by Frank Schroth

There are three selectmen and there were three points of view on what action to take with the demolition bid made to take down the town owned portion of the structure that sits at the corner of Central and Eliot. They debated the issue at their meeting last Tuesday. It is a long standing issue (see a related post from 11/12 here.)

Building Inspector Joe Prondak was present to review the bid and provide his recommendation. Eleven bid packets were taken out but only one was returned. That contractor bid $347,224. This amount was ~$100K higher than a “cursory” estimate the Selectmen received and used to budget funding. The estimate had  voluntarily done by an employee of Suffolk Construction. Mr. Prondak worked with the contractor to reduce the fee to $317,224. The reduction is a result of moving the onus of paying the costs of MBTA fees and charges (~$24,500) from the contractor to the town. Prondak said it was his recommendation that “the bid be awarded . . . from a public safety point of view I would hope we can find a way to get this building down as soon as possible.” Prondak explained that the difference in the estimate and actual bid was due to a “cursory” examination of the building versus a thorough one done by respondent. He also noted that the building is unique in being co-owned and abutting the T tracks. He attributed the lack of response in part to ambiguity on the part of the MBTA as to requirements and costs. Another factor identified as contributing to the lack of a response was the concern of some contractors that there would be two different demolition teams working on the same site. The Selectmen’s response to Prondak’s recommendation was not encouraging.

Member Hurley expressed concern that they had only received only one bid and asked that a peer review be done to determine that the bid was “a fair bid.” Member Conlon asked what would be involved with that in terms of time and cost. She reminded the board that the building was under a demolition order (MA Chapter 139) and that she was “inclined to accept the bid.”

Member Keoahne said he was concerned that only one bid came back. He said he had walked the building the other day with Mr. Prondak and that the Connelly’s section of the building was “in imminent danger of collapse. There is no doubt about that.” (The Connellys are the principals of Carrick Realty). He said the town-owned portion was concrete and steel and not in danger of collapse. He said he would like to talk with the contractor to see how he came up with his bid and he also wanted time to research steel prices. The price of scrap steel has been identified as a cost driver. The contractor said he has concerns about further extensions of bid acceptance because the price of steel may go down. That may be mute as Keohane expressed more than once that he wants to reissue the bid. He asked Prondak how long that would take. Prondak estimated that from the time to prepare the bid, through evaluations and award it would likely take the town into early spring. Keohane reiterated “I would not be opposed to rejecting the bid. . . in the private sector there is no way in hell I would only accept 1 bid.  . . I’ll have a hard time voting if we only have one bid in front of us.”

Hurley reminded them that they were under a demolition agreement. There is a contract between Carrick Realty and the town to take down their respective portions of the building by November 30th. There has been one extension to this agreement. At the meeting Tuesday they agreed that Prondak would seek a third bid acceptance extension with the contractor while a peer review is scheduled. The impact this would have on the demolition date (11/30) was not discussed. Other factors that could influence the demolition date are the determinations of the Conservation Commission and the MBTA’s availability to suspend trolley service.

The Board of Appeals is scheduled to resume its hearing on a comprehensive permit for 131 Eliot (Carrick’s portion of the property) on 11/6. The Conservation Commission is continue their discussion of the of the proposed development in early November.