GREENFIELD — Oversight of the parking garage construction is about to be shaken up.
The Olive Street parking garage will be under modified oversight after April 1, when the contract for the project’s clerk of the works from Dome Design/Build of Shelburne Falls is officially terminated. Mayor William Martin decided to terminate the contract after the project went over budget and a request from Martin for additional funds was not fully approved by City Council.
“There were no qualms with the caliber of work or how they handled tasks or responsibilities,” Martin said. “It was a money thing.”
The clerk of the works’ responsibilities, including oversight and coordination of the project, will be transferred to City Engineer Nicolas Reitzel, Martin said. Daniel O’Connell and Sons Construction, which is the construction manager, and Skanska, the site’s project management company, will also assist, he said.
According to Martin, his decision to terminate the contract came after City Council voted to approve $250,000 to cover additional costs for the project through Federal Emergency Management Agency reimbursement funds, which was less than half of the $529,271 he requested. The city had paid for repairs related to damages caused by Hurricane Irene in 2011.
Stone foundations found underground in January, causing complications at the site, pushed the project, initially expected to cost $10 million, over budget.
In order to offset the amount of money OK’d by the council, Martin said he reduced the budget through a number of cost-saving measures, one of which was to terminate the clerk of the works contract.
Martin said, however, that the council was not made aware that ending the clerk of the works’ contract was in consideration if the total requested amount was not approved.
Martin said the contract with Dome Design/Build included an option to terminate with a 30-day notice. This was done following the council vote regarding additional money in February. The decision, Martin said, saved about $40,000.
You can reach Dan Desrochers at:
ddesrochers@recorder.com
413-772-0261, ext. 257