High School Project Change Order #GC-002: RESOLVED, That the Board approves Change Order #GC-002 dated July 24, 2012, to Nello Construction in the amount of $82,360.57 for the installation of Geofoam along the north and east perimeter walls in Building H in substantially the form presented.
We need to look up the amount of the first change order, so that we can keep a running total.
Elaine here's what you reported from the June 18th agenda. I don't remember if it was approved.
ReplyDeleteAnd the infamous Nello Change Order has entered the picture again.
*(6) High School Project Change Order #GC-001: RESOLVED, That the Board approves Change order GC-001 dated June 7, 2012 to Nello Construction in the amount of $189,306 for the importing of new earth material and changes in waterproofing and grade beam work substantially in the form presented.
It's mere pocket change for this illustrious school board!
ReplyDeleteThink the "overseers" at the PDE in Harrisburg will be tracking all this additional expense....Nah!
Just how much do they have to approve in change orders to kick in the mandated referendum? Anyone have an actual figure?
ReplyDeleteBuilding H, the auxiliary gyms. Isn't that the area where they made substantial reductions in materials to bring the project under the referendum threshold?
ReplyDeleteExcuse me how long have Celli, PJDick and Nello been in the construction business?
ReplyDeleteThis wouldn't have been specified in the original bids. It's not like there was anything in the old tennis court site to surprise them!
Some info on Geofoam.
TerraLite™ Synthetic Lightweight Fill (Geofoam):
1. How much does it cost? Is it expensive? The most commonly used TerraLite™ in road construction is Type VIII, which is 1.25lb/ft^3 (20kg/m^3). This density costs from $40 - $45 a cubic yard ($50-58 a cubic meter) FOB Plant, depending on the raw material cost and quantity ordered. While this is certainly not "cheap as dirt," it turns out that it IS often cheaper than installing a field of wick drains, instrumentation, and the "cost" of waiting for months for the surcharging to take effect.
And here's the warranty from the manufacturer.
4. What kind of warranty do your products include?
"GeoTech Systems Corporation warrants for a period of 5 years that the GeoTech products will be free of manufacturing defects. The company will, at its option, either replace any material proven to be defective or refund the purchase price of the material. GeoTech systems Corporation does not assume any liability, direct or indirect, nor any consequential damages.
The above warranty is offered in lieu of all others, implied or expressed, and may be modified or extended only in writing by corporate officers of the company."
Of course Nello didn't include it in the original bid. How do you think they came in so low? Good lord this school board is crooked.
ReplyDeleteYet, they keep going, like the Eveready Bunny. Nothing stops them. We knew this would happen when Jello Construction came in so low and saved the project from going to referendum. So what is the board getting for this in kickbacks? Notice how they are expecting hundreds of change orders by listing this one as 002?
ReplyDeleteElaine
And the project is already over budget, yes? That means Nello AND the school board both knew the bid was bulls--t. Pretty sure that's against the law. Anyone? Any attorney out there?
ReplyDeleteKeep your calculators ready and handy, folks.
ReplyDeleteThis isn't funny. Reminds me of the old bait and switch tactic.
I have started a running total of change orders in the sidebar of this blog.
ReplyDeleteElaine
When the high school renovation goes over the amount that would've triggered a referendum on the project the superintendent, the board and Klein should resign, because it's not like we're going to hold a referendum and stop the project half finished and we'll be paying for their unfulfilled promise for years. We may even lose some good neighbors that can no longer afford to live here due to the rise in school taxes.
ReplyDeleteThere should be a penalty for Celli, PJDick, Nello and the administration for pushing this project if it goes over $113.2 million.
A simple ooops and a sorry, "how were we to know," when they were warned won't be acceptable.
Somebody who knows more than I once said that when the project needs to go to referendum on the second bond float, the district won't go to referendum for the bond, they will go to referendum saying that if we don't float the bond that we will have to lay off teachers.
ReplyDeleteIn this way, the "project" will never be put to referendum.
Instead of "its for the kids" it will become, "its for the teachers". And while I do like my teachers, this would put them in a very precarious and unnecessary position.
Anyone wonder why that second float of bonds STILL hasn't happened? Check out the Act whatever it was pony show and see when they were supposed to float the second round bonds. That time has passed.
According to page 35/39 of the Act 34 booklet that I have linked on http://lebocitizens.com/Lebo_Citizens/The_Facts.html
ReplyDeleteIt mentions reimbursement payments from the Commonwealthto occur in the 2012-2013 fiscal year. Look under Future Financing. The District was to do an analysis for the optimal bond type in 2012. The District estimated that the financing would occur in the 2012 calendar year.
Elaine
They probably haven't floated the bond for a good reason. Mainly because what they'll need is so far over what they told us it would be even they can't believe it.
ReplyDeleteI personally believe that was the rush to hire Pursuing Kerchup to find "john's" with $30 million to pay for a screw job.
You need to file a RTK request for the final change order in case it is over the stated amount.
ReplyDeleteWe can't get rid of JMS and the auditor. How are we going to get rid of Tim and Jan?
ReplyDelete