TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON—Under a $469,500 contract the Township Council approved October to hire Matina & Son of Hackensack to complete the commuter lot and drainage improvements adjacent to the new emergency services building, work must begin within 20 days of contract execution and be completed by Dec. 15.
The work represents the final piece of the puzzle in completing the project begun at the site in late 2020 to construct a joint firehouse and ambulance corps HQ on Pascack Road.
Adding in the lot and drainage project brings the project total to $6,999,204, according to town figures posted online. Its original estimate was about $5.7 million.
So far, the township council has appropriated $7,049,800 for the complex, according to a project budget. (See “Mayor: Funds in drive on commuter lot,” Michael Olohan, Oct. 30, 2023, Pascack Press.)
Following council approval, the Matina & Son contract was signed by Mayor Peter Calamari on Oct. 10 and by Antonio Matina on Oct. 27. The town clerk received it on Oct. 30.
It was unclear what date constituted contract execution, although 20 days from Oct. 27 was Nov. 16, a likely start-up date. Should the contractor extend beyond Dec. 15, the contract includes penalties of $1,500 per day if not completed by the deadline.
In December 2022, we reported the project’s 12th change order at the time, a $60,000 change order for the removal and disposal of asbestos from the old firehouse. At that point, we reported the 12 change orders had added $360,525 to the building’s cost.
The project architect, Robbie Conley, told us then that contingency costs are generally around 10% of total project costs. Following questions about the legality of how prior change orders were approved, the prior 11 change orders were later each reapproved by formal council resolutions.
Calamari ceremonially broke ground at the site Sept. 27, 2020. (See “‘May it protect.’ Shovels in for township’s joint firehouse, ambulance headquarters,” John Snyder, Oct. 5, 2020, Pascack Press.)