Wilkes-Barre City Council concerned about projects' costs
Jun. 8—WILKES-BARRE — City Council's concern about the cost of two projects forced Mayor George Brown Tuesday night to pull one of them from an upcoming vote.
During Council's work session Brown discussed the renovations for the James F. Conahan Intermodal Transportation Center, but the resolution to award the project to the lowest bidder did not contain a dollar amount. Bids are due on June 23.
At the request of Brown, Deputy City Administrator and Director of Operations Butch Frati provided additional information, saying it was budgeted between $900,000 and $1.1 million. Funding for the project would come from the city budget and the $37.1 million in American Rescue Plan pandemic relief awarded the city by the U.S. Treasury Department.
"It's very difficult to put a number on this because, obviously, supply chain and labor issues are inflating the cost of these projects significantly," Frati said.
"Could we put some kind of cap on it maybe," asked Councilman John Marconi.
Frati interjected, "If that's how you feel about this, then I would suggest we hold it until we get the number. Because if you put a cap on something like this and it gets out in the paper, that's a mistake."
When council members held firm in their demand for a dollar amount, Brown said he would pull it from the agenda.
The other project for the construction of a permanent stage on Public Square had been bid and came with a cost of $548,000. Of the total, $435,000 would be from ARP funding and the remaining $113,000 from a state grant.
The resolution that would come before Council Thursday night for a vote dealt with awarding the job to Panzitta Enterprises Inc. of Wilkes-Barre.
Brown noted the project attracted no bids the first time it was advertised and one bid on the second try. It was advertised a third time to see if two bids would come in. They did and were separated by $100,000 Frati said.
Council Chairwoman Beth Gilbert McBride pointed out she works in the entertainment industry and with people who build stages for a living for different venues across the country.
"I did run this number by a couple of people and couple of them said we should be building an amphitheater for that price. So I am a little concerned about the price of the project," McBride said.
McBride asked if the contractor could attend the Thursday night meeting to present more information about the project.
Frati suggested having representatives from Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, the Wilkes-Barre architects who did the stage design and Public Square after the 1972 flood, attend the meeting.
Also before Council Thursday night will be the second and final reading of an ordinance to vacate a portion of what was formerly known as Grant Alley and be given to Wilkes University, which owns the adjoining property.
The first reading of an ordinance to change the traffic patterns on two streets will be on the agenda as well. South Sheridan Street, between East South and Lehigh streets, will be made a one-way street south bound. Likewise, Lehigh Street, between South Sheridan and South Meade streets, will be made one-way west bound.
The other resolution before Council is to temporarily suspend the ordinance pertaining to the open consumption of alcoholic beverages for CASA of Luzerne County's CASAblanca fundraiser on Sept. 22 on the Luzerne County Courthouse lawn. The invitation only event for between 200 and 225 adults will be held under a tent from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. and County Sheriffs Deputies will provide security service.
Apart from the agenda items pending votes, Brown said between May 23 June 6, there were 302 nuisance complaints reported and an equal amount of notices to abate issued.
Reach Jerry Lynott at 570-991-6120 or on Twitter @TLJerryLynott.
