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ESBC talks tree removal, future key dates

by | Jun 19, 2025 | Education, Featured: Education

During a brief meeting Wednesday night, Elementary School Building Committee members heard about planned pole relocations at the Charleswood School site as well scheduling updates.

As part of street improvements, Vertex project manager Chris Kenney noted that the relocation of utility poles had received town approval. The arborist for Eversource requested that four trees be removed, feeling they posed a safety risk to the poles.

Kenney explained that the trees are on the right of way and school property and not on any neighbor’s property. They include one stand-alone as well as one small and two medium-sized trees in a cluster, but not a large one in that same group.

The nearest abutter on 137 Hayden Rowe Street previously agreed upon mitigation including fencing and plantings.

“We hope this isn’t a major disruption. It should not be,” Kenney said.

Chris Eberly, Vertex project manager, said ESBC chair Jon Graziano frequently has spoken about wanting to be a good neighbor, so the team will have further discussions with the abutter if necessary.

Kenney also said the Conservation Commission would be taking a site walk on June 23 at 10 a.m. to look at the measures put in for erosion control and treat protection as noted in its order of conditions.

He noted his group is working with contractors to uphold the Conservation Commission’s requirements.

“We want to start out on the right foot,” Kenney said.

In another matter, Kenney noted weekly meetings with contractor Brait Builders, owner’s project manager Vertex and architect Perkins Eastman started Tuesday. Those sessions will be changing from virtual to on-site and will include ESBC member Mike Shepard, Assistant Superintendent Susan Rothermich, Director of Building and Grounds Tim Persson and Graziano, when his schedule allows.

Kenney also spoke about the “parallel” street improvements project, noting bid documents were made available June 10. A pre-bid walk took place earlier on Wednesday, with bids due July 10.

Other business included approval of invoices totaling $239,833 to Vertex and Perkins Eastman.

Eberly, Kenney and board members also thanked Superintendent Carol Cavanaugh for her work over the past several years on the Charleswood School project. Cavanaugh is retiring effective June 30.

“You have been very helpful in keeping us moving forward,” Eberly said.

The superintendent said that Vertex and Perkins Eastman personnel have been a pleasure to work with on the project.

“It started March 2020 — moments after the pandemic — and here we are ready to break ground,” Cavanaugh said.

The superintendent said she wanted to attend when a ribbon cutting is held in a few years.

The next ESBC meeting is July 15 at 6 p.m., when the board will award road improvement project bids.

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