Town Hall
To Dem's Home Page
Mayor and Council have committed to stay within the $5.9 million budget for the new town hall at Central & Vine. Progress will be shown here..
Click on this link to view the plans for the new Town hall.
At the recent Town Council meeting the Project Manager/Clerk of the Works contract was awarded to The McCloud Group from Hoboken, NJ. It was announced at the meeting that they were not the lowest bid, but their proposal was tailored more to our requirements. However, we have found interesting information in the lowest bidders proposal from Remington & Vernick Engineers that only adds to our concerns about the total price of this project. Below is the page that refers to the pricing of the project.
Even though they were the low bidder, they were not awarded the project. Could it be because they spoke the truth and voiced their concern over the price of the project. No other bidder directly mentioned this concern, but all had contigencies in their proposals for bids coming in higher than the budget. The real work has not even begun and we are already seeing change orders and increases in project costs, and questionable awarding practices to avoid competitive bidding. This entire project needs to be monitored.
                    UPDATE 9/8

In the 9/8 Press of Atlantic City, Ed Wuillermin is qouted as saying,"The McCloud Group was chosen for a number of reasons, including �their excellent track record in Atlantic County".

In all of our research we have only found McCloud to have done ONE (1) project in Atlantic County, the Folsom Elementary/Middle School Addition. Does one project establish any kind of a track record, let alone an excellent track record?

Another qoute, "They're (the Democrats) entitled to their opinion,� Wuillermin said. �And I'm entitled to mine.�

Our "opinion" is backed by a professional organization with over 100 years of experience. I believe that constitutes an "impressive track record".
Town Hall
Do you think Council can keep it's promise to build the new Municipal Complex, relocate the historic Town Hall, and provide a community center, all for $5.9 million?

Yes
No
We'll see
WITH THE AWARD OF THE BID ON 12/27 THE TOWN HALL PROJECT IS ALREADY OVER BUDGET.
ACCORDING TO THE SPENDING REPORT RECEIVED FROM THE CLERK'S OFFICE, AS OF 12/27 SPENDING TO DATE ON THE PROJECT IS $533,403.33. THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF THE BID AWARDED ON 12/27 IS $5,450,000. ADDING THESE TWO FIGURES TOGETHER THE PROJECT SO FAR COMES TO
$5,983,403.33.

THIS FIGURE DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY CHANGE ORDERS THAT MAY OCCUR, SITE WORK, PARKING LOT, CURB, SIDEWALK, LANDSCAPING, WATER AND SEWER HOOKUP, DRAINAGE, DEMOLITION OF OLD TOWN HALL, FINISHING HISTORIC TOWN HALL, FURNITURE FOR NEW TOWN HALL, ELECTRONIC(COMPUTERS,ETC.) AND THE NEW COMMUNITY CENTER. THE TOTAL ESTIMATE FOR THE 11TH STREET SITE WAS $7,465,000.00, WHICH ALSO DID NOT INCLUDE FURNITURE OR ELECTRONICS BUT DID LEAVE THE POSSIBILITY OF SELLING THE OLD TOWN HALL TO OFFSET SOME COSTS.
WE WILL HAVE TO FOLLOW THIS PROJECT TO SEE WHERE IT ENDS UP.
Total Spent as of 12/27/06             $533,403.33
Amount remaining of $5.9          $5,387,945.35
Hosted by www.Geocities.ws

1