LAWRENCE COUNTY Housing board hires architect for accessibility plans

A rubbish pickup contract was awarded.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- The Lawrence County Housing Authority is moving forward with its plans to make each housing community accessible to those with physical disabilities.
The board hired architect N. John Cunzolo of Pittsburgh to work on plans that will build additional housing at the authority's eight housing projects. The plan is to have 5 percent of the overall units be accessible to those with physical disabilities, said Robert Evanick, executive director. Most of the current units are two-story.
Cunzolo's fee will be $316,763. The money will come from a $4,315,630 grant the authority is expecting from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Evanick said HUD has not approved the funding yet. But he noted that they only have three years to spend the money once it is awarded, and that is why they have already found an architect.
He added that Cunzolo is aware he will not be hired if the HUD money isn't awarded.
In other business, the authority awarded a one-year contract for rubbish pickup at the White Street maintenance garage to BFI Industries. The company will be paid $195 per container.
BFI was not the low bidder. Star Industries, owned by Atty. Paul Lynch, submitted a bid of $175 per container, but he did not provide his federal identification number and proof of insurance and dumping permits, housing authority officials said.