Union notes from Union / Management Meeting

Present – Michael Abraham, Prince Charles Alexander, Rick Applin, Peggy Codding, Beth Denisch, Marti Epstein, Richard Grudzinski, Danny Harrington, Jonathan Holland, Teodros Kiros, Jeff Perry, Jackson Schultz, Will Silvio.  

Management – Larry Simpson, Jay Kennedy, Jeanine Cowen, Kari Juusela, Darla Hanley, Mac Hisey, Bill Whitney, John Eldert, Amelia Koch, and Chris Connors.

1. Danny made a motion to make a $1000 donation to Jackson Schultz. His house was flooded recently and he lost all of his musical instruments and amplifiers. Jeff seconded and the vote was unanimous to make the donation.
    
2. Larry opened the meeting. The topic for today is ADA compliance in 150. Mac Hisey: this is an extremely complex issue. Many options have been considered, the building is used all the time, and the disruption factor has been a big consideration throughout. The entrance creates issues as a range ranch type of entrance, either going up or going down right away with a lot of congestion. We have looked at ramps, elevators, lifts, etc. with 8 to 10 plans trying to come up with best possible entrance. Another factor is the flow from building to building - access to elevator and additional floors. The leading plan right now is very early on, expanding the entrance at 146 and 142 with a 3-stop elevator with easy access to other parts of campus and additional parts of 150. A ramp can also be installed - now 2 widely accessible entrances. We are still at the beginning stages; a wooden model may be built to look at all the moving parts, built to scale of course. Still in consideration is the back freight elevator, so we could have more than one entrance.
   
   Union: A ramp is a better consideration instead of lift, in case of fire. What about compliance? Is the college in compliance at this point?
   
   Management: Code compliance has a certain amount of grandfathering involved. Our focus is doing this the right way with limited disruption. We are trying to find the best possible way to complete the project.
   
   Union: From the outside looking in, this is NOT a priority. Other projects have been fast tracked ahead of this. This has been going for quite some time with no movement. If Roger had a disability, this would have been taken care of in the first two years of his tenure.
   
   Management: In regards to the new 168 building, it has been in the works for a very long time. We have been working on this project for the past year at length on a weekly basis. Roger is absolutely focused on this project, he wants to gets it done right. There are many facilities in Boston that are not in compliance they are old buildings. We can't totally disrupt this building like we are in 168. We will get this done. Times have changed and we are moving forward.
   
   Union: The entrances are constantly packed with students, with 2 entrances maybe the flow will just get bigger?
   
   Management: We are looking at the one story add on Belvedere St. side; removing that and create a larger "south beach" for a better flow and a possible additional entrance.
   
   When we look at 168 in 2013 - there will be a brand new building and we don't know where students will be hanging out. Also 161 and 171 will be used in the near future.
   
   Union: When is the date for completion for 150?
   
   Management: Nine months for planning and one year for completion. Assuming the plan all works, two years.
   
   Union: When will we know if the project is moving forward?
   
   Management: Let’s get to the next stage with an update in the near future.
   
   Union: This is a very serious issue to this committee we want this to be dealt with ASAP.
   
   Management: It is a complex project when dealing with an occupied building. We need to get this right the first time with limited displacement and disruption.
   
   Egress is always going to an issue – a ramp will not get you to all the floors. 
   
   Union: Can you start a part of the project so we can see that the work is being done?
   
   Management: Once we get an approved plan, it might be possible but we need to make sure that it will work with the whole plan.
   
   Jackson: This monthly meeting is very important to the Union, it helps break down the barriers that we have.
   
   Larry: By definition, collective bargaining is "us vs. them" but we can see that we all are on the same page with this issue in particular.