Building Committee To Meet On Middle School Roof Issues

 HARWICH – The select board is requesting the Monomoy Regional Middle School building committee to meet before the annual town meeting and make a decision on whether the proposed new roof on the school will be asphalt or metal. The asphalt roof is estimated to cost $315,000 less.

 “We're trying to land where we can here with the best education for our kids and be able to afford it,” Select Board Chair Donald Howell said Monday night in the second meeting with Monomoy‘s administration in two weeks over funding for the roof replacement. “We’re trying to get the most effective roof with what we can afford.”

In that session, the select board’s frustration with the lack of response from the Chatham Select Board on requests to meet to discuss potential adjustments to the regional school district’s assessment methodology was palpable, especially associated with foundation enrollment percentage assessments for capital projects. Harwich’s is responsible for 77.02 percent of costs.

The cost of the roofing project with the metal roof is projected to be $11,801,239, totaling $12,434,571 when interest over the life of the bond is calculated. Harwich’s share of the capital project is estimated to be $9,578,350 and Chatham’s assessment would be $2,856,221. The estimated annual cost for the average household in Harwich would be $40 and in Chatham it would be $17.

 “The use of asphalt is a lively discussion,” said building committee co-chair Peter Troy of Chatham.

MRSD Superintendent Scott Carpenter said the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) would commit $4,581,154 to the roofing project if voters in Harwich and Chatham approved the $11.8 million request in both towns,

He said the architect and project manager retained by MSBA have recommended the metal roof given weather conditions experienced in Chatham. ‘The architect said nor'easters are getting stronger and stronger, and a metal roof would be more durable and more cost effective over the 50-year long haul as metal lasts two-and- a-half times longer.

Carpenter made it clear whether asphalt or a metal roof is placed on the school, both towns should approve the $11.8 million costs contained in town meeting articles in both communities. Should that amount be reduced, he said, MSBA would reduce its contribution based on the 37.32 percent commitment to the project. Carpenter also cautioned that if bids on an asphalt roof project come in higher than anticipated, funding would remain available in the $11.8 million approved.

 Select Board member Mark Kelleher, a member of the building committee, has raised issues relating to the need for a metal roof, pointing out the middle school is 60 years old, questioning whether the bones of the aging school would survive 110 years. He also cited a dwindling school population, suggesting the middle school could be merged with the high school during that period.

Kelleher also said the public buildings in Chatham, including the fire station, town hall annex and fish pier building have asphalt roofs.

 “What’s nice to have and what’s essential, asphalt is essential,” said Kelleher 

 Carpenter said the MSBA is looking at a building that can last longer than 25 years. 

 Select Board member Peter Piekarski questioned why the town would vote for the $11.8 million without first knowing what the decision would be on asphalt or metal. He cited asphalt as saving Harwich $215,000 for its share, adding that’s a lot of money. Piekarski said he did not want to leave that decision up to a handful of building committee members after that funding is approved. That would take the leverage away from the select board and the taxpayers, he said.

Select Board member Jeffrey Handler said over the weekend he started thinking about asphalt and metal, then he looked at the next agenda item for Monday's meeting. That item was a follow up letter to one sent two months ago to the Chatham Select Board providing data-informed information from Harwich, and requesting a joint meeting between the two boards to discuss the school district’s assessment formula.

Handler cited issues facing Harwich relating to funding the town’s education, capital projects and continuing to provide services in town. He said $400,000 to $500,000 more goes into the regional school budget each year, diminishing the ability to pay for services in Harwich. 

Handler said Harwich has extended its hand across the aisle in a partnership relationship, but citing a lack of response to the letter sent two months ago. 

 “Tonight these words don’t fit,” Handler said of the partnership. “We’re hearing nothing from our neighbors. We’ve heard nothing for two months, not even an acknowledgment. I’m with option C, which is no to the roof.”

Howell spoke to the reconstruction of the middle school building in the 1990s, before regionalization occurred, citing poor construction standards, including the absence of flashing on the windows. Both towns are now paying for a major siding and window replacement. Howell took issue with Harwich having to pay 78 percent of that capital cost. He continues to call for adjustments to capital cost provisions.

 Carpenter made it clear that if the funding for the roofing project is not approved at $11.8 million, the MSBA funding would be lost, and it would be at least two years before the project could get back in the MSBA’s Accelerated Repairs program. The roof is presently leaking.

Resident Steve Swain took issue with any delays on installing the roof. He spoke to the mold problems that began the siding and window repair projects now underway at the school. He questioned why the roof was not addressed initially to prevent any water damage to the school structure and the new siding and window projects.

Troy said a meeting of the building committee was overdue, and he would seek to call a meeting and address the issue of asphalt versus metal for the school roof before voters act on the funding in town meeting. He said builders on the committee agreed with an assessment made by Kelleher that nail patterns and glue used with asphalt shingles should withstand winds up to 130 miles per hour, addressing wind issues there.

Troy also said he would reach out to the Chatham Select Board over the issue raised by Harwich about a lack of response to requests for a joint meeting among the select boards relating to the regional district assessment formula. He said the lack of response “is not acceptable.” 

The select board has yet to make a recommendation on the school roof funding request.