Joseph McDonough
Anonymous
Forum Replies Created
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In reply to: Facility Assessment
Hi Michael,
If you are planning on continuing to engage the consultant that you will hire for the assessment/study to do some design work, then you probably want to continue following the RFQ approach (MGL Chapter 7) that you are proposing (versus hiring a School Dude since they don’t appear to do any design). As Kenny said, schedule is impacted by the scope of work that you will require. Not only the number/size of buildings, but also the scope (electrical, HVAC, plumbing, structural, architectural, civil/site). If your proposed fee will not cover the scope of work that is proposed, you probably won’t get a good response to the RFQ (either fewer submissions or lower quality architects – you get what you pay for). When preparing your schedule you need to factor in: 1) the regular coordinating meetings that you’ll be having with the consultant (bi-weekly at minimum), 2) interim submittals (60%, 90%, final) of the study and time for you to review, and 3) formal presentation of the study results at a meeting with school committee, selectmen or other boards in your community. You also need to think about the end product that the consultant will give you. Is it a bunch of check list sheets by discipline or is it something that you an use in you capital/master planning for say the next 10+ years.
Good luck!
Joe McDonough – Town of Wellesley
In reply to: Recycling
Hi Bob,
We started single stream in 2011 in Wellesley and it is working fine.
1) It will take custodians a little longer as there will be 2 separate receptacles in most classrooms and offices (waste and single stream). They collect separately and dump into separate bins (6,8,10 YD) or compactors. Single stream doesn’t need to be emptied each night like trash, so it’s not double the effort – maybe 30 to 50% more time. There will be the additional cost of the receptacles and carts. Tell staff to leave receptacles by classroom doors to make it easier for nightly pickup.
2) There is a huge education component (posters, flyers, etc. )that explains to teachers and students what can go in single stream receptacles and what cannot go in. Your custodians should not be pulling bananas out of single stream – it just becomes trash when this happens. Your waste hauler should provide all the education materials.
3) You’ll need to do some trial and error work to see how frequently you need to pickup single stream (once, twice) per week and then how regularly (bi-weekly, monthly) your hauler picks up the bins (size too – 6,8,10 CY).
4) If you don’t have loading dock space for another container this can be an issues. Same for the Rubbermaid tot carts you’ll need in the school.
It’s more work for you but everyone is (or will be) doing it. Wait until you have to start the food recover/composting phase! That’s right around the corner as we are doing it now. This is what we used to call “the garbage man” when I was a kid, and now it’s called composting!
Good luck!
Joe
In reply to: Domestic Water Booster Pumps
Hi Bob,
In Wellesley we’ve used Corbett Irrigation for several years to maintain our rainwater harvesting system at our High School, which has Canaris pumps:
Corbett Incorporated
Irrigation Contracting & Engineering
Office: (978) 897-9004
FAX: (978) 897-9030
http://www.corbettirrigation.com
Good luck!
Joe
In reply to: Oil buners
Bob,
We actually had to remove an old underground oil storage tank in Wellesley a few years ago when we converted to dedicated natural gas. We had dual-fuel capability previously. The State Division of Fire Services actually requires that an abandoned oil tank be removed under CMR 527. This reg states that any tank < 10,000 gal not used (filled or drawn off) within one year must be removed. You can use that as basis. Also, lack of use/low oil levels will draw the sludge from the bottom and cause more problems with your equipment.
Tony – we have also had problems with Camus boilers. Some control related (their software not talking with Metasys, etc.) and some boiler failures. Also very few certified/experience vendors to work on Camus.
Good luck!
Joe
In reply to: Water Coolers/Bottle Fillers
In reply to: Water Coolers/Bottle Fillers
Hi Ed,
We installed close to 20 of the Elkay units in Wellesley over the past 5-6 years – both single and double unit setups. We have been generally satisfied with them except for the digital display boards (shows how many uses each machine has). We have had to replace several that go blank at about $130/each. Our units all have filters too, so the parts/labor cost for replacement should be factored in.Good luck with your project.
Joe
In reply to: Statement of Interest
In reply to: Stage Lighting and Rigging Inspections
Hi Len,
Here’s who we use:Major Theatre Equipment Corp.
101 Holmes Street, North Quincy, MA 02171
Phone: 617-328-4441 Fax: 617-328-4449
http://www.majortheatre.com
Good luck!Joe
In reply to: Building Use Fees
Mike,
I’ve had good luck in the past just going to the various district websites and pulling off the rates from their rental policies. Here’s Wellesley Public School’s website:https://wellesleyps.org/district-information/facilities-rental/
Good luck!
Joe
In reply to: Classroom Door Locks
I agree with Allen. There are many different schools (excuse the pun) of thought regarding the most appropriate type of lockdown hardware. Keyed both sides is supposed to be best according the most security experts, as it prevents mischievous students from locking teachers out of their own classrooms, but make it easier for them to panic in a real lockdown event and fumble for the key trying to lock the door. Push-button locks on the inside address the panic issue, but allow the students to lock people out. At the end of the day it’s a subjective call, but it’s really a decision hat you should have your Superintendent make – too much liability for you to take on.
In reply to: Full Time HVAC Mechanic VS Outsourced Contract
Ken is right about how difficult it is to get an HVAC tech (even harder for a DDC tech) to work for municipal salaries. In Wellesley our 6-stap rates are:
$29.04 $30.46 $32.02 $33.59 $35.27 $37.04
We believe you’ll need to pay in this range to have any chance of recruiting good people (that will stay). You can do a very simple analysis of your expenses to show the financial benefit. I agree with Janet on this too. Part of the problem is that the annualized salary of $37.04 ($77k) is probably close to what some districts/municipalities pay their directors (another issue we need to tackle).
Joe
In reply to: Marmoleum Flooring
hi Mike,
We put Marmoleum squares down in corridors of our Recreation Building a few years ago. The actual tiles are holding up well and need no waxing which is great – clean with an autoscrubber. The issue we do have; however, is that the floor is wood framed, so there is considerable movement in the floor itself between summer and winter, so some gaps do open up in the squares and close up again. It’s a nice lower priced alternative to rubber (NORA), but I’d go rubber if you can afford it.Joe
In reply to: In-House OPM Capabilities
Hi Gerry,
I am a registered professional engineer and worked as a consultant on public sector building projects for many years, so I am qualified. I’ve been OPM in my capacity as facilities director in both Norwood and Wellesley on smaller projects or on an interim basis. problem is that there is just not enough time to be OPM on larger projects for any length of time and perform facilities duties.Joe
In reply to: Zero Energy Buildings Pros and Cons
Hi Joe,
We don’t have any, but my understanding is that it is costly/difficult to get true “net zero” energy buildings. I had heard that Cambridge considered doing it with a large middle school a few years ago, but couldn’t make the numbers work. I also understand that architects use various “credits/tricks” (like purchasing green power) and assumptions to make the building net zero “on paper”. If you took away the various credits, it would seem to me that a “net zero” building would have to be incredibly insulated (in a cave or buried), relatively small and a huge amount of photovoltaic panels, windmills and geothermal wells. 🙂Joe
In reply to: Modular buildings
Bill and Matt,
Triumph Leasing seems to be one of the biggest modular building companies in the area. Their website has a lot of good info too. Here are my thoughts on modulars:
1. They are not “cheap” and the biggest benefit is that they can usually be installed much faster than conventional building construction.
2. They need to follow all of the same Code requirements as other permanent buildings (foundations, sprinklers, MAAB, etc).
3. Big unknown is whether you are leasing (and for how long) or purchasing.
4. Typically the foundation work (and site utilities) is a separate cost that can’t be rolled into the lease cost.
5. There are separate bidding regulations intended to cover the unique aspects of modular construction, but you will still need to hire an architect and bid it.
6. I know in Wellesley we’d need to permit this just like a permanent project, so don’t discount that effort either.In general I think there is a misconception that you can just “call up a guy” and have these units setup next to your school. 🙂
Good luck!Joe
