The Railings Issue

You may have noticed the article in the Clipper today about the citizen article (Article 30) on the Town Meeting warrant. Bob Doyle wants the railing height raised. (Full text of the article itself is not yet available online; we will link to it when it is available.)

We are so fortunate to have such caring and involved citizens in town. However, we do not believe this article has merit, and think it should be voted down.

Here's why:

• The railings are the code minimum height of 42” which is the standard installed throughout the country in schools, malls, public facilities -- and the PAC.
• Newly constructed schools in the region (Oliver Ames in Easton, Whitman-Hanson, Norwood, Plymouth North, Hanover, etc.) all have clerestory areas with railings of this height. 
• Installation of a 6’ high guardrail constructed of a bar assembly would be very costly and have severe impact on the aesthetic of the building – it would look like a penitentiary!! 
• Installation of a 6’ glass railing assembly would be even more costly and would require redesign of the ventilation system and atrium exhaust design (which was a very detailed modeling procedure requiring extensive computer analysis and review by DFD and their consultants).  It's unclear whether the existing ventilation and smoke exhausts systems would work with these areas closed off without extensive modifications.
• The SBC discussed this issue at length with Mr. Doyle over the course of multiple meetings.  SBC never promised to raise the height of the railings.  They did promise to look into it and the architect proposed a couple options to raise the rail 6” but the SBC agreed that the additional height was not merited.  There is no data to suggest a 48” rail will prevent any of the events Mr. Doyle asserts. 
• The article has no mechanism for funding a change that would be extremely costly both for installation itself and subsequent delays.  The railings are completely installed.
• The article also ties in the construction of these 6’ railings tied into obtaining an occupancy permit.  The only one with authority to provide an occupancy permit is the Building Inspector and since these are designed to code there is no justification not to grant occupancy.  This has been confirmed by Town Counsel and the State Building Official.
• The building has been designed with safety in mind in every possible way; the railings are not the only safety mechanism in the Atrium. There are extensive security features installed as well and the layout of the school and corridors provides clear sight lines for the teachers and administration to view every corridor from multiple locations.  The perfect square: stand on one corner and see down both hallways (Two teachers to monitor four corridors.)

Again, we're fortunate to have caring and involved individuals in town. My Doyle did his part in bringing his concerns to the School Building Committee where it was more than adequately addressed.

We're on the home stretch of the building project and are so excited to see it open to the students in the fall!

Town Meeting begins on Saturday March 8 in the PAC. Please come and be part of the process. Article 30 is not likely to come up on the first day, so we hope you will come on subsequent days as well!