WEATHERSFIELD TOWNSHIP Trustees discuss problems in road project

Parts of the road are already breaking down, an official said.
By MARY SMITH
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
MINERAL RIDGE -- Weathersfield Township Trustee William Miller will assemble a list of problems on the first phase of the Niles-Carver Road project as soon as possible.
Trustees spent most of a special meeting Tuesday discussing project problems. Trustee Chairman John Vogel said he's getting calls every other day from the paving contractor, asking for payment.
He told Miller to chair a committee, create the list and confer with engineers and contractors to help make it complete.
Vogel, however, was unable to present cost figures for Phase I and Phase II of the project, although they were in a packet from MS Consultants on the desk in front of him.
He asked township administrator Dave Pugh for the costs, saying he was CEO of the project and Clerk Dave Rouhan, whom he called chief financial consultant. Trustee Fred Bobovnyk explained those titles were just formalities. Rouhan pointed to the report and showed Vogel the figures he was looking for, but the number were not disclosed to community members attending the meeting.
About the project
The job is a safety upgrade. Trumbull County also plans to do work at the intersection at Salt Springs Road.
A petition drive against borrowing the money for the project was conducted last summer, and more than 500 people signed.
With Vogel the only no vote, both Phase I and Phase II were approved in October. Phase I is to be paid for by the township, borrowing at no interest from a state loan fund. The original estimated cost was $157,000.
Phase II is estimated to cost $235,000.
Bills the township has received to date for both phases include a $127,264 paving bill and a $109,055 storm sewer installation bill.
Township Administrator David Pugh told Vogel that the four change orders on the project came from MS Consultants.
Issue of payment
Trustees Miller and Bobovnyk both said they would be willing to pay the contractors some percentage of what is due them. To date, the township has paid engineer Gary Diorio of MS Consultants $22,000. Miller said progress payments can be made as long as the work is satisfactory.
Township Solicitor William Roux said that under the contract he prepared, which was signed by the contractors and MS, trustees do not have to pay anything now if they choose not to.
He said the way the project worked out, the township will have a nearly three-year performance bond against the companies.
Work on the project was started in the fall and is expected to be completed in the spring.
Miller conducted a tour of the road and looked at problems this week, before the meeting. He said some parts of the project weren't done because it's winter. In addition to problems with the paving, with parts of the road said to be already breaking down, there are a few driveways with lips, catch basins that are too high and creation of a water problem in front of Seaborn Elementary.
Residents Mr. and Mrs. Sam Manente, 3446 Niles-Carver Road, also said that water which had previously been coming down the road has gotten much worse. Manente said he cleans out a trench there, but pipe might be needed.
They said that there were three cars that had accidents in the same day and all three had to be pulled from the trench.