Housing panel to review contract

February 7, 2006

PAT LITOWITZ
plitowitz@ncnewsonline.com

The Lawrence County Housing Authority board will be asked to re-examine an upcoming lawn and painting contract.

Robert Evanick, the authority's executive director, plans to address the issue during the board's 2 p.m. meeting Feb. 9.

In May 2004, A. General Maintenance won a two-year pact totaling $329,463. The contract paid the New Wilmington business, owned by Steve Catale, $93,330 for lawn care of authority properties and $236,133.32 for painting its housing units.

The contract came under criticism for combining two unrelated services under the control of one company. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which provides the authority its funding, ordered the original contract to A. General Maintenance to be re-bid, because the company was the lone bidder at the time.

State Rep. Frank LaGrotta then questioned the contract's validity. From A. General Maintenance's incorporation date to the authority's bidding process, the Ellwood City legislator attacked various items.

LaGrotta filed a civil lawsuit against the authority, but visiting Judge Michael Wherry dismissed the complaint.

As the contract nears its completion, the authority appears to be heeding LaGrotta's request.

"We're talking about separating the two contracts," Evanick said Feb. 6. "It's become extremely difficult to manage those two" services under one contract.

Since its inception, the contract has been changed twice. In October, the board increased the number of lawn cuttings by 17 to 51. Each cutting cost the authority $2,745. Money for the additional work was transferred within the contract from the painting portion to lawn care side.

In December, the board added approximately $47,000 to the total contract to address the fund shortage. A. General Maintenance will receive $4,400 for every six units it paints, up to 64 units. The company will be paid upon completion of the work.

On Feb. 6, LaGrotta sent a letter to authority chairman Robert Heath and asked that the board reconsider than manner in which lawn and painting services are provided.

"I am aware of no other authority (certainly none in the region) that requests bids on both its painting and lawn care from a single company," LaGrotta wrote. "Most people with whom I've spoken consider this proposition ridiculous - like hiring an attorney to file your court papers AND perform open-heart surgery."

Evanick said he would discuss his plans with the board Feb. 9. Heath said he wants the authority to handle the work.

"I want to see the cost benefits," he said. "I'm hoping it's there."

However, board member Donald "Ducky" Conti said there is no problem with the current contract.

"It's good," he said. "You're only dealing with one guy. (For) most of these companies around Lawrence County, grass cutting is a side job."

Conti said he has received no complaints about A. General Maintenance's service. He also noted that the New Wilmington company met the authority's bond specifications, which no other bidder was able to do.

Conti said he believes that Evanick and the authority board have already decided to split the work back into two contracts.

"He's already talked to them," Conti alleged. "These are the games these guys play down there.

"I'm the oddball out. I ask too many questions."

Copyright (c) 2006, New Castle News