By Amanda Estes
Staff Writer
    The South Portland City Council is moving forward “expeditiously” with a bond proposal for the high school renovations to allow the school board and school administrators ample time to educate the public on the need for the project and the associated costs.
    That was the message put forth by City Manager Ted Jankowski and the council during Monday’s workshop with school officials, architects from Harriman Associates, Finance Director Rob Coombs and the city’s financial advisor Joe Cuetara.
    The workshop was a continuation of the discussion from a March 26 workshop in which councilors were briefed on the project, and more specifically on the site’s problematic characteristics. Earlier that afternoon, councilors toured the high school to get a first hand look at the building and site issues. Councilor Maxine Beecher said the tour was an “eye-opener.”
      Before Dan Cecil, leader of Harriman’s educational team, could get far in his presentation, Councilor Linda Boudreau said she would “have a hard time talking about money” unless someone could provide her with a valid reason for not building on a different site.
    Cecil said that issue came up very early in the process of looking at the various options for the high school. He said the Wainwright Fields complex was initially discussed as a possibility, but further research determined deed restrictions prevented the land from being used for any purpose other than playing fields. City Attorney Mary Kahl interjected and said the city is currently in litigation regarding the athletic complex and the land was never available for construction.
    Another option, Cecil said, was converting the high school into a middle school, but significant work would still need to be done to address issues within the building. He also said the city has “a lot of infrastructure invested already” such as the auditorium, track/football/soccer complex and 2,000 seat bleachers that are more suitable for a high school. 
    Cecil said renovating the current building is the “green thing” to do. Even if the referendum were to fail, Cecil said the city would still be required under new Department of Environmental Protection regulations to treat all of the water on the site and bring everything up to code. Cecil determined bringing the site up to code could cost approximately $1.2 million.
    At the suggestions of Councilor Jim Hughes, Cecil said he would be interested in looking at the possibility of using the water that currently runs across the site to power the new building and installing a vortex system, similar to that at the Maine Mall, in which sediments are released from the water as it moves in a circular motion.
    Regarding renovations to the existing structure, Cecil provided the council with a breakdown of the project by building phase and by cost. Phase one, which includes a new two story classroom addition on the Highland Avenue side of the building, a new two story addition for a new cafeteria, kitchen, and service delivery entrance; and a new three story addition to house a first floor library and second floor science classrooms, could go out to bid by Jan. 2009. Cecil projected construction would begin by late winter or early spring of 2009.
    At least three crews will be needed, as three wings will be constructed simultaneously, Cecil said. The initial addition of 12 classrooms will reduce the number of portable classes needed as construction progresses.
    In the second year of construction, Cecil said there would probably be a need for six portable classrooms. The project budget includes funds for a year’s worth of trailers, he said.
    A month or so after phase one is under way, construction will begin on the new one story gymnasium with new locker rooms, weight room, and exercise room. Renovations to the Beal Gym will encompass the final stage of the project and begin in the summer of 2012. Cecil said renovations would be minor and aimed at life safety and ADA upgrades.
    During phase two of the project, the existing “Annex” building and library will be demolished.
    Cecil said it would be too expensive to remove the pilings that currently support the annex so new foundations will be constructed around the pilings. Following demolition in the summer of 2010, construction of a new three-floor classroom and administration wing will begin in that area. This addition will be controlled by a new energy management system.
    In addition to Beal renovations, phase three will include gutting the original building to remove asbestos from the roof system and cinder block walls. Mechanical and plumbing systems will be replaced and there will be new lighting and technology systems throughout the building. Similar renovations will be done simultaneously to the connector wing between the auditorium and the original building. One of the final steps in this phase will be switching all existing controls over to the new energy management system to put the complex on one system.
    The total project cost is estimated at $55.6 million. With $29.4 million in interest, the total annual cost will be $85 million. The annual total average home impact will be $5,181 over more than twenty years.
    “It is a multi-phase bonding approach to minimize annual cost to taxpayers and to maximize potential to invest the bond proceeds while waiting for construction phases to be completed,” said Jankowski. He said the city’s financial advisor had “proposed a very sound, and conservative approach to funding the project.”
    Jankowski said there was a request to put the bond to referendum in November. If approved by the council, the bond will appear on the ballot with a state vote on bonding and two council seat elections.
    Kahl and Jankowski are currently determining whether or not the plans have to go before the planning board before the bond vote. If that step is not required, Jankowski said the bond would come before the council at its first or second meeting in May.