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26 <br /> needed consistent with the principles they have agreed to. She said she is interested in the <br /> financial aspects of the ILAs and allows for an effective and timely management. <br /> Vice-Chair Hamilton asked to return to the last slide. She asked if the program manager <br /> hires the project managers. <br /> Jessica Killian said it is all part of the big team. She said that the recommendation is that <br /> it is one company. She said they would report through the program management office and that <br /> would ensure consistency in the reports. She said other contractual relationships can get messy <br /> and it is almost always better to have everything under the same umbrella. She sees this <br /> moving forward as a PMO, but everyone must be involved on the decisions. <br /> Vice-Chair Hamilton asked how program managers will be accountable to the county. <br /> Jessica Killian said monthly reports on projects, reporting on milestones in the master <br /> plan, and perhaps a dashboard for voters to see. <br /> Travis Myren said there will be a collaborative solicitation process to choose a program <br /> management firm. <br /> Commissioner Portie-Ascott said she's in favor of an approach that gives them improved <br /> communication and more consistency. She said that voters have been concerned about the <br /> bonds and overspending and she is grateful that they will do all they can do to deliver what they <br /> promised. She said that she supports program management. <br /> Commissioner Fowler said she is in favor of a program manager. She asked if the school <br /> districts are in favor of having this setup. <br /> Jessica Killian said they want to make sure they are not left out of the project. She said <br /> that program management is a specific skill and project management is a separate set of skills. <br /> She said the decisions must be made by those making the decisions. She said it is about trust <br /> and relationships and that is why it is important to get everyone in the room. <br /> Commissioner Fowler asked if the RFQ is for program management and if they must be <br /> the same company and if it is more efficient when it is. <br /> Chair Bedford asked if they must use the same project manager for the different builds. <br /> Jessica Killian said the project holders are the decision makers. She said that the <br /> recommendation is one firm that does program management (director) with multiple project <br /> managers. <br /> Commissioner McKee said he does not have an issue with program management. He <br /> said that he wants the Board and both school systems to be kept informed and to be involved <br /> and updated along the way. He said that he wants to make sure there is nothing missing. <br /> Chair Bedford asked the difference between a construction manager at risk vs. project <br /> manager. <br /> Jessica Killian said they are different. She said the construction manager at risk is the <br /> constructor and they are taking a risk by being involved in the design phase. She said that they <br /> are construction related. She said that the project manager is involved from the beginning and <br /> managing the process. She said they are not involved with the actual construction. <br /> Chair Bedford asked Commissioner Fowler how management of construction of Chapel <br /> Hill High School was done. She said when she was on the schoolboard, there was someone on <br /> staff that had a background in construction that managed the project. <br /> Commissioner Fowler said they hired a construction manager at-risk but there was an <br /> act of God clause that was triggered, and they ended up having to pay more than the not to <br /> exceed price due to this. She said they had just hired a new principal and the former principal <br /> stayed on to assume the project manager role and she said that she is not sure that this is the <br /> most effective way for the management to be done. <br /> Jessica Killian said there are a couple of different things that happen in school districts. <br /> She said there are deferred projects and there are project managers that handle this type of <br /> thing. She said a feature of hiring a program manager is that they are not staff, and they can <br /> scale as needed. She said in ten-years when it is over, there is not a need to continue to employ <br />