POUND RIDGE, N.Y. - The sudden departure of the general contractor for Pound Ridge’s firehouse revamp will likely cause further construction delays, but taxpayers should be protected from any financial impacts, according to one fire district official.
Fire Commissioner Peter Gallagher told the Town Board on Jan. 20 that the $11 million project is between 35 and 40 percent complete.
(The fire district raises its own revenues; it is not run by the town.)
At present, things are running about three months behind schedule and although the firehouse is functional, the work has been “disruptive,” he said.
A $6.5 million bond for the project was approved by the public in late 2023. The district had to return to voters in the spring of 2025 to ask for another $3.5 million. Anything remaining is earmarked for coverage by the district’s reserves.
Some key milestones have been met.
The foundation for the two-bay addition has been poured, the steel framing erected, the driveway moved, and power and conduit installation done. The prep work for the generator’s relocation is also complete.
The project has to follow the so-called Wick’s Law, which requires projects of more than $500,000 to have separate pacts with the plumber, the electrician, the HVAC folks, and the general contractor.
According to construction law experts, separate specs are independently bid, ensuring expert performance in each of the areas, rather than leaving the selection of subcontacters to the general contractor, in order to reduce the likelihood of delayed performance or poor quality of work.
That’s important to know, Gallagher said, because each of the four contractors have to be bonded in order to work with the municipality.
It’s like having an insurance policy that ensures that work can continue at the bidded prices “without implications to the contract and to the taxpayers,” he explained.
The district also hired a construction management firm.
While disappointed with the speed at which things have been moving forward, the quality of the work itself has been in line with what the district wants.
“Actually, we’re more concerned with getting it done right than just plain fast,” Gallagher said.
The fire district feels lucky that Second Asst. Chief David Eckholm, the owner of a home management business, and Commissioner Frank Tavolacci, a former building inspector and builder, are helping drive the project.
That was the good news.
The bad news is that the general contractor has notified the district that it’s pulling out of the project.
A claim has been filed with the bonding company and an inspector has been sent to size the situation up.
Work will continue, Gallagher promised, adding that maintaining momentum is vital to protecting what’s been done to date.
The project had been slated to finish this summer, but now because of the hiccup the new target is within the third quarter of 2026.
“In Q4, we’ll have punch list items and other things to clean up,” he said.
After being notified of the general contractor’s intentions to leave, the district had its attorney weigh in.
It was the attorney’s opinion that there was “no cause for breach,” which means the bonding company is obligated to complete the project without impacting taxpayers or hiking its cost.
The district is actively working with the bonding company to find a replacement firm, Supervisor Kevin Hansan said in his Jan. 23 newsletter.
Councilwoman Alison Boak asked Gallagher if the general contractor had given any explanation for walking away.
One of the reasons it cited was “having friction with the construction manager and telling them what to do,” he responded, finding it somewhat ironic considering that’s what that person is supposed to do.
As the taxpayers’ representative, construction managers are supposed to make sure that the right materials are being used and that all standards are being met, Gallagher said.
The general contractor also complained about delays in the project.
Those were “a result of the contractors themselves,” said Gallagher, reiterating that the district’s attorney could identify no cause for concern about the contract being upheld on its part.
Hansan asked when the district expected to get competing bids.
While it’s the bonding company that does the hiring, the district does have a say.
Some folks working on the project have indicated that they were interested but haven’t made any “hard commitments” yet, Gallagher said.
There should be some news on that front within a matter of weeks.
“It’s disappointing for sure. I don’t think anyone likes the way the hamlet (Scotts Corners) looks with all the fencing up. We want to get this done because although we are operating, it (the project) is disruptive. We’re more focused on making sure we get this done right,” he said.
Good to Know
More information about the project can be found on www.poundridgefiredistrict.com.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here