Date: Fri 06-Jun-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

BTI-Library-project-selectmen

Full Text:

TOWN STICKS WITH LIBRARY CONTRACTOR, BUT PRESSES FOR A WORK SCHEDULE w/ cuts

BY STEVE BIGHAM

It looks as if the general contracting firm on the $4.1 million library

project is going to keep its job.

Town officials say they are starting to see some action on the job site this

week, giving them hope that the much-maligned project may be finished by

August.

Just last week, First Selectman Bob Cascella suggested firing general

contractor Keith Crumb's Building Technologies, Inc (BTI), due to a lack of

manpower, a completion plan and the overall slow progress of the job. However,

a closed-door meeting last week appears to have set the project back on track

toward completion.

Officials have been tight-lipped about what was said at last week's meeting

between BTI, the bonding company for the library project, and the town.

Until this week, BTI had been hesitant about sending its sub-contractors into

the existing building for fear there may still be lead and asbestos in the

air. The town had the material removed last winter and has since received

clearance from the state to resume work. But BTI claimed its consultant had

warned about sending workers back in full-time, citing tests that showed

remaining traces of the carcinogens. The general contractor's refusal to go

back inside further stalled an already delayed project.

On Monday, however, sub-contractors walked through the existing building,

where several weeks of work are still needed. As of May 19, Mr Crumb said he

finally received a letter from HYGENIX clearing up two conflicting reports on

asbestos/lead testing. They indicated that it was safe to send the workers

back inside. Mr Cascella was expected to receive a completion schedule from Mr

Crumb this week. As Public Works Director Fred Hurley pointed out, the town

needs to see a coordinated plan for the completion of the project.

Work remains on the library's addition, as well.

"The biggest problem is coordination. You can't coordinate without a plan,"

explained Bill Lavery of the library board. "A plan says something like, on

Monday, the electricians will work on ceiling X,Y and Z, so that on Tuesday,

the tapers can sheetrock ceilings 1, 2 and 3."

Mr Lavery said a plan is needed to ensure that the carpet layers and furniture

movers don't arrive before construction work is completed.

Without a plan, Mr Cascella said, the town will have to bring in someone else

to do the job.

"The bottom line is they either get in there and finish the job or we get

someone else to do it," he Cascella said.

"There looks as if there may be a resolution. It's never done `til the fat

lady sings,' but it appears as if the matter should be worked out as far as

the completion of the building goes," said BTI attorney Ed Marcus.

BTI is still awaiting payment of some $200,000 it was due in May. Mr Cascella

said the contractor will get his check once the work gets underway.

"What we're hoping for is some movement over the next week or so to see if the

project will be completed in a timely fashion. We'll meet our obligation if

they meet theirs," he said.

But as Mr Crumb points out, the town's refusal to hand over payment is a

breach of contract. He believes the check is sitting in Mr Cascella's desk.

"We have every legal right to pull off the job, but we want to get the job

done," he said.

However, the general contractor said he plans to settle several issues with

the town once the job is done, including a possible lawsuit.

Mr Cascella said the Board of Selectmen still has the authority to remove BTI

from the job if progress is not made. However, as Library Board of Trustee Joe

Humeston points out, it's not easy to fire a general contractor, and it

usually causes more delays than are already on the job.

According to Mr Cascella, if BTI was to be terminated, the town would turn to

Fidelity & Guaranty Insurance Company of Massachusetts, the bonding company,

to finish the job.

Meanwhile, workers began paving the library's rear parking lot and driveway

Tuesday morning.

The library addition's roof is finally closed in, but according to

clerk-of-the-works Ed Callo, 2 to 3 weeks of work still needs to be done in

the addition.