PelhamToday received the follow letter regarding upgrades to Centennial Park currently underway:
In the spring of 2023, the Town of Pelham Council decided to proceed with a project to upgrade facilities in Centennial Park, Fenwick. The scope of work was to add an Accessible Universal Washroom (east end) and an Addition to Concession (west end- concrete pad and roof) to the pavilion.
The Town used their RFP (Request for Proposal) process to select contractors to perform the scope of work required to render the project. On April 5, 2023, Town Council approved Grguric Architects Incorporated (Stoney Creek) to design for $32,500. They were selected since they designed the new Town Hall addition.
After a long time (six months later, reason unknown), on October 18, 2023, Town staff finally presented to Town Council the results of RFP for the construction. There were 15 plan takers and only one submission by Niacon (Niagara Falls) for $375,000, with RFP substantial completion by December 15, 2023. The total cost of project net of HST is $422,542.
The original budget for the project was $185,000. The Town received two grants as follows: (1) Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) for $150,000 and (2) Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) for $100,000. Total grants: $250,000.
After much discussion about the cost and finances of the project, Town Council approved the project with a warning from the Town Treasurer that if council decided to cancel the project, the two grants would need to be returned.
Based on the above details, which were presented to Town Council in report by Treasurer Teresa Quinlin- Murphy dated October 18, 2023, there are a lot of questions and concerns for the project.
1. Why was there only one bid submitted for both the architecture and construction of the project? Why did local companies (T.R. Hinan, Stolk, RoOmac?) not quote the project time line, scope of work, etc.?
2. Why is the cost of the project so high, $422,452, which is $237,542 over original budget (228.4% of original budget). The washroom addition is 10 x 13 = 130 sq. ft. and the concession addition is estimate 15 x 25 = 375 sq. ft.
3. Why does a project of this scope take more than 8 months (May-Dec) to execute based on project time line? The construction has been in progress for 2-½ months now. As of December 31, 2023, I estimate the project is less than 50 percent complete. Pad poured west end, and hole dug east end only. Why the major delay in construction?
4. Project management needs to be improved. Town Council needs to hold Town staff accountable for this project from the start to completion of the project. The taxpayers of Pelham consider this project a lack of financial accountability for our tax dollars. Would you proceed with this project if you owned the facility?
Bill Heska
Fonthill
