District’s consultant fees drop

Jan. 13, 2011

By PATRICK E. LITOWITZ
plitowitz@ncnewsonline.com

A revised proposal will trim $2,000 in consultant fees that the New Castle Area School District has to pay.

During its regular session last night, the school board voted 6-3 to hire John M. Pappas of Eckles Construction Services. Pappas will advise the district in the selection of a construction manager to oversee a $19 million renovation and creation of an early learning center at the site of the Harry W. Lockley Kindergarten Center.

The district originally negotiated a $6,500 contract. Pappas would have reviewed 16 of the 18 proposals submitted.

When the board agreed to reject bids exceeding $500,000, that left seven companies to consider. Board member Brad Olson proposed that Pappas lower his fee.

“I just renegotiated with a smaller scope of work,” business manager Joseph Ambrosini said. “He didn’t need to put in the time for those over $500,000.”

Pappas reduced his the cost of his services to $4,500.

Board members J. Allan Joseph, Karen Humphrey, Fred Mozzocio, Mary Ann Tofel, Anna Pascarella and Olson voted for the contract. Mark Kirkwood, Dr. Marilyn K. Berkely and Barbara Razzano were against the move.

In Monday’s work session, Kirkwood and Berkely said they were opposed to Eckles Construction looking for a construction manager who would work with Eckles Architecture & Engineering. The district had hired Eckles Architecture to design the project.

Eckles Architecture and Eckles Construction are separate businesses, but there are overlapping ownership interests.

Razzano said previously she would not back motions involving the project, which she had voted against.

The companies that will be reviewed are Pathline Inc., Altoona; Chronicle Consulting LLC, Pittsburgh; GP Construction Inc., Edinburg; Massaro Construction Management Services, Pittsburgh; Scaparotti Construction Group, Cleveland; P.J. Dick Inc., Pittsburgh; and Thomas & Williamson, Pittsburgh.