Contractor change orders studied

The city is negotiating with two or three contractors.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
CITY HALL REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- A city board's vote on final change orders from Chevrolet Centre contractors is going to have to wait longer than expected.
Carmen S. Conglose Jr., deputy director of the city's public works department, said earlier this month that he expected the board of control to vote Thursday on the last of the center's change orders. But none were considered Thursday.
The city-owned facility opened in late October and is projected to cost between $44.8 million and $45 million. Because the change orders aren't finalized, an exact figure hasn't been determined.
City officials said at the end of 2005 that the number would be known in February. It then got pushed to mid-March. City officials said Thursday that they didn't know when the final cost would be known but hoped it would be soon.
When asked about the delay, Conglose would say only that the city is still looking at the change orders.
"We're winding down," said Mayor Jay Williams, a board of control member. "We still need to finalize some issues."
What's expected
Finance Director David Bozanich, also a board member, said he doesn't believe the city will be involved in any litigation with contractors regarding work at the center.
The city is in discussions with two or three center contractors, he said. The city wants to make sure all the contractors did the work expected of them and at the appropriate cost, he said.
The board of control approved more than $1 million in cost increases to the facility in the last six months.
At Thursday's meeting, the board approved a $6,104.92 severance package for Arlene D.T. Bahar for vacation and prorated sick days she did not use. City council fired Bahar last month as city clerk, a job she had held since October 1998.
skolnick@vindy.com