One of the central points of discussion was the approval of invoices for February, which accounted for 80% of the total feasibility study budget spent to date. Invoices from leftfield, Perkins Eastman, and Kigle were presented and approved through separate motions and roll call votes. The committee extensively examined the proposal to allocate additional funds for phase two geoenvironmental site investigations, a contract amendment, and budget revision request for Perkins Eastman. This discussion underscored the committee’s concern about aligning the allocation of funds with the project’s progress and the upcoming debt authorization vote.

Following the financial deliberations, the council approved Perkins Eastman’s contract for phase two unanimously. After current expenses were accounted for, it was mentioned that approximately $200,000 would remain in the feasibility study budget. The project team provided an update on their interactions with the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA), noting positive feedback during a recent meeting and an upcoming conference call with the MSBA, an important step in the process. They emphasized the need for continued engagement with MSBA’s protocol and offered to provide more detailed information to any interested committee members.

The formation of working groups was a significant topic, with discussions focusing on their role in gathering information and bringing recommendations back to the committee. The proposed involvement of members of the school community in these groups was positively received. The suggestion to form a historic information gathering subgroup within the interior working group was particularly well received, with the idea to involve experts from the Historical Society and the local library.

Additionally, there was a suggestion to involve the Junior ROTC program and form a formal student group to provide input. The council also considered engaging the media for public outreach to keep the community informed as the project progresses.