Committee Delays Decisions On Cost-cutting Moves

Two probable cost-saving measures were tabled Tuesday night, as the North Kingstown School Committee voted to delay decisions on sending mini bus and custodial services out to bid, and awarding a contract to review the town and school department information technology services.

School Committee member Joe Thompson first called for the delay, requesting the request for proposals for services contain a clause that would protect current employees. Thompson said he wanted people who are already employed in the department to have the "top spots" if a change were to occur and would vote against the measure if were wasn't a protection for "our people."

Kim Page said she too was content with the current staff, saying, "I like the system we have now and the people we have now."

Melvoid Benson voiced that she would like to see a study and savings analysis before acting on the measure and suggested the council come back to it in another year.

Members of the committee also showed apprehension in awarding a bid to Elert & Associates to review both the town and school department IT services for areas of consolidation. The North Kingstown Town Council unanimously approved the $36,000 contract Monday night, but those sentiments weren't reflected with the committee members.

Thompson opposed the measure, saying that he has passed numerous items without enough information since taking office in December that he wished he hadn't. "I don't want this to be one of them," he said.

"This should've been done and finished in December," said Chairman Dick Welch. "This needs to get done and we need to move forward."

Both measures were tabled until the committee's March 28 meeting.

The committee unanimously approved a bid from NORESCO to install new, energy-efficient equipment throughout the district. The 15-year contract will cost the district a $2.6 million investment. According to Jim Berson of the facilities subcommittee, the cost of the investment will be offset by the money saved in utilities.

"This is a great deal for the community," Berson said.

Mirroring his sentiments, School Committee member Bill Mudge added, "Sometimes if you want to save you have to make an investment."

The contract would encompass all schools (exclusing the closed Davisville Elementary School) as well as the administration building. Among the laundry list of equipment upgrades is:

• A new energy management system for the two middle schools.
• New unit ventilators at DMS to replace the current "antiquated systems."
• New dual-fuel boilers at DMS.
• New windows at Hamilton Elementary School.
• Attic ventilation system at the high school to alleviate the overheating during the summer.
• Low-flow plumbing retrofits and energy efficient lighting improvements.

When the roof at Davisville Middle School began leaking during the winter storms, school officials feared the worst. On March 3, however, an inspection of the roof showed that the roof did not need an overhaul or to be replaced … yet.

According to Ned Draper, the inspection showed the roof was indeed at the end of its life but didn’t need an immediate replacement. The roof above the main floor, cafeteria, boiler room and south end are in the worst shape, according to the inspection, but Draper believes it can “withstand the FY12 winter season.”

The newer part of the roof on the eastern side of the building reportedly only has about five years of life left in it.

The committee, voting 4-1, shot down a proposal to give Director of Pupil Services Rachel Santa a $10,500 raise, with Page dissenting.

Santa’s salary of $101,000 is about $14,000 less than the same position in South Kingstown and approximately $8,000 less than the average in the area.

According to Thornton, the proposed raise was an effort to “fix a wrong,” as Santa was hired in the previous administration at an “undervalued” salary. Despite the recommendation, the committee felt that the economic times outweighed this.

“We have to be cognizant of our economic situation,” said Welch. “But you can’t justify a 10 percent raise in this economy.”

• The committee will consider sending out an RFP for new legal counsel on March 28.
• The committee unanimously voted to award GZA with a contract to fully repair and operate the high school's septic system for $15,500.
• Larry Ceresi was not present at Tuesday's meeting.