CORTLAND Council addresses problems with public works jobs

The city will ask for a performance bond from the Shepherds Hill developer.
By STEPHEN SIFF
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
CORTLAND -- City council voted to take over one troubled public works project from the engineering firm that did it wrong the first time, issued an ultimatum in a second troubled project, and fretted about a third.
"This is what happens when you don't have a service director," Mayor Melissa Long said, talking about the delays that made council members worry if North Colonial Drive will be paved before the first snow flies.
Work on the street was to be completed last month, but was delayed by weather and project changes. Now, council is concerned that time has run out to lay asphalt and pour curbs before winter.
A manhole now projects about 4 inches above the unfinished surface of the street, officials said.
The street, which runs north of East Market into Heritage Heights, was part of the city's summer paving project. Earl Smith, assistant superintendent of services, said he would ask Gennaro Pavers, the contractor, if the company thought it could finish before the asphalt plants shut down.
Smith is the second person to be put in charge of the services department since Paul Makosky was fired by council in September. The first, Richard Moy, lasted a few weeks before asking to return to a job as a skilled laborer.
On Monday, council hired a third service director. Charles Miller, Trumbull County sanitary engineer from 1987 to 1994, will work part time for $20 an hour for about six weeks until a new service director is hired by council and brought on board.
Miller did not apply for the full-time job.
Storm sewer settlement
In other business, council accepted a $200,000 settlement to take responsibility for installing storm sewer lines on Fowler Street out of Environmental Design Group's hands.
The firm had drawn up the plans under which storm sewers were constructed last year, then agreed to pay Rudzik Excavating of Struthers to redo the work when it was discovered they designed pipes that were too small.
But Rudzik walked off the job with about 10 percent done when the excavating company discovered that gas lines were in the way of simply replacing pipes with larger ones, officials said.
Under the settlement, the city will take over engineering the project and continue working with Rudzik to get the job done, said Councilman Michael Hillman.
Finishing the job could cost the city up to $100,000 more than the engineering firm's settlement, but it will include improvements not originally included in the project, he added.
Council also voted to require developer Anthony Petrocco to post a performance bond within two weeks to ensure he will move forward to repair or replace the storm drain system on Laura Lane and Anthony Circle in the Shepherds Hill development.
Failure to post a bond of $154,000 by the next council meeting in December will result in Petrocco's facing fines of $300 a day.
Ongoing problem
Twice before, council demanded the developer submit plans for fixing the drainage system or face fines. Petrocco submitted plans the city rejected as incomplete. He is now in the process of hiring an engineer to propose a more thorough solution, said Law Director Patrick Wilson.
This summer, a study by the city's engineering firm concluded that storm drains in the subdivision were not installed to plans and that they are inadequate to prevent flooding. The firm estimated it would cost the city $154,000 to fix the problems.
Ray Salyard, who said his property sustained $50,000 in flood damage this summer, asked council to revoke Petrocco's license to build in the city. "This is the time to apply real pressure," he said. "My life is not back to normal, and it will be a long time before it is."
siff@vindy.com