Politics & Government

City Council Defers Action On Contracts For Street and Parks Improvements, Vehicle Purchases

Concerns on several New London projects and purchases cause councilors to table votes

The City Council had eight contracts on its Monday agenda to award bids for a variety of projects, but approved only one due to concerns on some aspects of the bids.

In the one approved contract, the Council voted 6-1 to award Colonna Concrete & Asphalt Paving LLC of Woodbridge a bid for sidewalk and stone curbing improvements on Jefferson Ave. between Bank Street and Colman Street. The company was the lowest of five bidders with $324,151.25.

Council President Michael Passero said he thought the curbs and sidewalks on Jefferson Ave. were in “serious need” of improvement and that it is timely to fund repairs now since the state will be paving a section of the road this year.

“The dollars are well-spent, and we need to do this in conjunction with the state paving,” he said. “Once the state paves, we can’t cut the road.”

Councilor Adam Sprecace said he had been opposed to the bond approved for road and sidewalk improvements out of concern for increasing the city’s debt service.

The Council tabled votes on awarding a contract for the 2013 roadway paving program as well as awarding one for installing and replacing stone curbing, concrete sidewalks, driveway aprons, roadway realignments, and storm drainage improvements. The action was taken because the bids included roads where maintenance was deferred to the 2014 fiscal year due to the state’s deadline on completing curb and sidewalk work on Jefferson Ave.

The Council also voted to table action on awarding contracts for the purchase of a sewer and catch basin cleaner truck and a steel compactor compatible horizontal ejector solid waste and waste debris transfer trailer. Only one bid was received for the trailer, and Passero asked Finance Director Jeff Smith to seek additional bids and comparative costs in the interim.

New England Mechanical Equipment of Bristol had the lower bid for the truck at $286,398, but Public Works Director Tim Hanser said the bid did not meet the bid’s minimum requirements in several areas. He recommended that the city award the contract to CN Wood of Connecticut LLC of North Haven, which bid  $331,355.27.

New England Mechanical Equipment objected to the recommendation, saying several of the city’s comparisons on different options were inaccurate. Passero said he would not be comfortable proceeding with the item without further input.

The Council was also to review contracts for site improvements and building improvements for the second phase of Bates Woods Park renovations, but tabled the item because a representative for the project was not available.

Councilor John Maynard also said he was concerned with the cost of the proposed improvements to the concession stand and restrooms, which had a low bid of $383,650. “In the city of New London, you can buy three houses for that price,” he said.

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