NEW CASTLE —
The New Castle school board has decided to delay payment to various contractors for the Lockley school project.
The board voted 6-3 Wednesday night to table paying certain bills until after the new bids are opened.
Voting to pay were Mark Kirkwood, Allan Joseph and Karen Humphrey.
The bills — about $38,000 — were for Batemen and Seidel, $4,650, and Pashek Associates, $7,028.50, for site acquisition; Printscape Imaging and Graphics, $107, for supplies; Frank B. Taylor Engineering, $1,683.50, for technical services; and Thomas & Williamson, $26,654, the project managers.
Humphrey’s husband, Bill, works for Taylor Engineering. She said she voted to pay the bills because the work already has been done.
Joseph, who is the board president, agreed.
“They’ve done the work. I feel they should be paid. This has been delayed since July.”
David DiGiammarino made the motion to delay payment, suggesting the board wait until the bids for the project come in.
The early learning center consolidation project has been delayed because the original bids, opened in late June, came in higher than what had been budgeted for the $19 million project.
Superintendent George Gabriel said the architects from Eckles Architecture had assured him initially the project would not exceed that budgeted amount.
The project is now to be rebid and, according to business manager Joe Ambrosini, the new specifications were to have been sent out by the architects and construction manager this week, but they have not yet gone out.
Board members asked Ambrosini for his opinion on whether the bills should be paid.
“They have done the work and eventually they will be paid, but some may have a trickle-down effect on some of the vendors” who submit bids, he said.
Gabriel asked if there “are legal issues here” in not paying and solicitor Chuck Sapienza responded the board should call an executive session for “contract purposes” to discuss it.
Under the Pennsylvania Sunshine Law, executive sessions are allowed for personnel, pending litigation and real estate transactions.
The board went into a private session for personnel reasons as well. Sapienza explained after the session that the board briefly had discussed the bills with regard to legalities and contracts, but most of the discussions centered on personnel.
(Are you friends with us on Facebook? “Like” our page for a chance to win fantastic prizes! CLICK HERE!!)
TOP STORIES
Related Photos
Discussion
New Castle board to delay paying Lockley project bills
- TOP STORIES
-
-
New Castle Schools: Finding pinpoints nonpaying out-of-district pupils
New Castle school board members are waiting for the final determinations of a state audit that contained three preliminary findings. Earlier this month the board publicly discussed those findings from the 2009-10 and 2010-11 school years, and the district administration has responded to two of them to the Pennsylvania Department of the Auditor General.
-
Photo Gallery, Story: Ceremony remembers fallen officers
Last year there were 12. This year, there are 13. The law enforcement community paused Thursday to remember Lawrence County’s fallen officers in a ceremony outside the New Castle police station.
-
Photo Gallery, Video: Procession, flag-waving crowds salute fallen policeman
Throngs of people crowded along East Washington Street Wednesday, paying final tribute to fallen officer William J. “Jerry” McCarthy IV. A motorcade of about 20 motorcycles and more than 200 police cruisers, all with flashing red and blue lights, created a sensation as it rode slowly toward Shenango Township.
-
Pulaski officer honored for heroic efforts
A Pulaski Township patrolman was named April 2013’s Officer of the Month by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.
-
County considering jail privatization
Lawrence County government officials are mulling the idea of privatizing the jail. The matter came to light when a company toured the 268-bed facility after answering a request for proposals that was sent out by the commissioners.
-
New PennDOT website to outline road, bridge work
Pennsylvania senators hit the highway Tuesday at the end of their May session without confronting a bill that would pour billions into road and bridge repairs and construction.
-
Hilcorp might drill in Neshannock Township
Marcellus Shale drilling could be moving into Neshannock Township. A Hilcorp Energy Co. representative said during the Neshannock supervisors meeting Tuesday that the company has leased Millennium Park property off King’s Chapel Road for possible drilling.
-
Suspect in officer’s death jailed in county
Kylee Gwen Barletto was composed walking into court Monday until a television reporter pelted her with questions. Escorted by two state troopers, she was asked, “What do you have to say to the police officer’s family?” “I’m sorry,” she uttered as she was ushered into the court lobby. Then she burst into tears.
-
Abortion doctor found guilty of murdering babies
Dr. Kermit Gosnell, the 72-year-old abortion doctor accused of murdering four babies after they were allegedly born alive during abortion procedures at his Philadelphia clinic, was found guilty of three counts of first-degree murder Monday.
-
‘A Great Person’: Dan Gallatin remembered as fireman, Mason
The Lawrence County firefighting community was saddened last week by the loss of one of its brothers. Dan Gallatin, 68, a member of the Scott Township Volunteer Fire Department for nearly 40 years, was killed Tuesday when the motorcycle he was riding was hit from behind on Route 956 in Hickory Township.
- More TOP STORIES Headlines
-
