CLARKS GREEN — At the Feb. 20 borough council meeting, Councilman Dave Rinaldi said the council interviewed nine engineering firms who responded to the borough’s request for engineering services. He said each firm gave a 30-minute presentation and answered questions. He mentioned that one question inquired about each firm’s hourly rate.
“Council was able to determine what the hourly rate would be for each of the firms,” he said. “They (council) had the opportunity to look at their submissions, and listen to their presentation for qualifications.”
Rinaldi said it’s up to the council to choose which engineering firm should represent the borough. He mentioned the council received quotes from engineering firms from $80 an hour to $117 an hour and announced engineering firm Colwell-Naegele Associates, Inc. had the lowest bid of $80 an hour for the principal and $65 an hour for the associates. He said all the firms are qualified and do the same work the current engineering firm (BCM Construction) does.
“I believe that the borough can save anywhere between 24 and 30% of the hourly fee by appointing our local firm,” he said. “A firm that is located in our borough, Colwell-Naegele.”
President Joe Barrasse said he believes all the engineering firms are great and mentioned one of the things he liked about the borough’s current engineer (BCM) is that they were able to secure a grant of $200,000.
“That’s real money,” he said. “Big-time money for a borough like ours.”
Councilman Keith Williams resonated with Barrasse’s praises about BCM Construction. He recalled BCM’s quick response to calls regarding problems such as stormwater issues and water pooling.
(“I’m) just impressed at the way that the response ran quick and they (BCM) developed some action plan when necessary,” he said.,
Councilman Bill Toms agreed Colwell-Naegele Associates, Inc. is as qualified as other engineering firms since they are local and would save the borough a lot of money. Council president Joe Barrasse said he realizes Colwell-Naegele has the lowest bid but BCM Construction has a lot of projects on which they’ve already worked.
“If any other firm came in here, the learning curve would be so steep that any savings you might get in the first year or two years, I think would be negligible if not a pipe dream,” he said.
Councilman Alan Hughes said he is content with either BCM Construction or Colwell-Naegele Associates, Inc. but if the council needs to make a change, he will support the decisions under the condition the council utilizes the design work they have for Greenbrier Drive and Crest Drive.
“I think that’s a reasonable condition,” he said.
Hughes recalls Colwell-Naegele stepping up and completing a project from Harrisburg which Clarks Green sponsored.
The council voted to appoint Colwell-Naegele Associates, Inc. as Clarks Green Borough’s engineer at an hourly rate of no more than $80 an hour without the council’s approval to begin March 1, contingent upon the use of the currently available documents for ongoing projects.
In other business …
• In his solicitor’s report, Hughes said he reviewed the bids of the Green Light Go Project and found them to be in proper legal form.
• In his health and safety report, Rinaldi announced he sent the two bid proposals to engineer Gerilyn Luben, adding that one bid was from Northeast Signal in the amount of $34,000 and the other was from Kuharchik Construction in the amount of $29,690.
• Rinaldi also reported the health and safety committee met with John Waters, who was recommended by the EMA community to become the emergency services coordinator. He asked the council members if they would like to offer a stipend to whomever is appointed this position. He mentioned Clarks Summit Borough decided to pay its coordinator and his assistant a stipend. He also said most municipalities don’t pay their emergency services coordinator but said he thinks it’s a good idea to offer a stipend.
“I was impressed with Mr. Waters,” he said. “He (Waters) was a full-time police officer in South Abington Township. In fact, he was the K-9 officer. He has multiple certifications. He is a teacher in certain emergency services situations especially firefighting.”
Mayor Patty Lawler said she was also impressed with Waters and his qualifications. Barrasse added that Waters’ wife is one of the assistants at one of his offices of Barrasse Financial Group and he knows James, as well.
“I just know him to be a responsible individual,” he said.
When asked what kind of stipend should be offered to Waters, Rinaldi recommended $1,000 paid biannually in $500 installments. He said the council should determine the stipend in order to act on it during their meeting in March.
• In his ARWA (Abington Regional Wastewater Authority) report, Rinaldi said Kohansky & Co. will attend ARWA’s meeting in March to present the audit.
• In his grant committee report, Councilman Joe Dougherty announced he received notification the council received a 2018 Arts & Culture grant for $500 from Lackawanna County. He also said he has a letter stating the council is allowed to apply for the 2019 grant.
• In his buildings and grounds report, Toms asked to ratify the bill for tools, which the council purchased from the Dalton Do It Center.
• In her mayor’s report, Patty Lawler spoke on behalf of the Shade Tree Commission announcing that Clarks Green Borough has once again received the Tree City Award provided by the Arbor Day Foundation. She mentioned reasons why Clarks Green received the award.
“One, twenty-one trees were planted within the borough, which is an outstanding number,” she said. “And please, don’t forget Go Green Clarks Green. Their presence was very much appreciated at the event. So, those were the qualifications.”
• Lawler also said Chief Chris Yarns of the Clarks Summit Police Department will apply for a grant called Burn Justice Assistant Grant 2019.
“It’s a grant made available to municipalities and the police department specifically for tools that help with traffic control,” she said.
Lawler said Yarns will use the grant to buy two new shield-radar display units, which record traffic speed. She said these new units are upgraded and state-of-the-art.
“He (Yarns) will use one specifically in Clarks Green and one specifically for Clarks Summit,” she said.
Council voted to send a letter of support to attach to the grant application.
• Barrasse said that, as of March 1, Dougherty will become chairman of DPW (Department of Public Works), and the grant committee will be an ad-hoc committee, of which Dougherty will still be chairman.
