05/20/75 Board of Public Works Special Meeting Minutes

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SPECIAL MEETING MAY 20, 1975 A special meeting of the Board of Public Works was convened at 11:34 a.m, on Tuesday, May 20, 1975 by Chairman Rollin E. Farrand with all members present. APPROVAL OF CONTP.ACT-EXCAVATION AND DEMOLITION OF CENTURY CENTER SITE The contract for the mass excavation and demolition of the Century Center Site was submitted to the Board with a favorable recommendation at its regular meeting on May 19, 1975, however action on the contract was delayed. Mr. Farrand reported to the Board that, in response to Mr. McGill's request to meet with the Department of Engineering on the bid of Ritschard Brothers prior to the awarding of the contract for the mass excavation and demolition of the Century Center site, such a meeting was held in the office of the Director of Public Works at 2:30'p.m, on Monday, May 19; 1975. Those in attendance included Carmello Ritschard, Donald-Ritschard, Warren McGill, Julius O'Neal, Padrick McMahon, Kathleen Cekanski and Rollin Farrand. The bidding procedure was reviewed as well.as the design procedure that resulted in the proposed Change Order. The reduction in schedule that was achieved by the proposed Change Order to the contract of Mr. O'Neal was explained. It was felt that this was a significant factor in the decision to proceed in the manner indicated. It was further explained that this procedure had been reviewed with the Economic Development W Agency Regional Office in Chicago and they had concurred in this procedure. Miss Cekanski explained that her review of the legal requirements indicated that all legal requirements for bid procedures had been followed and that the proposed procedure was legal. The Ritschard brothers expressed their concern over the size of the Change Order and the changed bid posture of their firm because of economic conditions. Mr. Farrand said, in his judgement, every effort should be made to avoid rebidding, once the initial bids had been made public. Any other procedure would jeopardize the low bidder's chances since his bid was now known to everyone. A change in the extra work agreement that would enable the second or third low bidder to then become the low bidder seemed completely unrealistic and could only be achieved by reevaluating the base bid. It was, therefore, the decision of the Director of Public Works to affirm the recommendation originally made that the low bid be awareed and that the Change Order in the amount of $66,352.00 be approved. After some discussion of the points raised above, the Ritschard brothers, through their attorney, agreed that this procedure appeared to have the best long range advantage to the City and that, while they wished their objection to the size of the Change Order to be noted, they were withdrawing their objection to the awarding of the bid. Mr. Barcome made a motion to award the contract for the Mass Excavation and Demolition of the Century Center Site to Julius O'Neal and to approve the Change Order in the amount of $66,352.00. Mr. Seitz seconded the motion and it was carried. APPROVAL OF BLOCK PARTY - BEVERLY PLACE A request was received from Mr. Daryl Holycross to close Beverly Place, from Woodlawn to Oakwood, on Saturday, May 31, 1975 from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. for a Block Party. Upon motion made, seconded and carried, the Board approved the Block Party subject to coordination by the Bureau of Traffic and Lighting and the filing of insurance to indemnify the City of South Bend.