I'm here, too.

00:57>> Oh.

00:58I I'm sorry, what is your name?

00:59>> John Kennedy.

01:00>> John Kennedy. Oh, I just totally skipped

01:02it. I'm sorry. I Padma's name I was

01:04concentrating, so

01:06Okay. So, Trustee John Kennedy, so you

01:08have nine.

01:08>> forget a Kennedy.

01:09>> I know, that's So, also in attendance we

01:12have Kayla Gallo from Left Field, Tim

01:14Cummings, Administrative Service

01:15Director, and Jennifer McCormick, the

01:17Library Director.

01:19So, you have nine.

01:21>> So, we have 10 people, right?

01:24>> [clears throat]

01:24>> Yep.

01:25>> I'll declare a quorum.

01:27>> Tim.

01:30I know I was late, but am I entitled to

01:32a

01:32>> Well, they're up here. They're actually

01:34>> Yeah. I'll make that If anybody didn't

01:37get one of the pass-outs

01:40>> I I gave Ernie mine.

01:41>> Let it be known.

01:44>> Thank you.

01:49>> Okay, we've done the roll call.

01:52Uh

01:54I really don't have much for

01:56introductions, so I'll look to uh

02:00Administrative director Tim Cummings if

02:02he has any introductory comments.

02:04>> I do. Thank you,

02:06um Miss Chairman. For the record, Tim

02:07Cummings, director of administrative

02:08services. Before

02:10we continue on with our regular business

02:13and and receive our official project

02:16status update from our owner's project

02:18manager, Kayla from from Left Field, I

02:22did want to take the opportunity to let

02:25you,

02:26this body, and more importantly, the

02:28general public know that we received

02:30favorable approval last night of the

02:33library bond request to continue with

02:36design-related services for this

02:38project, which is a a wonderful

02:41development that is a $3 million

02:44of of additional monies to bring this

02:47project further along in in its design.

02:50Uh for for everyone's edification

02:54relative to timeline, this keeps us on

02:56track schedule-wise. I would like to

02:58suggest that we will continue with

03:00design over the next 9 or so months, and

03:04that will put us in good stead for late

03:06spring to ask for money for

03:09construction, and ultimately try to

03:11bring this project under construction

03:13subject to approval by the Board of

03:15Aldermen

03:16for

03:17for this summer

03:19time. And that's that's everything that

03:21we've been talking about previously, so

03:24I'm pleased to report that we are still

03:26still on track. And so, I want to thank

03:28the aldermen and and for for you all for

03:30your support and specifically Jen

03:34McCormick for her leadership in in

03:36getting us to where we are today. So,

03:39thank you, Miss Chairman. I'll end my

03:41comments there, and after we get through

03:43some regular business, I assume we'll go

03:45right into a project status update and

03:47hear from our OPM.

03:49>> Yes, we will.

03:50>> [clears throat]

03:51>> All right.

03:53I'll now open up to public comment.

03:55Anybody wishing to speak?

03:59From the public, seeing none.

04:01Approval of minutes. To the clerk.

04:04>> I'd like to make a motion to approve the

04:06minutes of the August 4th, 2026 meeting.

04:10>> Any discussion on the motion?

04:12Seeing none, I'll call for the vote. All

04:15those in favor signify by saying I.

04:17>> I.

04:18>> I.

04:18>> Oppose? Motion carries.

04:22And now, general progress update, which

04:25involves a project status update. I will

04:28now recognize administrative service

04:31director Tim Cummings and Kayla Gallo.

04:35>> Uh thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'm just

04:36going to hand it right over to Kayla,

04:38who has a PowerPoint up on the screen,

04:39and she will uh provide the update this

04:42evening.

04:43>> Yes, you can go to the next slide,

04:44please.

04:46I'm Kayla Gallo, project manager with

04:47Left Fields.

04:50Sorry.

04:50>> I don't have it.

04:52>> What?

04:52>> Oh, here it is.

04:53>> Yeah.

04:53>> Thank you.

04:55>> [clears throat]

04:56>> In the back of the drawer.

04:57>> So,

04:58you want to just do it right by the

05:00>> his name, please.

05:01>> Okay.

05:02There we go.

05:06Okay, so I have put together

05:09um

05:10a project timeline and look ahead that

05:13we have been following. As Tim had

05:14mentioned, we are currently on track

05:17um as we had started. So, we're just

05:20about done with the schematic design

05:22phase, and in the next month, we will be

05:26hoping to move into the design

05:27development phase.

05:32So, just a brief project update. We have

05:35been meeting with um the design team,

05:38the library team, and the city weekly.

05:40We've had weekly internal meetings with

05:43um the construction manager, as well as

05:46the design team and the city. We've had

05:48multiple workshops with all city

05:50departments, library staff,

05:52um Nashua City TV, and the Board of

05:54Trustees.

05:56We've completed our 3D scan, site

05:58survey,

06:00um hazardous material assessment, and

06:03we've continued coordination with the

06:04courtyard project team. So currently

06:06where we're at, we're 100% complete with

06:09the schematic design package and the

06:12construction manager is currently

06:14finishing up their first estimate.

06:23>> And Kayla's promised me that the

06:25project's going to come in on budget,

06:26so.

06:27>> Yes.

06:28You can put that in the record.

06:31Um

06:32So today I have approved I mean I have

06:35reviewed and approved on my end and I'm

06:38sending in and asking for approval for

06:41payment on four invoices. There's two

06:45from Left Field. One of them is

06:48schematic design services through July

06:5031st for $19,349.

06:56Um and then the second invoice for Left

06:59Field is

07:00through August 31st for 19

07:04$19,350.

07:08And then

07:09Design Lab, their invoice is for

07:12schematic design services through August

07:1431st

07:16for $133,295.

07:20And then Consigli Construction for their

07:23CM services for through September 30th

07:26for $15,451.74.

07:33>> And just for the record, I am

07:35recommending as well these these

07:37invoices be be paid.

07:41>> Okay.

07:43You have a question?

07:45Paul

07:46Autumn and Johnson, you have a question?

07:48>> Yeah, I've got a couple. Thank you,

07:49please.

07:50Um I'd like to go back to the

07:53previous page.

07:55Um where it says hazardous material

07:58assessment completed.

07:59>> Yep.

08:00>> Were there any hazardous material?

08:03>> Um there So

08:08Did you want to answer question?

08:09>> No, no, go ahead.

08:10>> Okay.

08:10>> So, there was um

08:13There was some ACM that was or asbestos

08:16that was found. They did

08:20They did a They did testing all

08:22throughout um the internal portion of

08:26the building and they did find some.

08:28They haven't sent a full assessment yet,

08:31so we should be getting that soon. We'll

08:32be able to do a thorough report and

08:35review of that

08:36um and then we will be able to assess

08:38from there.

08:40>> May I continue?

08:42>> Yes, you may.

08:43>> Okay. Um

08:45Did you do any mold testing in the

08:47building, too?

08:47>> Yes, so that's exactly what they tested

08:49for.

08:50>> Okay. Was there mold in the building,

08:51also?

08:52>> I believe so, yes.

08:53>> Okay. And my final question, please.

08:56>> Yes.

08:57>> Um are we supposed to get itemized

08:59invoices to show exactly what's

09:02was done?

09:02>> That was Yeah, that would that was sent

09:04in the packet that was sent out with the

09:06agenda. Um It's It's not in this

09:10presentation.

09:11>> Oh, okay. Yep, my apologies.

09:13>> Yep.

09:14>> Okay.

09:15Thank you.

09:16>> You're welcome.

09:18>> Okay, any other further questions?

09:21>> Mr. Chairman, just one Just one thing to

09:23hearken back on is um

09:26the

09:28tentatively we're talking about getting

09:30this group together again on on November

09:3318th.

09:35Um and you know, I want to kind of flag

09:37that because I think that that's going

09:38to be somewhat of a of a of an important

09:40meeting where I think we'll have a a a

09:43conversation about the design and where

09:46we're at and subject to the library

09:48trustees adopting the the design

09:51presented to them, I'd be looking for

09:52this body to

09:54uh approve the schematic design

09:58uh work that has been done to date and

10:00so we can officially move to design

10:03development. And so, wanted to just

10:05tease that out, make make sure you are

10:07all aware of that because I believe you

10:10will be

10:11um

10:11interested in seeing the the hard work

10:14that we've done getting the design to

10:16the point that we're at.

10:19>> Okay, very good.

10:22>> Yes.

10:22>> Alderman Dowd, are you going to be

10:24putting out a um meeting notice on that

10:27or

10:28is it hard and fast now we can put it in

10:30our

10:31schedule?

10:31>> I I I believe it's hard and fast now,

10:33but subject to us confirming that

10:35November 18th works for everyone. But

10:38that is the that is the plan that we're

10:40looking to execute on.

10:42And obviously again that's subject to

10:44the library trustees having a prior

10:47meeting and making an adoption of the

10:49schematic design. So it's in good stead

10:52to be presented uh to to you all.

10:55>> At 6:00?

10:57>> 6:00?

10:58>> Yeah, the 18th yes would be at 6:00.

11:00Technically there'll be a finance

11:01committee meeting at 7:00. So yes, we'll

11:04do it at 6:00.

11:05>> Okay.

11:06>> That's one way to keep the meeting

11:07short.

11:08>> [laughter]

11:11>> Okay.

11:12Uh yes.

11:13>> I just had a quick question. I'm trustee

11:15Jay Wirth. Um

11:16I really appreciate the uh the rough

11:18timeline that you provided. When in the

11:21timeline do we have to secure a

11:23temporary um location for the library?

11:27>> Do you want to answer?

11:28>> Yeah, well

11:29yeah, sure. Go ahead.

11:30>> Okay.

11:32So we are currently in the works of

11:36looking we're looking for a temporary

11:37location now. We should like absolute

11:42latest time that we should have

11:43something is the beginning of 2027. So

11:48roughly wintertime.

11:50>> Thank you.

11:50>> You're welcome.

11:52>> Alderman Johnson.

11:53>> Yes.

11:54Um question about this. Why do we have

11:57to move the library out because we've

11:58done school renovations with the

12:00students in the schools and we didn't

12:02move them out. Why would we have to move

12:04everybody out of library and not keep

12:06them in there as we renovate?

12:07>> So this is a demolition and like a I'm

12:11sorry. Um yeah, a demo addition and

12:14renovation. So, part of the building is

12:16going to be demoed, like demolished. And

12:19there's no way to phase this project

12:22unless it we want the schedule to

12:25>> It would be

12:26It do go ahead.

12:27>> Yeah, it would it would just take too

12:29long. It would end up costing way more

12:30money.

12:31Um, if we if we kept

12:34the building occupied.

12:37>> All set?

12:38>> No.

12:39>> Go go ahead. I want to continue on but

12:41go ahead. I follow you.

12:42>> No, no, you continue and then I'll jump

12:44my question.

12:45>> So so simply put, um,

12:48it's more financially advantageous for

12:52us to move out than elongating the

12:55construction period because we would

12:58have to increase the schedule

13:01to be considerably longer to be able to

13:04accommodate, you know, operations on

13:07site. It would be much more efficient

13:09and it would be a better project in the

13:11long run if we can segregate the

13:13operational uses out from the building

13:16so we can turn it over completely to the

13:19construction manager and not even to get

13:21into some of like the more technical

13:23insurance issues that we would need to

13:24worry about by trying to stay open. So,

13:27for those reasons it was

13:29recommended and suggested that we we

13:32move services off site during

13:34construction. Anecdotally, I'll also

13:37suggest we all know what that building

13:38is made out of. I I would hate to try to

13:41have library services going on and

13:43having someone try to read when there's

13:45a jackhammer actually going on. So,

13:47practically speaking, I think that would

13:49also be very difficult.

13:50>> May I continue?

13:52>> Yes.

13:53>> Okay. So, I guess the question then

13:56becomes, and I know you'll have an

13:57answer, how much square footage are you

13:59looking to move the library into and

14:02what is the cost factor going to be

14:04outside of this bond? So, we're going to

14:07have to rent something or we're going to

14:09find a city building that we're going to

14:10move the library into. I mean, how many

14:13city buildings do we have available that

14:15we can move the library into? Are we

14:17going to use Elm Street?

14:19>> So So, if I may, Mr. Chairman.

14:21>> You may.

14:21>> So, all great questions and we're

14:24working through to get those answers

14:26now.

14:27I think it's fair to say that the Elm

14:29Street Middle School is not the best

14:31option for many reasons. One, it really

14:34doesn't have working HVAC in some of the

14:37building. Um but but secondly,

14:40we certainly

14:43are trying to understand what the market

14:46is available to us to be able to see

14:49what we could be able to one afford and

14:52two what is is is actually there for

14:54square footage for us to be able to to

14:56potentially rent. Once we have that

14:58data, as Kayla said, sometime over the

15:00next 3-4 months, we'll be able to to um

15:04present that and and see if that's an

15:07option in terms of how we want to go.

15:09I'll just conclude my comments by saying

15:11and to be clear is this is all going to

15:13be part of the total building project.

15:17It's not in addition to. So, it has to

15:19be built into that $45 million figure

15:22that we're working with.

15:24>> Okay. Final question, I guess.

15:25>> Okay, we do have other people that want

15:28to speak, but go ahead, Alderman Jones.

15:29>> Okay, I'm just following up. So, on that

15:31$45 million, so whatever we use for

15:34rent, we're going to be bonding that

15:35money too for the rent? It's going to be

15:37part of the bond for 20 years?

15:39>> It would be part of the total project,

15:41yes.

15:41>> So, you're going to be bonding a rent

15:44subsidy for 20 years.

15:47That's basically is That's what you're

15:49saying. So, if it costs you $5 million

15:51for the rent, you're going to be bonding

15:52that $5 million for 20 years at 4%

15:55interest, which is a which is

15:57outrageous. Thank you.

15:59>> Alderman Dowd.

16:01In the school construction projects, we

16:03did the schools in phases and we built

16:05classrooms in the gymnasiums, so we

16:08could take a whole wing of students and

16:10move them into the classrooms in the

16:12gymnasium and shifted students as we

16:14went from one phase to another, so we

16:16could stay within the building.

16:21>> Thank you.

16:22>> All set. Any other questions?

16:25Okay, moving on.

16:28I'll turn to the clerk clerk for

16:31approval of invoices.

16:33>> All righty. I'd like to make a motion to

16:35approve Left Field invoice number 196955

16:39for services through July 31st, 2026 in

16:43the amount of $19,349

16:46and invoice number 199897

16:49for services through August 31st, 2026

16:53in the amount of $19,350.

16:57>> Any discussion on the motion?

17:00Seeing none, call for the vote. All

17:02those in favor signify by saying I.

17:04>> I.

17:05>> Opposed?

17:06>> Nay.

17:10>> Okay.

17:11Motion passes.

17:14Another motion by the clerk.

17:16>> Yes, I'd like to make a motion to

17:17approve Design Lab invoice 26-06.0826

17:23for services through August 31st, 2026

17:26in the amount of $133,295.

17:31>> Any discussion on the motion?

17:34Seeing none, call for the vote. All

17:36those in favor signify by saying I.

17:38>> I.

17:39>> Opposed?

17:40>> Nay.

17:43All right.

17:44So, I can do this.

17:46>> Yeah.

17:48Uh

17:50How about McGregor?

17:51>> I'd like to make a motion to approve

17:53Consigli invoice one for services

17:56through September 23rd, 2026 in the

17:59amount of $15,000

18:01$15,451.74.

18:05>> Any discussion on this motion?

18:07Seeing none, I call for the vote. All

18:09those in favor signify by saying I.

18:11>> I.

18:12>> Opposed?

18:13>> Nay.

18:15>> Okay, motion carries.

18:17Uh now get into all business.

18:21>> None.

18:21>> And yeah, we don't have any.

18:24And we're going to get into adjournment.

18:27Uh so, before Alderman Dowd comes up

18:30with the motion,

18:32uh

18:33going by what uh Director Cummings have

18:36said, we're looking at November 18th.

18:39Uh so, put that on your calendars at

18:436:00 p.m.

18:44And we'll try to see if it this is

18:46available and get it here. And uh

18:49whatever. Okay? And Alderman Dowd.

18:53>> So, we're going to have the uh

18:56drawings to review ahead of time?

18:58>> Yes.

18:59>> Yep.

19:00>> Okay.

19:01Yeah.

19:03And now, these are schematics. There are

19:05a lot of them, right?

19:07>> Yes. So, it's schematic.

19:08>> How about a couple

19:10and just pass it out to certain groups,

19:12you know?

19:13>> Understood.

19:14>> I don't know.

19:16Unless you have one hell of a printing

19:18>> the machine.

19:19>> No.

19:20>> [laughter]

19:22>> Cuz these are big, right?

19:23>> Yeah, they're Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. We'll

19:26figure out a way to make sure that

19:28they're large enough for everyone to see

19:29and

19:31we don't have to print out 15 of them.

19:33Yep.

19:35>> Good. Everybody will know where to put

19:36where the pipe is. Everything good.

19:38>> Trustee Jeddy has a question.

19:40>> Uh Alderman Jeddy.

19:42>> Uh Alderman

19:43>> Uh former Alderman Jeddy.

19:45>> Thank you.

19:47Um

19:47So, if I understood Director Cummings,

19:51uh the library trustees are going to

19:53have to approve this design before it

19:57comes before this board.

19:59And when do you anticipate where

20:01trustees are going to be able to do

20:02that?

20:03>> We will

20:04we will be having a presentation by Ben

20:06and his team at the next uh Board of

20:09Trustees meeting.

20:11November 3rd.

20:12>> 4th.

20:12>> 4th.

20:12>> 4th.

20:13>> 4th.

20:14>> 4th. [laughter]

20:14>> November 4th.

20:16>> November 4th.

20:17>> November

20:18>> next week.

20:19>> Yeah, next week.

20:19>> Next week.

20:20>> Okay. So, this these things are all done

20:22and ready to look at, can we look at

20:24[clears throat]

20:24>> Yep.

20:25>> And would we possibly get those prior to

20:27our meeting?

20:29>> Yes.

20:30>> Yep.

20:32>> The the tr-

20:34I would not expect that that

20:35presentation would be shared until

20:39bef- in in advance of the trustee

20:41meeting.

20:43So, Ben will come present, and then

20:46you have access to an electronic copy

20:48after that, similar to the presentations

20:51here.

20:52>> Okay, good.

20:53>> You should

20:54>> Okay, but we're going to be voting on

20:55it.

20:55>> Mhm.

20:56>> A week before

20:57>> That night.

20:57>> That night.

20:59>> Correct. And I think you'll what you'll

21:01see is it is not substantially different

21:04than

21:04other iterations that you've seen.

21:07>> Okay.

21:09>> Alderman Dowd.

21:11Yeah, my question is uh if you

21:14have changes to those drawings,

21:16are you going to approve the changes and

21:18have the changes before it comes here or

21:21>> I I think there would be time built in.

21:23So, so if there's 2 weeks between the

21:26trustees meeting and this meeting, the

21:28expectation would be the trustees

21:30if changes are required, they would have

21:32to meet again to review those.

21:34>> Correct.

21:34>> Yep, that's correct.

21:35>> That's right.

21:36>> Yep.

21:37>> Okay, good. Yeah, I'd like you to

21:40get that done so we can have

21:44a unified meeting here.

21:46>> Yeah.

21:47>> Okay.

21:48Very good. Okay, Alderman Dowd.

21:52>> I'd like to make a motion to adjourn.

21:54>> Motion is to adjourn. All those in favor

21:57signify by saying I.

21:58>> I.

21:59>> Opposed?

22:00You're a good group. Thank you.

22:02>> [laughter]

22:33>> I

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