Selectmen cut $19,116 in forecast deficit on the fire station project.
BETHEL – At Monday night’s meeting, selectmen learned that the town’s new fire station construction project had accrued $47,297 worth of change orders.
Following considerable discussion and aggressive cost-cutting, they reduced $19,116 in forecast deficit to zero and eliminated some change orders that they perceived as unnecessary.
Construction began in September on the $1.3 million project after voter approval was gained in June and the Planning Board OK’d it in July.
Town Manager Scott Cole said the project is nearly half completed now and should be substantially complete by mid-February 2004.
However, several variables quickly cropped up that caught the attention of selectmen last month.
“Although the town entered into a contractual agreement identifying a guaranteed maximum price ($1,199,299) and based its referendum figure ($1.3 million) on that guaranteed maximum price, the contractor has argued ‘change of scope’ and filed for several change orders,” Cole said.
The contractor is RLR Enterprises Inc., of Conway, N.H., and James Reuter of Bethel is the project architect.
Reuter “gave back to the town $4,000, and had some ideas where we could take $24,170 out of the project, and selectmen adopted those guidelines and authorized change orders,” Cole added.
One change order that wasn’t altered or cut involved $7,298 of elevator preparation. It was approved because the board and Cole thought the two-floor structure didn’t need an elevator. But it does, according to the State Fire Marshal’s Office.
Other keepers included drainage work and rock removal. “We wanted a perfect lot,” Cole added.
As to the flurry of change orders, Cole said the contractor should have inferred certain things would be needed based on knowingly complete drawings used to elicit bids.
“The bottom line is, don’t be fooled by the gloom. The fire station project is on budget. But let’s not kid ourselves because the reality is that an additional $20,000 to $40,000 is needed for future budgets,” he said.
tkarkos@sunjournal.com
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