1994-HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING COMMITTEE

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r /gam Brewster committees want school architect re replaced By JOHN LEANING 'contract: eetingt .- - ' e special town moaskvoters to design and mates,costs had climbed STAFF wRiTEa He estimated about $350,000 of the take action if that was necessary. to an estimated$10.8 million. total$517,000 in architectural fees had "It depends on how they(the building Friedlaender said that actual con BREWSTER — Dismayed by a $2.3 been spent so far. He also said the pro- committee) react. We may call a town struction costs had risen more swiftly million price hike for a-selicool smaller jest would be ready to go to bid in four meeting. Only town"meeting can that anyone had projected last fall and than originally designed,-t—a Brewster weeks. Board tto Selectmen and the finance "It(the vote)came as a total change the situation and make things that was the principal reason for the committee shock to happen. We reserve the right to call a new,higher figures. e last night recommended ed the me," said school building committee town meeting and make things hap- But Brewster town officials said an al- school's architect be fired and.a .a new . co-chairman Ginny McGeoch: pen, 'he saidi most-completed new elementary school' one hired. "I think unfair blame is being placed At issue is the estimated cost of the in Yarmouth was almost as large and The unanimous recommendation .on the architect,"she said proposed new elementary school, cost considerably less per square foot. came after a brief closed-door session : She said the committee planned'fo planned for town-owned land off Route that the proposed Brewster school. that followed more than an hour of continue its meeting schedule,but also 6A. The original plans called for a Another uncertainty left hanging was questions, mostly directed.at Cam- needed to talk to the town attorney, 72,000-square-foot building...costing the status of state reimbursement. Cur- bridge architect Stephen Friedlaender, .since what the two town panels recom- .'more than $9 million. Last fall voters rently the state pays 65 percent of new- hired two years ago it the elementary "mended might constitute a breach of approved$8.5 million,and the architect school construction,.and some have school building committee. contract... was directed to bring the building with- :feared that number might be lowered Friedlaender declined to comment Selectmen chairman John Mitchell in budget. feared the legislature after June 1. Many -after the vote,saying that it would be in- said the board,which found the new es- But earlier this month, Friedlaender school districts,including Brewster,are appropriate, since it was the school timate unacceptable, did not have the reported back to the building commit- scrambling to get project designs com- buiiding committer, not the finance' authority to terminate the contrar . tee that despite shaving 6,000 sghare pleted and approved by the state before committee or selectmen,that signed his But he held open the door to,:all a ,feet off the proposed school and cuss in that datejust in case.