FACILITIES PLANNING COMMITTEE

 

MINUTES

 

January 25, 2007

 

Members Present:  Paul Bylaska; Susan Courson; Deb Fleeger; Curt Foltz; Clare Heidler; Erin Schuetz; Dave Tomeo; Dave Tedjeske; Lou Tripodi;

 

Others Present:  Joseph Brinkley; Jim Conley; John Massa; Rein Pold; Steve Selker; Chad Thomas

 

I.               Approval of Minutes – December 14, 2006

 

1.       A motion was made by Dave Tomeo and seconded by Susan Courson to approve the minutes of December 14, 2006 as presented.  The motion passed.

 

2.       The committee agreed that the Facilities Planning Committee meetings will now begin at 3:00 pm.

 

3.       Bus Services was added to the agenda under new business at the request of Dave Tomeo.

 

II.         Old Business

 

1.  Venango Projects

 

·        Venango Pond – Project is moving along.

·        Rhoades Project – Complete.  Dave Tomeo reported that they are looking into ordering stage curtains and new doors.

 

2.     Science Technology Center

 

·        Clare Heidler reported that the contract for base bid #1 had gone out to the contractor and is presently in the hands of the Department of General Services.  Contractors may be on site in 3-4 weeks.

     

3.      New Dining Facility

 

·        A design meeting was held this morning with the architects and a preliminary design may be available in 3-4 weeks.

·        The entrance road to the Carrier Building will be relocated closer to Carrier in order to accommodate the new dining facility.  Project representative, Joe Brinkley said that STV architects are preparing a letter on the relocation of the road for the borough office.

·        Paul Bylaska reminded members that the Autumn Leaf Festival uses the area near Carrier as a staging area for their parade.  Joe Brinkley advised that the new road can serve the same purpose.

·        Clare Heidler stated that pricing can be looked into once the design of the road is established and work on the road can be done during the summer of 2007.

           

4.      Facilities Master Plan

 

·        President Grunenwald would like to have as much feedback as possible from the campus community on the Master Plan.  With the support of FPC, Paul Bylaska will search out interested campus groups to present the document to.

 

5.      Facilities Project List

 

·        Paul Bylaska advised members that the largest funding for the facilities project list is from Key 93 funds.  The Budget Office of the Commonwealth has recently reduced the amount of funding for Key 93.  Clare Heidler stated that $352,443 may be all that will be received this year, but that the summer projects on the list will move forward.

 

6.      Parking – Peirce Lot

 

·        Lou Tripodi spoke of the voiced concerns on the campus e-mail with the parking situation in the Peirce lot.  Paul Bylaska reminded members of the steps that had previously been taken to increase parking on campus with the future closing of the Peirce lot.  He cited examples showing that at this time the campus actually has more parking than before.  He also spoke of the Master Plan and its vision towards a walking campus with parking on the out lying areas.  According to this formal document, the campus is moving in the direction that it is supposed to take.

·        Dave Tomeo said that he has responded individually to the recent e-mail parking complaints.

·        Susan Courson asked if the sidewalks behind Peirce would be useable during the construction.  Clare Heidler responded that the walkway will have access until the time at which the new building will be tying into the auditorium/planetarium.

·        Susan Courson asked if any plans had been made for the Science in Motion van which is a large box truck that typically backs up to Peirce to load.  Clare Heidler stated that this was a question that had not been raised previously and therefore was never addressed, but will be looked into.

·        Lou Tripodi stated that once a more definite date on Peirce construction was available, perhaps faculty can be notified about parking.  Rein Pold asked if communication could be available now.  Lou Tripodi asked that Dave Tomeo send out a communication on open spaces and alternative parking areas.

·        In response to Curt Foltz’s question as to when the Peirce lot would be closed, Clare Heidler stated that roughly we are still 3-4 weeks away.

                        

III.       New Business

 

1.         Smoking Hut

 

·        Chad Thomas, Coordinator of student facilities, presented information on the student’s request for additional smoking huts on campus.  The first smoking hut was installed near Wilkinson Hall and is a 10’ X 10’ structure on pillars with a table underneath.  There is a twenty foot non-smoke perimeter around the building.  Residents at Nair and Givan are asking for the same type of unit.

·        Paul Bylaska advised that because auxiliary funds would be funding the huts, FPC approval is not required, but rather this topic is an informative item for the committee.

 

2.           Bus Services

 

·        Dave Tomeo told members that Jeff Waple and Lee Krull are working on a social equity grant that would assist in the travel for students to the eastern part of the state and back.

·        Paul Bylaska stated that Erie Transit is running a service for Edinboro from Meadville to Erie and that there may be the possibility to form a patchwork of that bus service.

·        Paul Bylaska suggested that in the absence of Fullington, Wollaston can provide transportation for parties of two or more.

 

The meeting adjourned at 3:45 p.m.  The next Facilities Planning Committee will be held on February 22, 2007 at 3:00 p.m.