[Ken Wertz, MFAA Exec]

Steve,

You should check the State bid list. JCI was charging me more than what they were supposed too. I’m paying $160.00 per hour now based off of the state bid. There is no Truck charge or mileage included. I have been dealing with Simplex/Smiplex Grinnell and now JCI for years and I have always had to check their invoices. For some reason, it doesn’t seem to get to the billing dept. that we pay off the State bid.

Joe,  I am using JCI for the main school and Setronics for our Vet Center in regards to Intrusion alarm. Setronics is my security camera company, they have been great to deal with.

Mike Gormley

Monty Tech

[Ken Wertz, MFAA Exec]

Sorry didn’t include the time.

New England Roundtable Online Series

9:00 am to 10:15 am | log-on begins at 8:50 am
taking place online at: https://keene.zoom.us/j/402526797

[Ken Wertz, MFAA Exec]

Hi Angela,

This was posted on our message board back in September if this helps with some guidance for you.

This is the snippet that is still up on CDC webpage:

Cleaning and disinfecting outdoor areas

• Outdoor areas, like playgrounds in schools and parks generally require normal routine cleaning, but do not require disinfection.
  • Do not spray disinfectant on outdoor playgrounds- it is not an efficient use of supplies and is not proven to reduce risk of COVID-19 to the public.
  • High touch surfaces made of plastic or metal, such as grab bars and railings should be cleaned routinely.
  • Cleaning and disinfection of wooden surfaces (play structures, benches, tables) or groundcovers (mulch, sand) is not recommended.
• Sidewalks and roads should not be disinfected.
  • Spread of COVID-19 from these surfaces is very low and disinfection is not effective.

[Ken Wertz, MFAA Exec]

Reminder that today at 11:30am is our January Town Hall Meeting w/ guest speaker Jack McCarthy, MSBA’s Executive Director.

Kenneth Wertz is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting:

Topic: MFAA Jan. Virtual Meeting w/Jack McCarthy
Time: Jan 21, 2021 11:30 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/93641810960?pwd=YUFLbk03TmJuNXJSQndyTXhROVAvQT09

Meeting ID: 936 4181 0960
Passcode: MFAA2021
One tap mobile
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Dial by your location
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Meeting ID: 936 4181 0960
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Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/ab2dUYKE7

 

[Ken Wertz, MFAA Exec]

Hi again,

Interesting info from Bob Murray. Just to clarify my first response as it may not have come out clearly. I’m on board with the window open concept and back Harvard’s study. I just found it interested that the 1 to 2 windows open 1″ to 3″ seems too specific and generic to provide consistent result with so many variables at play.

Bob’s message:

 

Hi Ken,

I thought this information might be useful, so I figured I’d send it to you directly.  A couple of months ago, the teachers union forced us to hire an industrial hygienist to survey C02 in every classroom and office in our schools (each school had a different HVAC system).  Before this we had already boosted the exhaust fan performance in the schools so we knew we had good circulation.  We did the surveys late mornings, with classrooms occupied to try to hit the highest CO2 levels of the day.  Some teachers had their windows open and some had them closed.  In every case, the CO2 levels were significantly lower (~75-100 ppm) in the classrooms with windows open.  We still had C02 ppm under 700 in all cases including windows closed, but after the testing we told the teachers that it could be even a little better if they wanted to open their windows.

Last summer, our engineering consultant had also advised us to keep windows closed so as not to interfere with the engineered air flow pattern across the room, but it just seemed so obvious from testing that open windows improved the situation.

-Bob

Robert F. Murray, P.E.

Facilities Engineering Manager

Town of Hanover MA

[Ken Wertz, MFAA Exec]

Hey Matt,

Curious who is driving the parameters for the window openings? Our last webinar (presented by Belfor and Rimkus) really drove the message home that window opening isn’t a guaranteed mix rate as it is weather dependent with wind flow and conditions you just can’t calculate. Additionally, which windows you are opening will also greatly impact ventilation and flow (one on each end vs. two together vs. one by teacher and so on).

I’ve reached out to DESE for you to see if they have any guidance.

If you didn’t get a chance to attend our webinar you can find it on our YouTube channel. Make sure you subscribe everyone as when we get to 100 subscribers I can customize our address title.  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCncOFzwXobp4mtJPFc6GOWg

Keep you posted if I come up with anything from DESE.

Good luck,

Ken

[Ken Wertz, MFAA Exec]

Hi Alan,

I had a call with Heather Rowe from the Attorney General’s Office Fair Wage Division to get some clarity on this. She works closely with our friend at the AG’s Deb Anderson who was kind enough to connect me with Heather.

As for Chpt. 149 calling out minimum billable time or other wording it does not. That has to be agreed upon with the two parties as part of your contract. What Heather was able to provide some clarity on is that travel time to and from the work site or traveling to the  supply house to collect parts does not require you to pay prevailing wage. Only the work being performed as described on the wage sheet. Keep in mind, if the person’s function of going to your jobsite is the actual work (hauling material/gravel etc.) then the driver would receive the prevailing wage rates.

Tighten up your contracts and make sure everyone understands what the expectations are when they are working with your community.

Good luck,

Ken

[Ken Wertz, MFAA Exec]

Sorry, error on Zoom scheduling. Too many buttons for me I guess.  Fixed on this evite for the 21st.

 

Kenneth Wertz is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: MFAA Jan. Virtual Meeting w/Jack McCarthy
Time: Jan 21, 2021 11:30 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/93641810960?pwd=YUFLbk03TmJuNXJSQndyTXhROVAvQT09

Meeting ID: 936 4181 0960
Passcode: MFAA2021
One tap mobile
+13126266799,,93641810960#,,,,*48672114# US (Chicago)
+16465588656,,93641810960#,,,,*48672114# US (New York)

Dial by your location
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington D.C)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
Meeting ID: 936 4181 0960
Passcode: 48672114
Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/ab2dUYKE7

[Ken Wertz, MFAA Exec]

Here are the two state contracts for fields/landscaping and fencing:

FAC103: Landscaping Services, Snow Removal, Tree Care
and Related Services Contract:  https://www.mass.gov/doc/fac103/download

FAC104: Landscaping Products, Parks and Recreation Equipment
and Related Products, Supplies and Service: (Fencing)  https://www.mass.gov/doc/fac104/download

Hope this helps and Good luck,

Ken

 

[Ken Wertz, MFAA Exec]

Hey George,

The State’s Designer Selection Board are working on a new electronic system for all designers working on state and public projects to register. I’ll have more info coming out from their Executive Director, Bill Perkins, to our members over the next few months but for now you can review some of the projects that have going and the design applicants and firms that commonly bid on this type of work.   https://www.mass.gov/service-details/designer-selection-board-selected-finalists

As for a firm I’ve been coming across lately, Habeeb Associates have been around for some time and have hosted booths at our events, as well as the Superintendent’s events and MASBO’s. They offer the services you are looking for. Might be worth an email.

Good luck,

Ken

Jack Shea, M.Ed., ALEP

jshea@habeebarch.com

HABEEB & ASSOCIATES ARCHITECTS
150 Longwater Drive, Suite 201

Norwell MA 02061

781-871-9804
habeebarch.com

[Ken Wertz, MFAA Exec]

Hey Diane,

My former AD tried in the past the scented coyote statues… which ended up attracting coyotes!  Like Bob mentioned, dog running seems to work if the school allows, just scheduling nightmare. The town I worked in the animal control agent actually used to run her dog on our field which worked for awhile but the schedule wasn’t consistent enough. There are some new to market topical avian repellents but I don’t have any experience to say good or bad on their use. Maybe someone else has used them and can chime in.

Geese are a pain for sure. Be cautious egg addling if that is something you are considering as you need to apply for a permit. More info about what Mass.gov has on geese.  https://www.mass.gov/service-details/learn-about-canada-geese

Good luck,

Ken

 

 

[Ken Wertz, MFAA Exec]

Reminder, this meeting is not recorded and intended to provide members a chance to speak honestly with their colleagues to help problem solve and brainstorm and to see if this is something that members would like to see more of.

We will have this on a schedule so if you are up to your eyeballs in snow issues don’t worry, we will have more….

 

[Ken Wertz, MFAA Exec]

I’ve updated our event page to include to link to login to this Friday’s webinar at 10am.

MFAA webinar: HVAC Considerations for Schools

The platform is Microsoft Teams so leave yourself a few minutes to get online if you haven’t used this platform before.

Thanks

Ken

[Ken Wertz, MFAA Exec]

Hi everyone,

I’ve reached out to DESE and at this time they do not plan on releasing a recording. They may however offer this session again at another time.

Sorry for bad news,

Ken

[Ken Wertz, MFAA Exec]

Hey Bob,

Be very careful if your are looking at technology as some, as you mentioned, do emit ozone. Here is the EPA’s warning on air cleaning units that emit ozone. They are not in favor and are very clear about the dangers.

https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/ozone-generators-are-sold-air-cleaners

Take care and hope Aaron is taking good care of you. I’m thinking he needs to be our next motivational speaker at an upcoming event. Nice to have a good Superintendent.

Ken