West Newton Council addresses paving project
WEST NEWTON - Borough council plans to make a deal with a contractor who never showed up for a fall paving project.
Earlier this year, council awarded a contract to Pompei and Sons of Bentleyville to pave portions of Vine and South Fifth streets in the town's First Ward. Work was to be completed by Nov. 6 under terms of the roughly $223,000 agreement.
On Monday night, council agreed to contact Jerry Pompei to discuss laying a temporary patch over a main waterline trench on South Fifth Street before winter. They also plan to ask Pompei to begin the 680-foot paving project in early spring, along with an unspecified amount of additional paving. The original contract called for paving Vine Street from the railroad crossing to Baughman Street and South Fifth Street from Vine to Penn Street.
Borough engineer Larry Souleret said it was the best of three options. He said council could also opt to keep the company's 100 percent performance bond or start the project now. Souleret cautioned that newer materials used to pave roads are very sensitive to cold weather.
"They were working for clients in Cranberry Township and I think they just bit off more than they can chew," said Souleret.
The engineer said Pompei had offered to include additional paving if the project was delayed until early spring.
In other business, Client Manager Dan Gilligan, of Lennon, Smith, Souleret Engineering Inc., announced the firm will begin to map the east side of town in preparation for a System Inventory Characterization Report of all sewers and connection points. The report will include a maintenance program and a plan to control combination sewer overflow.
The engineering firm was awarded an $8,000 contract for work on the report. Gilligan said digital filing and aerial photography of the area will start within the next few weeks.
Also on Monday, Main Street Manager George Sam announced Downtown West Newton, Inc. would hold a public meeting Wednesday at the fire hall, as required for renewal of the Main Street Program.
"This will give us a chance to present our mission and accomplishments and show our plans for 2005," said Sam.
Sam also noted the community revitalization group did not renew its bid to purchase property at the corner of North Water and East Main streets because the cost of hand money was too high. The property, which includes a two-story apartment complex and automotive service station, is a focal point in DWNI's plans for a riverfront town square and "Bridge to Tomorrow" project.
DWNI had submitted a $200,000 bid for the property through NC Ventures of New Jersey before it learned of damage to one of the buildings. A $250,000 grant from the state Department of Community and Economic Development was to fund the purchase price and other incidental costs.
Sam said DWNI can still bid on the property after it is reassessed. He also said the group's application for DCED funding is being reviewed for next year.
According to Sam, the grantor encourages DWNI to find a partner in development.
In a related matter, Sam announced Gannett-Fleming engineering firm received an award from the PA Planning Commission for its architectural design of the "Bridge to Tomorrow" project. He said DWNI also received a $90,000 state Rivers of Steel grant for design, engineering and planning for the estimated $5.5 million project.
