Michael D'Angelo
Anonymous
Forum Replies Created
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Joe,
MERV 13 filters have only been proven to remove 20% of corona virus after it has gone airborne so the point is probably moot.
That is probably why my I am still waiting for filters my units are designed to use that have still not come in.
People should know that upgrading their filters that a unit is not designed for will reduce airflow.
Mike D’Angelo
Franklin / Town SChool
Russel and John,
I have had an engineer studying all the options and Bi-Polar ionization takes forever to kill (20 minutes) so it is not really a viable option.
The board will be discussing this issue on Monday night and we hope to have some guidance for all our members next week.
Mike D’Angelo
Franklin Town / Schools
In reply to: Sound dampening panels
Bob.,
Quite a number of years ago we started looking at soundproofing rooms for kids with Cochlear implants. Costs were super high for the pre-made panels so I came up with another solution. You can but 4 x 8 panels from Kamco with great spec’s that equal the ratings of pre-made panels. I talked to my ceiling contractor since they are installed with plastic J and H channels. It is like a ceiling attached to the wall.
Even though the panels are expensive install is much cheaper.
The ceiling contractor is Steve 508-243-8937
Mike D’Angelo Franklin Town / Schools
- Is your organization still paying staff to mostly stay home (essentially paid furlough)? Yes but many of my staff are still working doing building checks and sanitizing first responder buildings and vehicles.
- Do you have any staff that are on unpaid furlough? No
- Have you had to layoff anyone? NO
- Have your City/Town/School officials raised the possibility of layoffs or furloughs with you? NO
Mike D’Angelo Franklin Town / Schools
In reply to: Reporting Structure for Custodial Staff
Kevin,
The Facilities Department in Franklin is a town department. School custodians and non Union town custodians report to my Custodial Supervisor. Principals are only involved in interviews and making requests of the day custodians. There was a new law over a year ago that removed custodians, cafeteria workers and trades from control of the principals under ed reform. We have deleted any mention of principals in reporting in all our union contracts. I have run my department that way for over 20 years and all my principals love the fact that they are not bogged down with being responsible for the custodians.
Mike D’Angelo, Town and Schools of Franklin
Joe,
Nora is awesome!!! I had a Nora rubber floor and was not really happy till the Nora rep visited me. We cleaned the rust off it from the book stands, washed it and then interestingly enough burnished it with a peach pad. It shined right up. No waxing needed and wore like iron. Do not buy the stuff with the raised dotes. You can not clean it well or maintain with equipment. I love NORA!!!
I have linoleum in my science labs from 2002. It cracks at the walls. you have to strip and wax it just like VCT. I do not believe it would hold up well in corridors and it is a lot of work to maintain.
I have Marmoleum as well but in a Fire station not a school. When you have a piece of the product in front of you it looks like linoleum on steroids. Very thick and does have a sealing regiment that makes it look beautiful. I would gladly put it in again. I even had a Franklin seal water carved into it as an emblem in the middle of the floor for our museum. Turner falls has it in a lobby outside their gym but they put traditional wax on it and it looks horrible. Not sure how it will look if you strip it with conventional strippers.
My use has much lower traffic than a school but after 11 years it looks great.
My favorite would still be Nora but there are products that are equal on paper but not in the field.
Mike D’Angelo
Franklin Town Schools
In reply to: LED Lamps – Fire Hazard
In reply to: Consolidation of Schools and Town
To all,
I came to Franklin in 1998 as the Director of Facilities for the Franklin Public Schools. After building 2 elementary / middle school complexes we decided to build a joint municipal office / school office complex now known as the Franklin Municipal building. After the completion of this project I was asked by the then Town administrator to take over the town properties as well as the school and we made a deal with the superintendent so I remained a school employee but with extra compensation.
In 2007 there was a failed override that was mostly school based. When that failed the school administration did what they allways do and cut 6 custodial staff to save teachers jobs.
The following year the town decided it was not safe to leave decision making on facilities staffing in the hands of the school department. We entered a process of looking at other towns and their agreements between schools and the town. We developed a Memorandum of Understanding that would be reviewed every 5 years and re-voted. Until the last day the school was not happy but the entire Facilities budget (5.6 M at the time) was voted into the town side and out of the schools. Franklin Public Facilities was born as a town department.
The reality was we did not save money but it brought all properties under the same care and level of cleaning. I have no deferred maintenance and pretty much everything gets repaired on the same day or a few days after it breaks. My 2020 budget was just under 7.4M. I think it is a good way to do business as long as you are up for a really busy work life. This past fall the school and council decided to vote the MOU a permanent deal.
Mike D’Angelo Town / Schools of Franklin
In reply to: Asbestos Abatement Contractors
In reply to: Elusive Musty Odor
Steve,
I had something similar last fall. We checked for mold but it was negative. In the end we found the problem in the pipe chase behind the unit ventilators and shelving units. Mice were running wild in there. We had our exterminator take care of them and then used restore 24 to clean and encapsulate the floor, outside wall and back of the wood cabinetry. No smell left.
We came in on Monday and they had an even more awful odor. One last dead mouse in the unit ventilator decomposing on a hot September weekend. That was an easier fix.
Mike D’Angelo
Franklin Town / Schools
In reply to: Website Designer for School Project?
Joe,
This is who has done the school and town in Franklin. This answer is from our IT guy Tim.
We use Virtual Town and Schools — NOW named “Civic Plus” . We paid about $12K for our latest website – the cultural district. https://www.<wbr />franklinculture.org/
Mike D’Angelo
Town and Schools of Franklin
In reply to: Accordion Walls
In reply to: Engineer for boiler replacement/ retrofit
Bob,
You do not need an engineer for that. They have a fix that involves re-piping the return into the top of the boiler. I did it about 7 years ago and not a cracked section since. Get me your cell number and I will take a few pictures and send it to you. PJ Kennedy installed it for me. They are my boiler service contractor.
Mike D’Angelo
Franklin Town / Schools
In reply to: Installing LED light bulbs
Bill,
I have had a ton of this work done and it does require electrical work. Since LED tubes are powered from 1 end only you have to kill the other end power and install s dummy. While most will run on the existing electronic ballasts I prefer having new drivers installed while the fixture is open.
I use project expediters through NGRID and the installers are all electrical contractors that have to pay prevailing wage.
I like 4000K tubes color.
Mike D’Angelo, Town / Schools Franklin
In reply to: Electric vehicle charging station
I am going to apply for the grant under the public access charging program to install 2 at our Municipal Building and 2 at our Public Library. I was told yesterday from my NGRID rep that they have also implemented a program that will pay for the electric infrastructure to install them. They will reimburse the difference between the $6250 and the actual cost of purchase and install.
If anybody knows any reliable brands that would be helpful. These commercial stations seem to be about $5000 to purchase.
Mike D’Angelo
Franklin
